Does Total Wine & More donate to fundraisers?

Total Wine & More helps registered 501(c)(3) nonprofits with fundraising events through in-kind donations for auctions and discounts on wine, and on spirits where the law allows.

Auction item: a private wine class for 20 people, hosted in a Total Wine store classroom and valued at $600 ($300 in New Jersey and Oklahoma). It is not available in Michigan, South Carolina, Washington, Wisconsin or most of North Carolina, and kosher wine classes are currently unavailable.

Wine and spirits discount: Winery Direct wines at cost (a 30% discount) and Spirits Direct spirits at cost (a 10% discount). The wine discount is not available in Connecticut, Indiana, Louisiana, Massachusetts or Michigan; the spirits discount is also unavailable in North Carolina and Virginia.

The at-cost Winery Direct wines can also be used for wine pulls and 'start your own cellar' auction items.

Tips from the program page: Check your state before you plan an auction around a wine class or an at-cost wine order: availability varies by state law. · If you are buying wine for the event, Total Wine says its team will work within your budget and advise on quantities.

What Total Wine & More donates

Total Wine & More donates auction item and at-cost wine and spirits.

Total Wine & More has typically donated: A private wine class for 20 as an auction item, plus Winery Direct wines and Spirits Direct spirits offered at cost.

Who can apply

Total Wine & More donates to organizations with 501(c)(3) nonprofit status.

Total Wine & More limits donation requests by area: States with a Total Wine & More store; the class and discount are unavailable in some states.

How to apply

Total Wine & More asks every request to include the following.

• The person applying must be 21 or older.
• Your event must be in a state with a Total Wine & More store.
• Submit auction item and wine and spirits discount requests at least eight weeks before the event.
• Apply online through Total Wine's community request portal by choosing 'Submit a new application'.

What Total Wine & More will not fund

Total Wine & More states in its own published guidelines that it will not fund the following.

• Applicants under 21

This covers only what Total Wine & More states. A request can still be turned down for reasons a company does not publish.

When to ask

Total Wine & More states a lead time of 8 weeks. Count back that far from your event date and send the request no later than then.

Across more than 25,000 fundraising events in our own records over fifteen years, March, April and May are the busiest months for fundraisers, October is the next busiest, and July and December are the quietest.

Work backwards from your event rather than forwards from today, and if your event falls in the spring peak, ask earlier than the stated lead time rather than later.

Common questions

Do I need to be a 501(c)(3) to request a donation from Total Wine & More?

Yes. Total Wine & More's donation program is limited to organizations with 501(c)(3) nonprofit status, so you will need your determination letter and Tax ID before you apply.

Can a school, team, or individual apply to Total Wine & More?

Total Wine & More states that it will not fund: Applicants under 21. Check your organization and your event against that list before you apply — those are the restrictions Total Wine & More publishes itself.

How far ahead should we ask Total Wine & More for a donation?

Total Wine & More's stated lead time is 8 weeks. Work backwards from your event date: count back that far from the day of the event and send your request before that point.