At this time of year, many “days” pop up – Cyber Monday, Black Friday, and Giving Tuesday, to name a few. Cyber Monday and Black Friday promote consumerism and capitalism for many of us. However, Giving Tuesday is a contrasting opportunity for us to participate in something more for our society and communities.
We want to relay how thankful we are to our readers and supporters of BIFE. After all, our work is only made possible by our amazing supporters and donors like you.
Reflecting on that, we seek to uncover how Giving Tuesday came to be and how another “day” in November evolved into a global movement that stands for a simple yet profound belief: That we all have something to give and that every act of generosity counts.
Giving Tuesday’s Origins
Created in 2012, Giving Tuesday was created for the Innovation & Social Impact organization in New York City. Its mission was simple: “a day that encourages people to do good. Now hitting its 10th anniversary, Giving Tuesday has grown into a “year-round global movement inspiring hundreds of millions of people to give, collaborate, and celebrate generosity.” Now with its own non-profit organization, Giving Tuesday promotes a world where generosity is integrated into everyday life.
BIFE believes the ethos of Giving Tuesday fits right into what the craft beer community stands for – whether it’s making someone smile, helping a neighbor or stranger, or showing up for an issue or cause we care about. Recently, we’ve done our best to highlight breweries who contribute to building a better world, so it made sense for us to create a BIFE Guide to Giving Tuesday. This guide combines the crossroads of craft beer and this fantastic movement.
We wanted to highlight and encourage the role of non-profits in the craft beer community and industry. Almost all non-profits rely heavily on community support, and Giving Tuesday is one of the most significant days for fundraising. While many non-profits deserve your support today and every day, we ask you to consider how these beer organizations are making a powerful impact on the landscape of beer.
Craft beer has become a sanctuary for many of us; we are invested in the community through vocation and passion. Beer has been the catalyst for creating countless relationships, experiences, and memories. It is a part of our lives. So, the organizations that serve to promote the betterment of the places and spaces where beer exists are not only relevant but invaluable.
The logical adage, support those that support you, is applicable. There are several inspiring beer-focused organizations that work to ensure the progress and future of our industry. Therefore, we highly encourage you to support them today and all days.
Infinite Ingredient
Infinite Ingredient is a 501(c)(3) non-profit with a mission to actively support the mental and physical well-being of individuals in the craft beer industry through outreach, education, and access to resources. Alongside the launch of the Infinite Ingredient’s campaign is their fundraising goal to raise the capital necessary to provide access to strictly confidential Employee Assistance Program benefits for all 150,000 people and their immediate families working in the craft beer industry. Intending to raise $1,200,000, Infinite Ingredient has raised nearly $30,000 in 64 donations, providing benefits of 24/7/365 access to Master’s level counselors, legal and financial resources, work and life resources, and coaching resources for life transitions and insurance navigation.
Website: infiniteingredient.org
Organization Designation: 501(c)(3) Non-Profit
Mission: To actively support the mental and physical well-being of individuals working in the craft beverage industry through outreach, education, and access to resources.
Location: Minneapolis, Minnesota
Instagram: @infinite.ingredient
Facebook: Infinite Ingredient
DONATE to Infinite Ingredient here.
Lifting Lucy
Lifting Lucy is a national BIWOC (Black, Indigenous, and Women of Color) organization. They create beer industry events with education and organizations and provide opportunities, events, and support to BIWOC. Lifting Lucy started with a vision to support the most underrepresented communities in the brewing industry: Black, Indigenous, and all Women of Color. Since then, Lifting Lucy has evolved into a promise and commitment to host conferences, forums, workshops, and other industry events to support BIWOC.
Website: liftinglucy.org
Organization Designation: 509(a)(2) Non-Profit
Mission: To support the most underrepresented communities within brewing industry businesses – Black, Indigenous, and other Women of Color.
Instagram: @biwocinbeer
Facebook: Lifting Lucy
DONATE to Lifting Lucy here.
Beer Kulture
Beer Kulture’s motto is “Together, we can change the world – one beer at a time.” Truthfully, Beer Kulture puts its money where its mouth is by advancing and creating opportunities that, as they write on their website, “foster diversity, equity, and inclusion within the craft beverage space.” Since its conception in 2017, Beer Kulture has created a community, provided resources, and demonstrated a commitment to the work necessary to move the Kulture forward. Through the collaboration of internal and external partnerships, Beer Kulture continues to support the emerging needs of Black, African American, Hispanic, Native American, Pacific Islander, and BIPOC communities within the craft beer industry.
