The ZBcaps Mission
We exist to supply charitable organizations with financial resources to meet the basic needs of children in extreme poverty while simultaneously working to reduce waste and pollution.
OK, that sounds pretty good...but who is “WE” and what made you decide to do this?
We are a new family-owned startup social enterprise called ZBcaps, short for Zoe’s Bottle Caps. The company is led by Bob Rich, head of a 7-member household, graduate of Texas A&M University with a degree in Business Management, certified Project Management Professional with over 25 years of management experience, and currently VP of Outreach for another philanthropic organization focused on the safety, health, and security of America’s youth.
As for why we decided to do this...it’s a calling, honestly. We’re already heavily involved with our local church and several charities, but we feel we still have capacity to do so much more for those in need, especially children. Matthew West sums up our motivation nicely in his song, “Do Something”:
Well, I just couldn’t bear the thought of
People living in poverty
Children sold into slavery
The thought disgusted me
So I shook my fist at Heaven and said,
“God, why don’t You do something?”
He said, “I did: I created you.”
If not us, then who? … If not now, then when?
"There's Always a Solution"
If you haven't already, please take a moment to watch our video by clicking the banner image at the top of this page. Then, read on!
While researching more ways we can have a positive influence in this world, we learned that every year over 360,000 children under the age of five die from diseases they get from drinking contaminated water.
Meanwhile, every year the average American enjoys over 60 gallons of soda and beer from thousands of disposable bottles and cans, creating an enormous amount of waste (and waists!). While the recycling of cans and bottles is on the rise, bottle caps still usually end up as litter or landfill.
"There's always a solution" is a phrase commonly used by our family. Whether it's a minor frustration in day-to-day life or a worldwide epidemic that seems insurmountable, there is always hope when people join forces and act. The ZBcaps project is our attempt to tackle two of the world's biggest problems: pollution and poverty.
The concept of ZBcaps is to upcycle used bottle caps into custom-made, collectible crafts and then sell them to raise funding to provide clean water solutions to children living in extreme poverty. We plan to make custom pendants and sell them through an online store as well as in person at fairs, trade shows, and other events. We will offer standard, glittered, and glow-in-the-dark versions, and each pendant will include one accessory such as a lanyard hook, keychain, necklace, or magnet.
Leveraging partnerships with established faith-based charity organizations such as Compassion International, at least 50% of the revenue from every bottle cap pendant we sell will be used to fund water filtration systems, water wells, and hygiene training for children, families, and communities in over two-dozen poverty-stricken countries around the world. We've estimated that the proceeds from just 35 bottle caps could provide a family in need with a lifetime of clean, drinkable water.
We’re ready to get started, but without your help, it will take us a much longer time to get this project off the ground. We already have our initial supply of bottle caps, a proven process for making the products, and a solid plan for implementation, sales, and ongoing operations. All that’s left to be able to launch is the remaining startup funding to purchase a few more tools & supplies, set up our online store, and to help cover the up-front administrative burden of starting any new business, such as insurance and legal and accounting fees.
Thanks to the help of the StartSomeGood organization, we’re able to offer some cool rewards as a thank you for your contribution to our company’s start-up, depending on your donation level. Of course, any amount of funding you are able to donate today could go a long way in helping us achieve our goal to end the cycle of poverty-driven disease and death. Even if you're unable to donate at this time, please consider at least sharing this message with others you know who may be able to help. A thousand kids every day are depending on us just to stay alive.
Frequently Asked Questions:
How will my contribution to this fundraiser be put to use?
First we’ll have to pay the bills from fundraising (almost 35%), then we’ll use the rest to buy the remaining tools & supplies we need, set up our online store, and cover our initial legal & administrative expenses.
In the spirit of reducing pollution (and costs), our pendants are made only with used bottle caps, not the new, shiny ones you can buy from craft stores. We use only the pry-off and twist-off metal caps from primarily soda and beer bottles, also known as "crowns". We’ve already collected a couple thousand bottle caps over the past few years, but going forward we will also ask friends, family, coworkers, and even local establishments to save their used bottle caps for us. You can even donate bottle caps to our cause by visiting www.zbcaps.com/donate-bottle-caps.
Do you use every single bottle cap you get? What about the damaged ones?
