Charitable Contributions Program
Chateau Ste. Michelle has been a proud supporter of charitable organizations for more than 40 years. As a founder of the Washington wine industry, Chateau Ste. Michelle believes it has a responsibility to champion programs in our local communities.
Ste. Michelle's Charitable Contributions Program provides philanthropic support throughout the U.S. where our employees live and work. Special emphasis is placed on programs that focus on:
Contribution Highlights
Auction of Washington Wines - Founded in 1988, the Auction of Washington Wines represents the Washington wine industry’s gift to the community and is the largest charity auction in the country featuring Washington wine. Hosted on the grounds of Chateau Ste. Michelle winery, the auction benefits Seattle Children's Hospital Foundation and the Washington Wine Education Foundation. In 2011, nearly 2,500 guests attended the three-day wine auction weekend, raising $1.5 million, bringing the total raised to over $26 million in 24 years.
Chateau Ste. Michelle Scholarship Fund - In 2002, Chateau Ste. Michelle established a scholarship fund to support high-achieving, underrepresented minority undergraduates at Washington State University and the University of Washington. The program expanded in 2009 to include students attending any college or university in Washington state.
The program has awarded more than 100 scholarships totaling $2.8 million since inception. Students in the program, administered by the College Success Foundation, have an 85-90 percent graduation rate.
Washington Wine Education Foundation - Chateau Ste. Michelle supports the Washington Wine Education Foundation. A portion of the funds raised during the Auction of Washington Wines are directed to the Foundation and dedicated to the Washington State University Viticulture and Enology Program and an endowed chair position at Washington State University. The program supports the growth of the industry by providing cutting-edge research and by training the next generation of vintners and grape growers.
Charitable Contribution Requests - Organizations requesting a charitable contribution must be classified by the Internal Revenue Service as eligible to receive a tax deductible contribution and be a 501 (c) (3) organization. All requests must be made via email. Download the Donation Request Form and submit the PDF form to charitable.contributions@smwe.com 6-8 weeks prior to the event. Requests submitted with less notice may be denied without review. After review by our Contributions Committee you will be notified of the status of your request via email.