Website: beerkulture.com
Organization Designation: 501(c)(3) Non-Profit
Mission: To increase diversity, inclusion, and equity through humanitarian assistance, educational programs, and compassionate community services.
Instagram: @beerkulture
Facebook: Beer Kulture
DONATE to Beer Kulture here.
Fermenta Michigan
Fermenta is a women’s craft collective, which includes a host of corp members, board-elected members, and sponsors. They create events to raise donations for scholarships for women’s education and empowerment. Fermenta has three focal points for memberships: Networking, Education, and Empowerment. Essentially combining a community of women and professionals who enjoy teaching others about crafts and skills, Fermenta hosts annual education events within the fermented beverage and food industry. These events not only help raise funds for a yearly class of scholarship recipients, but Fermenta has also created a way for women in crafts to collaborate and fight against any discrimination, hate, and abuse of any kind.
Website: fermentamichigan.org
Organization Designation: 501(c)(3) Non-Profit
Mission: To commit to education, networking, diversity, and empowerment within the fermented beverage and food industries.
Location: Detroit, Michigan
Instagram: @fermenta_mi
Facebook: Fermenta: Michigan Women’s Craft Collective
DONATE to Fermenta here.
Ales for ALS
We’ve had the privilege to cover Ales for ALS in some of our past articles. Still, we’ll highlight Ales for ALS again for its fantastic work supporting research for ALS Therapy Development Institute (ALS TDI). The best thing about Ales for ALS is that the movement invites breweries worldwide to craft Ales for ALS beers, where portions of the proceeds go to ALS research. This means, chances are, some of your favorite breweries have Ales for ALS brews that you can purchase to support this vital cause directly. For instance, Faction Brewing hosts an Ales for ALS Festival every year in September, where 40+ regional brewers come together in support of this meaningful cause. Here is a list of participating Breweries for Ales for ALS.
Website: a4a.als.net
Organization Designation: Fundraising Program
Mission: To raise funds and awareness for ALS, or Lou Gehrig’s disease.
Instagram: @alesforals
Facebook: Ales for ALS
DONATE to Ales for ALS here.
Pink Boots Society
Pink Boots Society is a society BIFE can get behind as this wonderful collective exists to assist, inspire, and encourage women and non-binary folks in the fermented/alcoholic beverage industry through education. Made up of several chapters, this excellent society has crafted a community, connecting volunteers with members to host educational and networking events, in addition, to donating to the Pink Boots Society and raising funds for scholarships. Collaborating with some of the biggest brands in craft beer, the Pink Boots Society offers members a way to support education for women and non-binary individuals in the craft beer industry and the greater fermentation industries. Through efforts such as directly supporting students in advancing their careers and, in turn, making the craft beer industry a more representative, inclusive, and equitable place for women and non-binary people.
Website: pinkbootssociety.org
Organization Designation: 501(c)(3) Non-Profit
Mission: To assist, inspire, and encourage women and non-binary individuals in the fermented/alcoholic beverage industry through education.
Facebook: Pink Boots Society
DONATE to the Pink Boots Society here.
Tha CommUNITY Brew
You can’t spell community with unity, and what better community than the craft beer community to band together and help make our industry more inclusive, equitable, and representative? Tha CommUNITY Brew, much like Ales for ALS, invites brewers to launch an initiative to bring more People of Color into the taproom. Led by The Traveling Hoptista, The Dropping Pin, and Holy City Brewing in North Charleston, Tha CommUNITY offers brewers and its patrons a crisp and clean taste of local ingredients with a nostalgic feel. Many of these breweries in the North Charleston area have hosted events for the launch of Tha CommUNITY Brew, bringing together POC into a taproom to remind us all that Beer is for Everyone.
Organization Designation: 501(c)(3) Non-Profit
Mission: To promote more color into the taproom.
Location: Charleston, South Carolina
Instagram: @thacommunity.brew
Facebook: Tha CommUNITY Brew
DONATE to Tha CommUNITY Brew here.
