Academie Du Vin Foundation

Charity Number: 1180436

Annual Expenditure: £0.3M

Stay updated on changes from Academie Du Vin Foundation and other funders

Get daily notifications about new funding opportunities, deadline changes, and programme updates from UK funders.

Free Email Updates

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: £281,025 (2024)
  • Success Rate: Not publicly available
  • Decision Time: Not publicly specified
  • Grant Range: £2,500 - £5,000 (individual scholarships and bursaries)
  • Geographic Focus: International (primarily UK-based with global reach)
  • Total Income: £402,060 (2024)

Contact Details

Website: www.iwsc.net

Email: info@iwsc.net

Phone: +44 (0)20 8154 6989 / 7958758665

Address: 222 Kensal Rd Unit 210, London, Greater London, W10 5BN, United Kingdom

Foundation Email: tw@theconversionfund.com

Overview

The Academie du Vin Foundation, operating publicly as the IWSC Foundation, is a UK registered charity (CIO number 1180436) established in October 2018. With an annual income of £402,060 and expenditure of £281,025 (financial year ending March 2024), the Foundation serves as the charitable arm of the International Wine & Spirit Competition (IWSC). The Foundation advances education for persons over age 16 through providing access to training, education, and work experience in wine and spirits, viniculture, horticulture, and sustainable agriculture. Additionally, it provides relief of poverty and sickness, particularly for those who have worked in the alcoholic beverage industry, including those affected by alcoholism and alcohol-related diseases. The IWSC is owned by The Conversion Group, which includes Club Oenologique, Fine + Rare, The Whisky Lounge, and Academie du Vin, providing access to a wider community of experts.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Master of Wine (MW) Scholarships: £5,000 per scholarship

  • Typically 2-10 scholarships awarded annually to support candidates through their MW studies
  • Application requires an 800-word article on a wine-related theme (e.g., “a person, place or drink that helped ignite their passion for wine” or “a love letter to wine”)
  • Winners have their articles published online by Club Oenologique
  • Awarded annually since 2018

WSET Scholarships: Amount varies

  • Annual scholarship to support students furthering their wine education with the Wine & Spirit Education Trust
  • Specific amounts not publicly disclosed

Emerging Talent Awards: £2,500 travel bursary per winner

  • Six awards annually covering different categories:
  • Emerging Talent in Wine
  • Emerging Talent in Wine Hospitality
  • Emerging Talent in Spirits
  • Emerging Talent in Spirits Communication
  • Additional categories (specific names vary by year)
  • Open to all ages and professions within the drinks trade
  • Designed for new and exciting voices within the industry
  • Bursaries must be used for educational purposes, such as travel to wine regions, educational trips, or new educational courses

Priority Areas

  • Wine and spirits education and professional development
  • Support for industry professionals pursuing advanced qualifications (MW, WSET, ASI)
  • Emerging talent development across wine and spirits sectors
  • Industry workers facing poverty or sickness, particularly related to alcoholism and alcohol-related diseases
  • Viniculture, horticulture, and sustainable agriculture education

What They Don't Fund

  • Personal or non-career-related activities (for Emerging Talent bursaries)
  • Individuals under 16 years of age
  • Education outside wine and spirits sectors
Helpful Hinchilla

Ready to write a winning application for Academie Du Vin Foundation?

Our AI helps you craft proposals that match their exact priorities. Save 10+ hours and increase your success rate.

Get Free Beta Access

Governance and Leadership

The Foundation is governed by 4 trustees, with some receiving payments or benefits for services to the charity. One or more trustees also serve as directors of the charity's subsidiaries. Specific trustee names are not publicly disclosed in available materials.

The Foundation partners with key industry organizations:

  • The Institute of Masters of Wine
  • The Drinks Trust
  • Wine and Spirit Education Trust (WSET)

Funding is generated through auctions of leftover competition bottles conducted by Bellman's Fine Art Auctions at the end of each award year.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

Master of Wine Scholarships:

Applications are managed through the Institute of Masters of Wine. Candidates must submit an 800-word article on a specified theme. Specific application deadlines are not publicly advertised; interested applicants should contact the Institute of Masters of Wine or check their website for current opportunities.

WSET Scholarships:

Application details not publicly available. Contact the Foundation at info@iwsc.net for information.

Emerging Talent Awards:

Nomination and application process not fully detailed in public materials. Awards are announced annually as part of the IWSC awards programme.

General Grants:

The Foundation states it "awards grants to individuals and organisations that support and advance the Foundations' core objectives." For general grant inquiries, contact info@iwsc.net.

Decision Timeline

Specific timelines from application to decision are not publicly disclosed. Master of Wine scholarship recipients are typically announced annually, with awards coordinated around the MW study programme calendar.

Success Rates

Success rates are not publicly available. The Foundation has awarded between 2-10 MW scholarships in different years, depending on available funds.

Reapplication Policy

No specific reapplication restrictions documented. Given the Foundation's educational focus, unsuccessful applicants appear able to apply in subsequent years.

Application Success Factors

For Master of Wine Scholarships:

  • Strong, engaging 800-word article that demonstrates genuine passion for wine
  • Clear articulation of how the scholarship will support MW study progression
  • Prerequisite: Generally hold WSET Diploma before entering MW programme
  • Writing quality matters: winning articles are published by Club Oenologique

For Emerging Talent Awards:

  • Demonstrated innovation or fresh perspective in the wine/spirits industry
  • Clear educational purpose for the travel bursary
  • Specific, actionable plan for how the £2,500 will further professional development
  • Open to all ages and career stages, emphasizing “new and exciting voices”

General Considerations:

  • Alignment with the Foundation's educational objectives
  • Demonstration of need for access to training or education that might otherwise be unavailable
  • Connection to wine and spirits sector, viniculture, horticulture, or sustainable agriculture
  • For industry workers facing hardship: connection to alcoholic beverage industry

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • The Foundation operates under two names: officially registered as “Academie du Vin Foundation” but publicly known as “IWSC Foundation”
  • Primary focus is educational grants and scholarships rather than institutional funding
  • Strong preference for supporting those who wouldn't otherwise have access to opportunities
  • Application processes are largely managed through partner organizations (Institute of Masters of Wine, WSET)
  • For Master of Wine candidates, writing quality is critical as winning essays are published
  • Emerging Talent bursaries must demonstrate clear educational value and career development purpose
  • Funding comes from wine/spirits bottle auctions, connecting the competition's commercial activity to charitable purposes
  • Limited public information on application deadlines—proactive contact recommended
  • The Foundation is part of The Conversion Group ecosystem, providing access to broader industry networks

🎯 You've done the research. Now write an application they can't refuse.

Hinchilla combines funder's specific priorities with your organisation's past successful grants and AI analysis of what reviewers want to see.

✓

Data privacy and security by default

✓

Your organisation's past successful grants and experience

✓

AI analysis of what reviewers want to see

✓

A compelling draft application in 10 minutes instead of 10 hours

Get Beta Access NowLearn More

References