Board of Directors

Every May the New York Wine & Grape Foundation (NYWGF) Board of Directors meets to elect members of the industry to board seats with expiring terms. The term of office for directors is three years and there are currently 21 members of the Board of Directors. Thirteen (13) board seats are statutorily mandated by the law that created NYWGF in 1985, and there are eight (8) at large board seats. NYWGF aims to establish a Board comprised of Directors representing a diversity of regions, business sizes and models, demographics, and functional professional expertise. 

The NYWGF Board of Directors is a “self-perpetuating” board by virtue of our bylaws. The organization feels that it is important to solicit the industry for interested applicants. While voting is not a ‘right’ of NYWGF membership, we do prioritize being transparent in this process and we appreciate the interest in participating on the board. Please note that the applications will all be reviewed, but that the final board member nominee(s) may come from the internal board process itself. 

This year, the NYWGF Board of Directors is seeking applications for one (1) At Large board seat.  We are specifically seeking candidates who are attorneys at law (or someone proficient in non-profit governance best practices), possess experience serving on non-profit boards, and are passionate about New York’s grape and wine industry. 

Additional qualifications include:  

• Working knowledge of non-profit law and the New York non-profit revitalization act 
• Understands risk management and regulatory compliance issues specific to non-profit businesses 
• Practiced in reading and understanding non-profit financial statements 
• Ability to provide thought leadership, and entrepreneurial and strategic thinking 

Note that NYWGF retains the legal services of Nixon Peabody LLP.  The NYWGF Board allocates part of the organization’s annual budget to cover expenses related to legal work completed by Nixon Peabody LLP. 

The Attorney at law nominated to join the NYWGF Board will not be expected to serve as the NYWGF’s legal counsel or be the sole source of legal advice.  We do want to recruit a candidate that can make a tangible contribution to improving the NYWGF Board’s governance practices. 

The NYWGF Board will review the applications and vote to elect new Board Directors at its May 24, 2023 Board Meeting.