Witch Hunt
So often in the craft beer industry, we see how education is the primary tool adopted by breweries to create change about an issue they care about. Witch Hunt is precisely that – they want to bring awareness to the fantastic women in the craft beer industry that are taking up space in the traditionally male-dominated culture. With intentional inclusion, they advocate for women, marginalized genders, and queer folx. The group always stresses how traditionally, in beer’s history, women were responsible for crafting the fermented beverages. This particular group of women has gone from turning a brewhouse into a classroom to educating women across the country with numerous chapters. Their mission is to promote gender equity in craft brewing through education, using events to educate on more inclusive recipe design, sensory training, gender equality discussions, and hands-on brew days at various breweries.
Website: witchhuntmpls.org
Organization Designation: 501(c)(3) Non-Profit
Mission: To promote gender equity in craft brewing through education.
Location: Twin Cities, Minneapolis, Minnesota
Instagram: @witchhuntmpls
Facebook: Witch Hunt Minneapolis
DONATE to Witch Hunt here.
PROUD Beer
There are so many people, breweries, and non-profits in the craft beer industry that make us proud, and PROUD Beer deserves every bit of shine they’ve been receiving. As written on their website, it’s pretty simple. “Every time you choose PROUD, you send a direct donation of 20% to [their] LGTBQI+ charity partners. No corporate jargon, just a bold and powerful statement of support for the community we love.” With their complete list of charity partners on their website for transparency, donations and fundraising have already reached an impressive £20,000. To put that into perspective, PROUD Beer shares how the funds are capable of supplying hundreds of self-test HIV kits, materials for anti-bullying workshops in schools, and even help to answer calls offering support and service to the LGTBQI+ community. But you don’t have to take it from us. Find out how PROUD is changing the world right here.
Website: proud.beer
Organization Designation: For-Profit
Mission: To redefine the way our LGBTQI+ community is supported.
Location: United Kingdom
Instagram: @ProudBeerUK
Facebook: Proud Beer UK
Support PROUD Beer here.
Ex Novo Brewing Company
Ex Novo Brewing Company opened its doors in the Pacific Northwest in 2014 with a straightforward mission: to brew great beer and use its business as a platform for good in its community and across the globe. Ex Novo lives by their motto – Drink Beer, Do good. Their mission is to donate 100% of net profits to charitable organizations that are building a better world. So far, they’ve donated nearly $100,000 back to their communities with charities and global efforts. One of the causes they care about is the Oregon Wild foundation, which promotes clean water, clean lands, and preserving wildlife in the state of Oregon. Crafting a special Oregon Wild beer and celebrating annually on Earth Day, Ex Novo uses their Communitas, the official Ex Novo volunteer group, to support their efforts. Additionally, Ex Novo partners with Mercy Corps, an organization dedicated to alleviating people suffering from poverty and oppression, and Friends of the Children foundation, a mentoring program transforming the lives of Portland’s most vulnerable children.
Website: exnovobrew.com
Organization Designation: Non-Profit
Mission: To brew great beer and to use our business as a platform for good in our community and across the globe.
Location: Portland/Beaverton, Oregon & Corrales, New Mexico
Instagram: @exnovobrew
Facebook: Ex Novo Brewing
Support Ex Novo Brewing here.
Lady Justice Brewing
Lady Justice subscribes to the creed of many of these fantastic breweries, non-profits, and organizations: Great Beer, Better World. Lady Justice was founded by three amazing women who combined their service in the AmeriCorps with a profound question: “Why can’t we brew beer and give back to our community?” Answering this question has meant growing from a custom-built homebrew system in a tiny storage space into a flourishing taproom and movement. That’s right. Lady Justice is a community-focused brewery dedicating time, space, and financial power to non-profits and their community partners to support and empower women, girls, and non-binary people in the state of Colorado. How can you become a member of the Lady Justice movement? There are two direct ways: through the Lady Justice Community-Supported Beer (CBS) member with 100% of profits over costs going to non-profit partners, and second, through the fabric of the taproom community, highlighting opportunities to volunteer and collaborate with Lady Justice.
Website: ladyjusticebrewing.com
Organization Designation: For-Profit
Mission: Brew great beer to make the world a better place.
Location: Aurora, Colorado
Instagram: @ladyjusticebrewing
Facebook: Lady Justice Brewing
Support Lady Justice Brewing here.
Equity Brewing Co.
