What We Do

The Napa Valley College Foundation supports Napa Valley College and its goal of excellence by building and promoting essential partnerships between the College and the community.

The Foundation grants scholarships, supports development of improved methods of instruction, provides for capital improvements, and supports student success programs. Together, the Foundation and the College empower students to help them reach their educational goals and career dreams.

What We Do

The Napa Valley College Foundation supports Napa Valley College and its goal of excellence by building and promoting essential partnerships between the College and the community.

The Foundation grants scholarships, supports development of improved methods of instruction, provides for capital improvements, and supports student success programs. Together, the Foundation and the College empower students to help them reach their educational goals and career dreams.

Program Support

The Napa Valley College Foundation provides program support to help faculty, staff, and student organizations improve student success and teaching/learning effectiveness.  This support enhances the College’s ability to foster an excellent learning environment.

Small Grants

Small grants are provided to improve student success in new and creative ways that supplement regular college funding.  Projects must be approved annually by the Napa Valley College Foundation Board of Directors and applications are due annually by June 1stTo apply, please click here.

For more information contact:
Jessica Thomason, Executive Director
(707) 256-7509
[email protected]

“The scholarship I received helped my academic career immensely and reduced my stress. As a working student, I was so grateful to have many of my financial burdens relieved with this scholarship. It allowed me to pay for my education and take care of other bills without having to increase my hours at work. This gave me more time with my studies, and with my family, which was a huge blessing!”

Luz Robles, Dr. Chris McCarthy Scholarship

“I am grateful to the Foundation donors for their wonderful contributions, which have enabled me to get my college degree. I have completed many things I never dreamed I could do, because of their help. I am eternally grateful for their kindness because this scholarship made a significant difference in my education. Without this support, I would have missed the many service-learning volunteer opportunities and internships I experienced as part of my college career.”

Ciairra Duffy, Peter and Vernice Gasser Foundation Scholarship, Alvin and Jeanne Soliday Scholarship

“The scholarships I was awarded saw me through tough times and helped me make ends meet while commuting long distances to class. I am genuinely grateful for all the help I received, and for those who stood behind me as I forged a new path for myself. Because of the generosity of Foundation donors, I was able to transfer to UC Davis and I am currently studying viticulture and enology with plans to graduate in 2023.”

Kristina Zmuda, Orange County Wine Society Scholarship, Elks Larison Career Technical Educational Scholarship, Antonio J. Baldini Family Scholarship

Capital Improvement

The Foundation provides funding support for state-of-the-art learning facilities by leveraging community partnerships on behalf of the College.

Current Campaign

The Campaign for Napa Valley: A Wine Education Center envisions transforming a good wine education school into a world-class wine education center with a world-class learning environment. A campus within a campus, the Wine Education Center will bring students and the community together around a state-of-the-art wine education facility. It will inspire students to learn the newest and best viticulture and winemaking practices grounded in the latest science and prepare them to serve the community and gain successful employment. For more information on this campaign, click here.

“I am grateful to the Foundation donors for their wonderful contributions, which have enabled me to get my college degree. I have completed many things I never dreamed I could do, because of their help. I am eternally grateful for their kindness because this scholarship made a significant difference in my education. Without this support, I would have missed the many service-learning volunteer opportunities and internships I experienced as part of my college career.”

Ciairra Duffy, Peter and Vernice Gasser Foundation Scholarship, Alvin and Jeanne Soliday Scholarship

“The scholarships I was awarded saw me through tough times and helped me make ends meet while commuting long distances to class. I am genuinely grateful for all the help I received, and for those who stood behind me as I forged a new path for myself. Because of the generosity of Foundation donors, I was able to transfer to UC Davis and I am currently studying viticulture and enology with plans to graduate in 2023.”

Kristina Zmuda, Orange County Wine Society Scholarship, Elks Larison Career Technical Educational Scholarship, Antonio J. Baldini Family Scholarship

“The scholarship I received helped my academic career immensely and reduced my stress. As a working student, I was so grateful to have many of my financial burdens relieved with this scholarship. It allowed me to pay for my education and take care of other bills without having to increase my hours at work. This gave me more time with my studies, and with my family, which was a huge blessing!”

Luz Robles, Dr. Chris McCarthy Scholarship

Scholarships

Scholarships and financial assistance help make the college experience affordable and accessible.  The Foundation’s Scholarship Program directly provides for student needs and is the college’s most vital philanthropic tradition. The generosity of Napa Valley College donors, alumni, and friends over the years has enabled the Foundation to grow an effective scholarship program that has benefited generations of students.

Every student has fundamental educational needs.

The first-generation student who takes night classes after working an all-day shift at a winery.

A single parent struggling to balance their job, caring for their children, and completing an education that will lift their family out of a difficult situation.

An older worker diligently pursuing a second career to supplement their fixed income.

These are Napa Valley College students, and they all need your help, learn more.

“Words cannot express my gratitude for the funds I received through the donor’s generosity in support of students at Napa Valley College.” 

 – Marissa Wilkins, Scholarship Recipient

Our Impact

The Foundation’s efforts in growing more resources for the college directly result from your continued generosity and support. Here are the stories that demonstrate the impact of your gifts and the results of your generosity. Read more about how the support of our community is changing lives.  Read more in our Impact Report.

FY 2023-2024 Highlights:

$0
foundation endowment
$0
donated to the Annual Fund & Programming
$0
pledged for Wine Education
$0
in scholarships awarded
0
scholarship recipients