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DWE Partnership

A Taste of the Nonprofit Sector

We are excited to offer a nonprofit grant component to the Community Foundation’s largest fundraiser, the Durango Wine Experience. In addition to a taste of wine, our guests also receive a taste of SW Colorado’s nonprofit sector.

We will select 10 nonprofits to receive a $2,500 grant, along with the opportunity to share their missions with key constituents by volunteering at the DWE Walkabout on Friday, April 24 and at the DWE Grand Tasting on Saturday, April 25. Check out the video below highlighting some of last year’s grantees.

Grant requirements include providing four volunteers for each day (it does not need to be the same people each day). Volunteers need to be physically able to stand/walk for four hours and be able to carry approximately 30 lbs., helping our wine vendors as needed:  carrying ice, greeting guests, ensuring alcohol does not leave the premises, and other duties. Volunteers can be staff, board members, or other organization reps – anyone that represents your organization well and knows how to work a crowd!

The time commitment Friday, April 24, is 3:15 to 8:00 PM. The time commitment Saturday, April 25, is a pre-assigned, three-hour shift between 8:30 AM and 8:30 PM. On Friday, your volunteer team will be paired with one of our Friday Walkabout locations in downtown Durango. On Saturday, your team will work under the big tent at the Smiley Building.

Your organization will have the opportunity to share your mission with the valuable demographic of Wine Experience attendees — visiting with DWE guests while concurrently carrying out your volunteer duties. You may bring limited marketing brochures, handouts, etc. to the Walkabout on Friday. Your volunteers will wear a DWE apron, and should plan to represent your organization in some creative way – think t-shirts, hats, name tags, etc.

To learn more about the events, visit DurangoWine.com.

We will select organizations across multiple nonprofit sectors and geographic locations.

To be eligible to apply, organizations must be a nonprofit, tax-exempt 501(c)(3) or be a project or organization under the fiscal agency of a 501(c)(3) organization. If you received this grant in 2025, you are not eligible to apply in 2026.

Here are our nonprofit partners from 2025:

Chimney Rock Interpretive Association ~ Colorado Pet Pantry ~ Mt. Lookout Grange ~ Durango Baseball & Softball ~ Durango Montessori School ~ Durango Nordic Ski Club~ Our Own Lives ~ San Juan Symphony~ iAM Music ~ 4CORE

2026 Nonprofit Timeline

  • Application will open: January 9
  • Application will close: February 9
  • Final organizations will be announced: Mid-February
  • All-grantee planning meeting: Friday, February 27, 9:00 – 9:45 AM – save the date in case you are selected – one rep from each organization is required to attend.
  • Mandatory Zoom meeting for all volunteer participants: Thursday, April 16. Every volunteer must attend.
  • All-grantee wrap-up meeting: May 12, 9:00 – 9:45 AM

DWE Nonprofit Partnership 2026

  • If you are using a fiscal sponsor to apply, provide the fiscal sponsor's EIN.
  • Max. file size: 128 MB.
    Please upload a letter from your fiscal sponsor, dated within the year, specifying that your nonprofit has authorization to use their tax deductible status. The fiscal sponsor should also stipulate that it will ensure that funds are expended for charitable purposes.
  • Provide the name(s) of the person(s) in your organization who will be the primary person in charge of your volunteers on Friday and Saturday.
  • Tell us why you are interested in participating in the DWE Nonprofit Partnership Grant and, if selected, how your organization would benefit (300 words max.).
  • We understand that we are committing to provide the DWE events four volunteers each day (3:15 to 8:00 PM on Friday, April 24 and a three-hour shift between 8:30 AM and 8:00 PM on Saturday, April 25). Volunteers need to be physically able to stand/walk for four hours and be able to carry up to 30 lbs. (wine cases, recycling, water jugs, trash, etc.), helping our wine vendors as needed: carrying ice, greeting guests, ensuring alcohol does not leave the premises, etc.
  • Your organization will have the opportunity to share your mission with the valuable demographic of Wine Experience attendees while visiting with DWE guests, while carrying out your volunteer duties. You may bring limited marketing brochures, handouts, etc. Your volunteers will wear a DWE apron, and should plan to represent your organization in some creative way – think t-shirts, hats, name tags, etc. Do you agree to follow the guidelines provided?
  • If submission is successful, you should receive a message that says we will contact you shortly.

    If submission is not successful, scroll down to see what information is missing (highlighted in red).
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