NYWGF 2026 Commercial Grape Grower Board Application

New York Wine & Grape Foundation
2026 Board Application
Commercial Grape Grower At-Large Seat

About This Opportunity
The NYWGF Board of Directors is seeking one (1) qualified Commercial Grape Grower to fill an At-Large board seat. This recruitment reflects the Board’s commitment to ensuring that the voice of New York’s commercial grape growing community is well represented in the Foundation’s governance and decision-making.

Who We Are Looking For
For purposes of this recruitment, a Commercial Grape Grower is any person or entity actively engaged in operating a grape growing business in New York State. Qualified candidates will:

•Be an owner, co-owner, or senior member of the management team of a commercial vineyard operation in New York State;

•Be actively involved in vineyard management, including decisions about variety selection, cultural practices, and harvest;

•Grow a diversity of grape varieties, including labrusca, hybrid, and vinifera cultivars; and

•Preferably, sell a significant share of their grape production to third-party processors (wineries, juice processors, or other commercial buyers) — though growers who process their own grapes are also encouraged to apply.

There is no geographic restriction on applicants. Growers from all regions of New York State are encouraged to apply.

Process & Timeline
Please submit your application by July 9, 2026. Applications will be reviewed by the NYWGF Governance Committee at its meeting on July 16, 2026. The Governance Committee will make its recommendation to the full Board for a vote.
Newly appointed board members will begin their term of service on August 1, 2026.

For more information about our Board of Directors, bylaws, Board Job Description, and NYWGF’s Strategic Plan and Annual Report, visit newyorkwines.org/board-applications.

PLEASE NOTE: ALL APPLICATIONS WILL BE KEPT CONFIDENTIAL.

Name

First NameLast Name

Business/Vineyard Name

Please include job title, if applicable.

Your Title or Role at the Vineyard (e.g., Owner, Co-Owner, General Manager, Vineyard Manager)

Business / Vineyard Address

Street Address

Street Address Line 2

CityState / Province

Postal / Zip Code

Email

example@example.com

Phone Number

Format: (000) 000-0000.

Which New York wine/grape region or AVA best represents your primary affiliation or base of operations?

If you selected "Other", please describe further.

Approximately how many total acres of grapes do you currently have in production?

A rough number is fine. The purpose is to establish commercial scale, not to audit acreage precisely.

Which of the following grape variety categories do you currently grow commercially? (Select all that apply.)

If you selected "Other", please describe further.

Briefly describe your role in managing the vineyard operation. What are your primary day-to-day or seasonal responsibilities?

Approximately what share of your annual grape production is sold to third-party buyers (wineries, juice processors, or other commercial purchasers)?

What draws you to NYWGF specifically, and what do you personally hope to contribute to — and gain from — board service? Please be as specific as possible.

What do you see as 1–2 of the most pressing challenges facing commercial grape growers in New York today, and where do you see the greatest opportunities?

Serving on a nonprofit board involves real governance responsibilities — including fiduciary oversight, strategic decision-making, and serving as an ambassador for the organization’s mission. In your own words, how do you understand the role of a nonprofit board member, and what experience or preparation do you bring to these responsibilities?

Describe your background serving on non-profit boards and your involvement with organizations that serve the grape/wine industry (or agriculture industry)?

How will your participation on the NYWGF board contribute to improved overall organizational governance and ensure that our programming aligns with the organization's mission?

How do you feel you can best contribute time and effort to help the New York Wine & Grape Foundation achieve its mission?

NYWGF board service involves: four (4) quarterly Board meetings per year (approximately 3 hours each, held in-person or via teleconference); four (4) quarterly committee meetings per year (approximately 1 hour each, held exclusively via teleconference); and availability to support NYWGF events and activities in your home region throughout the year. New board members will begin their term on August 1, 2026. Do you have any concerns or scheduling conflicts that may affect your ability to meet this commitment? If so, please describe how you would manage them.

Board Expertise: Please indicate any boards on which you currently serve or have previously served, as well as any Officer positions you held.

Other Organizational Expertise: Please indicate any other charitable or community activities in which you have been/or are presently involved?

Memberships and Associations (professional, social, etc.): Please indicate whether they are current affiliations or past.

Areas of Expertise — Please select up to four that best represent your professional expertise:

If you selected "Other" for Skills/Areas of Expertise, please describe further.

Personal Governance Style — Please select up to two that best describe how you tend to show up in a board or committee setting:

Networks & Community Connections — Please check all that apply to your professional or community network:

If you selected "Other", please describe further.

Who recommended you for board service or how did you learn about this opportunity?

Please identify at least two references we can speak with.

Please upload bio, resume and/or a letter(s) of support

New York Wine & Grape Foundation2026 Board Application Commercial Grape Grower At-Large Seat

Board Application

Board Composition Profile

New York Wine & Grape Foundation
2026 Board Application
Commercial Grape Grower At-Large Seat