For Equity Brewing Co., equity means family. Equity Brewing Co. is a mother-and-daughter-founded brewing company with a vision, mission, and promise to craft beer lovers to make the beer world a better place. Owners Suzette and Hannah Grillot believe in “building a more diverse and inclusive community, one beer at a time.” But how? By fostering greater diversity in craft beer, Equity Brewing Co. supports women and marginalized individuals working toward change in other fields. Their mission is to open the door, so everyone feels welcome and empowered to explore craft beer. After all, “there’s plenty of beer to go around.” To achieve this goal, Equity Brewing Co. has partnered with Folded Owl to create their Equity Trust – a trust committed to developing equity in their team, their guests, their community, and in society. In addition, Equity Brewing Co. partners with breweries through their anti-racism pledge and, through events and merchandise, amplify issues surrounding systemic oppression of all kinds.
Website: equitybrewingco.com
Organization Designation: For-Profit
Mission: Build a more diverse and inclusive community, one beer at a time.
Location: Norman, Oklahoma
Instagram: @equitybrewingco
Facebook: Equity Brewing Company
Support Equity Brewing here.
The Queer Brewing Project
The Queer Brewing Project is a team of brave individuals who created the QBP to provide visibility and support for LGBTQ+ people in and around beer. Their continued mission is to build a community, advocate for LGBTQ+ rights, and raise funds for vital LGBTQ+ charities. The Queer Brewing Project has partnered and crafted over 30 beers in five different countries, raising thousands for incredible and crucial charities. Some of these countries include Denmark, Germany, Norway, the USA, and the UK, where they’re projected to raise £25,000 for a host of incredible charities. The QBP is happy to announce after they expanded, nearly doubling their employees, the project is working on brewing their core beers, creating an even more direct line of support for LGBTQIAA+ communities in and around craft beer.
Website: thequeerbrewingproject.com
Organization Designation: Non-Profit
Mission: To provide visibility for LGBTQ+ people in and around beer, and to build community, advocate for LGBTQ+ rights, and raise money for vital LGBTQ+ charities.
Location: Twin Cities, Minneapolis
Instagram: @queerbrewing
Facebook: Queer Brewing
SUPPORT The Queer Brewing Project here.
The Burum Collective
When we think of craft beer, education might not be the first word that comes to mind. But, the simple fact is anyone who wants to make a career out of craft beer must master a ton of information and skill. The Burum Collective is an online collective dedicated to helping people “discover beer” through compiling resources of free online education, books, podcasts, and videos. With Pints and Panels, VinePair, School of Booze, and other online learning resources listed on their website, Burum Collective also has a job board featured on their website to help people find craft beer jobs. Whether you love learning about beer or want to explore the pathways to becoming a craft beer professional, the Burum Collective is for you. With the Burum Collective helping so many people by listing these excellent resources for free, they humbly request donations to their education collective. It’s inspiring to know people are dedicated to helping others flourish in their craft beer journey.
Website: burumcollective.com
Organization Designation: Blog
Mission: To encourage a safer, healthier, and more equitable working environment for those within the drinks and hospitality industry.
Location: United Kingdom
Instagram: @burumcollective
Facebook: Burum Collective
DONATE to the Burum Collective here.
Beer is for Everyone
This list wouldn’t be complete if we didn’t include our own organization. Beer is for Everyone is a 501(c)(3) non-profit with a mission of encouraging and advocating for diversity, inclusion, equity, and justice within the craft beer community through education and advocacy. By means of critical content, we are creating opportunities for dialogue that will transform the industry. In addition, we partner and collaborate with organizations, businesses, and individuals to advance equity for all those in our community. To read more about our organization, please visit our About Us page. Furthermore, we would be ever grateful for your support to continue our work; here is the link to our Donation page.
Website: beerisforeveryone.com
Organization Designation: 501(c)(3) Non-Profit
Mission: To promote diversity, inclusion, equity, and justice within the craft beer community through education and advocacy.
Instagram: @beerisforeveryone
Facebook: Beer is for Everyone
DONATE to Beer is for Everyone here.
As you can see from these uplifting people, non-profits, breweries, and organizations, the craft beer industry has a unique ability to directly support the issues, causes, and people we care about. If there’s one thing that being a part of Beer is for Everyone has taught us, it’s that we can’t achieve anything significant alone. But, with all of us, we can move mountains. With every donation, with every dollar, we continue the craft beer legacy of fostering family, inclusion, diversity, equity, education, and awareness of everything that makes us who we are. Please consider supporting the above organizations and donating to Beer is for Everyone to help us craft a better world.
