About
The DISCUS Foundation 501(c)(3) is the charitable arm of the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States. The Foundation is operated exclusively for charitable purposes and was created to increase awareness, provide education, and increase opportunities for the betterment of the distilled spirits industry.
DISCUS Foundation has five primary goals to support the spirits industry:
Scholarship Distribution
Provide education scholarships that help to support personal and business development within the industry, as well as, to support the growth of a diverse talent pipeline.
Sustainability
Increase awareness and adoption of industry sustainability best practices.
Diversity
Increase opportunities and funding for diverse distilleries and promote diversity across all levels of employment throughout the industry.
Responsibility
Promote social responsibility and advertising guidelines best practices and educate consumers and businesses on responsible consumption.
Support Growth
General awareness, education, and research on key topics that will increase opportunities, support growth, and serve the distilled spirits industry.
Donate
You Can Make a Difference
The DISCUS Foundation supports the industry in many key initiatives that drive the spirts industry forward. Education and scholarships are key to our efforts. Your tax-deductible donation to the DISCUS Foundation can be applied to a specific initiative, or to the general fund to be used for the initiative in most need.
DISCUS Foundation is organized and operated as a charitable foundation described in section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.
Corporate Giving Levels
Presidential: $100,000 and above
Champion: $35,000 – $99,999
Hero: $15,000 – $34,999
Ambassador: $5,000 – $14,999
Ally: $1,000 – $4,999
Supporter: $100 – $999
For questions, invoices, and corporate giving please contact [email protected].
DISCUS Foundation Scholarships
The 2023 Winter Scholarship Award application period is now closed.
Check back for more information on the next scholarship opportunity.
See below for the 2023 Winter Scholarship Award Recipients
Congratulations to DISCUS Foundation's first Award Recipients
Shercole is a lover of all things Bourbon and Cocktails. Shercole is the founder of Champagne Hermione, a brand focused on bourbon and cocktail education geared to expand knowledge to women and people of color about spirits and production. In addition, Shercole founded a drinking club called Fancy Lady Happy Hour Society, which currently has a diverse group of over 100 members, focused on expanded spirit knowledge, responsible drinking, and food pairing. Shercole was awarded her WSET Level 1 Spirits in 2021 and completed certifications through Bar Smarts. Shercole is working to continue her Bourbon education and expand her programming to focus more on Bourbon Knowledge and pairing opportunities. Shercole also works within the human services industry focusing on technology and data.
Shercole King, Founder, Champagne Hermoine
Quiana has committed 15 years to the experiential marketing industry and has a true passion for branding events, integrated marketing campaigns and spirits. She’s been a brand ambassador, digital marketer, event coordinator and or tour manager for over 1000 brand activations with all types of brands from BudLight, Facebook and Xfinity to Samsung, Starbucks and Apothic Red Wine. Now working as the Digital & Social Content Specialist at Breakthru Beverage Group, she also loves attending and hosting beverage events like brand trainings, cocktail classes, industry panels and liquor tastings as well as producing alcohol content with her brand @BrownLiquorBabe. In addition to continuing her event series “BOLT: Black Owned Liquor Tasting” with which she highlighted different Black-owned liquor brands during monthly, themed tasting events for her subscribers and colleagues, Quiana also aspires to do many things in the alcohol industry in the coming years such as gain more certifications in Japanese spirits, Agave spirits, champagne, whiskey and more from different institutions, host a traveling panel, conference and hiring event called “More Than ‘Bottle Girls’,” highlighting the importance of women in the spirits industry and to ultimately become “the Anthony Bourdain of liquor” traveling around the world highlighting the importance of alcohol in different cultures.
Quiana Green, Digital & Social Content Specialist, Breakthru Beverage Group
Corey Goldfarb, West Palm Beach, FL, grew up in the hospitality industry, beginning his career with Marriott in 2009. A promotion eventually took him to Nashville, TN where he found a love for America’s native spirit, bourbon. It was during this time he found Whiskey University, an organization whose sole mission is to educate the public about the history and virtues of Bourbon, Tennessee Whiskey and other various North American Whiskeys. After participating in a number of virtual classes, and with a move to his home state of Florida on the horizon, Corey had the opportunity to join Whiskey University as an instructor. Since then, Corey has earned his Whiskey University Master of Science Degree and the title of Chartered Master Bourbon Taster. He teaches locally in the Palm Beach area as well as regularly through Whiskey University’s live, virtual classes.
Corey Goldfarb, Senior Sales Manager, Palm Beach Marriott Singer Island Beach Resort & Spa
Carlo Luri Memorial Scholarship Fund for the DISCUS Academy Executive Leadership Program
The Carlo Luri Memorial Scholarship Fund for the Executive Leadership Program is an annual scholarship given to a deserving Craft distiller who wishes to participate in the Executive Leadership Fund. Applications for the scholarship will be available in Fall 2023 for the 2024 Leadership Program. Donations to the scholarship can be made by choosing the "The Carlo Luri Memorial Scholarship Fund" when completing the donation form above.
The Scholarship Fund honors Carlo Luri, Director of Government Affairs at Bentley Heritage Estate Distillery, who participated in DISCUS Academy's inaugural Executive Leadership Cohort. An active member of the craft community and avid cyclist, Carlo lost his battle to Brain Cancer in December 2022. With Carlo's passing, DISCUS Foundation sought to establish a scholarship fund to provide an opportunity for craft distillers to participate in the Executive Leadership Program.
Eligible educational programs:
Moonshine University
Wine & Spirits Education Trust
Niagara College Artisan Distilling Program
DISCUS Academy
University of Kentucky Distillation, Wine & Brewing Studies
University of Louisville, Online Distilled Spirits Business Certificate
Women of the Vine & Spirits, Approved Program Provider WSET Courses
Other qualified distilled spirits educational programs subject to approvals
If a recipient selects a program that is not on the eligible list, then Applicant will engage in an authorization process, by reviewing the program and ensuring it meets clear requirements for approval listed below. All approvals and denials will be clearly documented and will be based on specified criteria.
Criteria for approval of institutions:
Mission
The institution’s mission is clear and articulated publicly; it guides the institution’s operations and aligns with the goals of the Foundation.
Integrity
The institution acts with integrity; its conduct is ethical and responsible.
Teaching and Learning
The institution provides quality education, wherever and however its offerings are delivered.
Evaluation and Improvement
The institution demonstrates responsibility for the quality of its educational programs, learning environments, and support services, and it evaluates their effectiveness for student learning through processes designed to promote continuous improvement.
Finally, DISCUS Foundation requires that scholarship recipients must provide proof that the funds provided were used for their intended purpose within 30 days of scheduled completion.
