With a love for design, the need to be constantly creating and the drive to be a part of something greater, I've decided to embark on this wonderful journey called, The Simple Cup. All it takes is one simple idea and the passion to make it happen.

The Simple Cup is a passion project made reality by myself, Ashley Hill, a graphic designer living in downtown Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Being in a place so rich and thriving with the mindset that communities can create change, Lancaster is the ideal spot to start something like The Simple Cup. We are a close knit community of artists and innovators, do-gooders and change-makers. I believe that by staying local and embracing this sense of a creative, connected community, we can impact and change lives on a global level.

The Simple Cup is a not for profit coffee stand and retailer. It's this sort of gateway from you and me, the consumers, to a partnering local nonprofit organization. The Simple Cup sells only local products, and only coffee, tea, milk, honey and handmade goods. Partnerships are being formed with local businesses that offer high quality and of course, local products. 75% of any proceeds The Simple Cup brings in is directly given to the partnering nonprofit. From that point, the partnering nonprofit chooses how to use the money in reflection of their own personal mission.

A    S I M P L E    E X A M P L E

 -  The Simple Cup creates a partnership with Local Coffee.
 -  The Simple Cup sells Local Coffee dark roast in pound bags.
 -  You purchase a bag of Local Coffee's dark roast from The Simple Cup for $12.
 -  You take the coffee home and enjoy a cup each morning.
 -  The Simple Cup takes $9 of that money and gives it straight to Partner Nonprofit.
 -  Partner Nonprofit uses that money to build schools in Ethiopia.

The first partnering nonprofit organization is Fields of Hope. They are based out of York, Pennsylvania and bring great hope to the red light district in Ethiopia. Right now they are working to build a school as well as a cafe that will open more jobs for women and more hope for their children. Learn more about Fields of Hope here.

The partnering local coffee roasters, cafés, and businesses will be announced soon!

The Simple Cup needs a little help to get it's feet off the ground. An identity and branding has already been set, and this consistent, straightforward look will remain throughout all of The Simple Cup's collateral pieces, full website, packaging, etc.

The Simple Cup is going to act primarily online and as a coffee stand from the beginning. All of the little things add up, coffee cups, lids, sugar packets, coffee makers, official documentation, point of sale necessity's, printing... This is where The Simple Cup needs help. All of the money from this campaign will be used to cover the initial costs for The Simple Cup.

If the $3,000 goal is not met*, The Simple Cup is still going to be brought into existence, the process may just take a little bit longer. Currently The Simple Cup is being funded solely by the founder, with a little help from close friends + family.

* If the goal is not met, those who donated will still receive their perks!

W H A T   Y O U   R E C E I V E

Remember, you can donate any amount you want! These are just some price points.

 -  Donate $10 or more and you get a Simple Cup mug. The mugs are 16 oz., white,
    bistro style with The Simple Cup logo printed in charcoal gray. 

 -  Donate $25 or more and you get a Simple Cup mug and also a one pound bag of
    coffee from one of The Simple Cup's local partners ( to be announced ). If you
    aren't a fan of coffee, it can be replaced for a half pint of loose tea, also from one
    of The Simple Cup's local partners ( to be announced ).

 -  Donate $50 or more and you get a set of 4 Simple Cup mugs and also a set of 4
    handmade* Simple Cup wooden coasters. The coasters are hand cut, hand
    stained, and hand stamped with The Simple Cup logo. Available in dark stain with
    white stamp or light stain with dark stamp. Photos to come!

 -  Donate $75 or more and you get a custom, handmade*, one of a kind Simple Cup
    notebook ( or journal ) and also a Simple Cup mug with a one pound bag of coffee
    from one of The Simple Cup's local partners ( to be announced ). The notebooks
    will be square and Coptic stitched with The Simple Cup logo stamped on the front.

          Here is how you get to make it custom ::
          Choose the square size - anywhere from 2 inches to 12 inches.
          Choose the cover color - either gray, black, or white.
          Choose the paper type - either lined or plain.
          Want a plain cover? Okay. The logo can go on the back!

 -   Donate $200 or more and you get to be named an official sponsor of The Simple
     Cup. What does this mean? It means your name ( or logo ) will appear in Simple
     Cup newsletters, on the website and on other collateral pieces. You also receive a
     set of 4 Simple Cup mugs, a set of 4 Simple Cup handmade* wooden coasters
     ( see above for more info, $50 perk ). A bag of coffee from one of The Simple
     Cup's local partners ( to be announced ) and a handmade*, custom Simple Cup
     notebook ( see above for more info, $75 perk ).

*The handmade items are made with extra love and care by the founder, with the  
 help of some of her family and friends. The Simple Cup has a huge heart for the
 handmade.

By the end of April :: The Simple Cup will have an online shop completely set up and ready to go. Online, bagged coffee, jars of tea, honey and handmade goods will be available for purchase. For now, The Simple Cup is working out of the founders home, where orders will be processed and shipped by hand in a timely fashion.

Lancaster First Friday's ( and other small events ) :: The Simple Cup will be up and running as a coffee stand for the Lancaster's June First Friday. At this time, and in person, cups of coffee, cups of tea, honey, milk, bagged coffee, jars of tea and handmade goods will be available for purchase. From then on out, The Simple Cup will appear at First Friday's as well as other small events around the city.

By early 2016 :: The Simple Cup hopes to have a small location in the City of Lancaster. Acting simply as a coffee stand, The Simple Cup will still only sell cups of coffee, cups of tea, honey, milk, bagged coffee, jars of tea and handmade goods.

    The Simple Cup will never sell fancy, complicated drinks such as lattes,
    cappuccinos, americanos, etc... despite how much the founder loves them. The
    Simple Cup will remain simple.

Word of mouth is a wonderful thing. By telling your friends and family about The Simple Cup, you are ultimately donating. Inter-connectivity is the foundation of The Simple Cup and by getting yourself and your community involved, together we can all change lives!

Don't forget about good ol' social media! By liking and sharing things on Facebook you are helping to spread the word!

Like The Simple Cup on Facebook.

Thank you so much!