We have proven methods for repairing and cleaning up most bottle caps. Even so, one might expect a minor imperfection here and there (aka "character") in our pendants since they are upcycled from used bottle caps. And yes, some bottle caps are definitely beyond repair. In those cases, we set them aside and donate them to a local tourist attraction that's been around for over 40 years: Bottle Cap Alley.
Where do you get the designs for your bottle cap pendants?
Designs come from a variety of sources, but none are trademarked or otherwise used without permission. We initially plan to use paid subscriptions to stock photo & clip art sites as well as some original photos and artwork of our own, but after we launch, visitors to our store will also be able to submit their own designs! We also have future plans to seek agreements with established organizations and brands to use their logos on our products.
What are these pendants actually good for?
First and foremost, the proceeds go towards saving the lives of children. Secondly, we’re preventing bottle caps from becoming litter or landfill. Everything else is a bonus. Even so, ZBcaps can be fun collector's items, and useful for a variety of purposes:
- ZBcaps can be customized with just about any design imaginable, as long as the image does not violate trademark laws nor promote violence, hate, or obscenity.
- ZBcaps pendants can be worn as a necklace, used as a keychain, or used to decorate a backpack, lunch box, locker, rear view mirror, or anything else. Magnetic versions can be used on refrigerators or bulletin boards, or combined with a backing and worn on clothing like a button.
- ZBcaps are great as promotional giveaways for your social groups such as camps, clubs, bands, churches, sports teams, etc.
- ZBcaps can be given as gifts, party favors, and conference giveaways.
- ZBcaps can be used as ornaments to decorate for any holiday.
- ZBcaps can even be purchased and resold for group fundraisers.
- We also plan to offer limited edition designs and collectible sets, similar to collecting coins, baseball cards, or stamps…or bottle caps!
We plan to price our pendants at just $3.00 each.
How much of each sale will actually go to charity?
At least 50% of every sale will go towards gifts of life-saving solutions for children in poverty. The rest of the revenue will cover the cost of goods sold plus reinvestment into the growth of the company for an ever-expanding reach.
Can’t I get something similar elsewhere at a lower price?
Probably, but keep in mind that buying our pendants is a means to a better end: to save children from poverty.
Couldn’t I just cut out the middle-man and give my money directly to charity?
Absolutely! And we encourage you to follow your heart. However, consider that while a one-time direct donation is certainly valuable, contributing the same amount to our project will enable you to pool your resources with other like-minded people, resulting in a much farther reach and longer lasting impact.
Is ZBcaps a non-profit organization?
No, we are a for-profit sole proprietorship. But we are also a social enterprise, dedicated to donating at least 50% of all revenue to charity.
Does my donation to your fundraiser qualify as tax-deductible?
Since we are a for-profit organization and you will receive rewards in return for your contribution, your donation to our fundraiser does not qualify as tax-deductible.
Do my purchases of ZBcaps products qualify as tax-deductible?
Since we are a for-profit organization and you will receive a product in return for your expense, your purchase of ZBcaps products does not qualify as tax-deductible.
What will you do next if you fail to achieve your Tipping Point Goal by September 30, resulting in zero funding?
We will delay our launch for as long as necessary to raise funding by other means, though it will likely take a much longer time to reach our initial goal. In the meantime, more and more children will needlessly suffer.
- Pray for us to successfully achieve our fundraising goal and accomplish our ultimate mission.
- Recommend our fundraiser project and share this page with at least 10 friends, family members, neighbors, and coworkers to help generate additional donations before the September 30 deadline.
- Follow, like, and share our social media accounts and posts. You'll find us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat, Pinterest, and YouTube under zbcaps or @zbcaps.
- Save and donate your used bottle caps, and encourage others to do so as well. Visit www.zbcaps.com/donate-bottle-caps for more details!
- Buy ZBcaps products from www.zbcaps.com after we launch.
- Recommend ZBcaps products to your friends and family. Stay tuned for more information on our planned Referral Rewards Program where you can earn free ZBcaps pendants and other prizes by referring others to purchase!
I still have more questions. Who can I ask?
Send us an email anytime to service[at]zbcaps.com and we'll be happy to answer any additional questions you may have.
OK, last question. Is it true the founder puts peanut butter on his grilled cheese sandwiches?
Yes, it’s true. It’s not for everyone, but don’t knock it ‘til you try it!