ABOUT
Included in their original business plan, Casual Animal Brewing owners, Kyle and Lara Gray, considered the Local Motive concept a non-negotiable when it came to working with lenders to fund the brewery. Supporting the local Kansas City community is important not only to the Grays, but also their “Taproom Animals”, which is why everyone involved in the brewery gets to have input on the charities we support.
Local Motive is Casual Animal’s “give-back tap”. Every two months, the Local Motive beer changes in style and local beneficiary. Over the course of the two months, $2 of every pint of the Local Motive beer sold goes directly to the non-profit organization selected. Each non-profit organization is invited to host taproom events to grow additional awareness and fundraising efforts during their featured months. These events have taken form as trivia nights, live music events, even puppy parties.
We know there are many local non-profits that would benefit from the Local Motive Program, and giving to only six per year sounds limiting. [Historical note: We used to only support 4 organizations per year in 2018-2020!] While we may not give to a large number of organizations each year, our Local Motive giving campaign allows us to donate significant dollar amounts that can have a greater impact on the organizations we do support. Our former Local Motive beneficiaries have each received between $1,500 - $4,000 at the end of their featured months. We feel that these larger contributions have allowed these organizations to promote, build, and maintain their essential programs in the Kansas City community.
Former and current Local Motive Beneficiaries
HOW ORGANIZATIONS ARE SELECTED
Every fall, the Casual Animal staff meet to review all current applicants. Through roundtable discussion and internal voting, the next year’s beneficiary organizations are chosen. Aspects that are important to the group when selecting the next Local Motive include the mission of the organization, a personal connection or tie to the Casual Animal culture, how the raised funds will be used (i.e. who/how will they directly help?), and general impact in the KC community.
HOW TO APPLY
If you are involved with a non-profit organization you think would benefit from the Local Motive program, please complete the application using the link provided below. Casual Animal accepts applications for the following year between January-October. Complete applications will be reviewed in October and selected organizations will be informed in November. Applications are accepted on an ongoing basis. If your organization wasn’t selected one year, we do encourage you to resubmit an application for the following year.