2021 SPONSORSHIP INFORMATION - Glitter Cat Barista

2 0 2 1 S P O N S O R S H I P I N F O R M AT I O N

“Just keep glittering!”
-Finding Nemo

With two competition seasons (mostly) under our belt, Glitter Cat has continued to do things
we could never have imagined possible even as the industry quickly embraced our mission. We
initially set out to change what the face of a successful barista competitor looks like and now
we have expanded that scope to include 49 coffee professionals who have changed the US
Coffee Competition scene for the better.

I am sitting on our couch during shelter-in-place with a cat on either side of me, reminiscing
about the past season and the moment that sticks out was at the Nashville Qualifier. We
heard change. We saw change. There is change. It was here we, as underrepresented coffee
professionals historically missing on competition stages, made it clear we were taking places.
After a Glitter Cat called “Time!” shots were passed around in celebration and cheering
erupted. The entire energy of the competition hall was different. Representation across so
many different communities, not only by how we looked, but how we identified, was present
and growing in numbers. Among many firsts in the US competition, we saw things that many
couldn’t even dream of, including the first ever deaf competitor on stage. It seems Glitter Cat
has sparked tangible change in a short time.

Yet we all know, progress isn’t linear...

As you’ll see, the successes and challenges were exciting and have only served to make us
strive for more as we adapt to something entirely different for this next year. While Glitter Cat
still intends to be a competition training program for coffee professionals from marginalized
communities, the condensing and cancellation of competition makes us sure that our platform
can and should reach beyond the competition stage to create more opportunities for BIPOC,
womxn, LGBTQIA+, and disabled coffee professionals to have their voices amplified and build
their careers in an industry that’s not going away.

Glitter Cat is actively fundraising for 2021 and we have big plans for expansion. Perhaps the
biggest two additions are the launch of the Business Accountability Project and a Digital
Competition, in addition to follow up bootcamps and competition financial assistance for the
2021 nationals. We are excited to work together with you to continue to make a major impact
in the coffee industry!

T. Ben Grimm

Creator of Glitter Cat Barista
Chief Glitter Officer
1+215.970.4192 · tben@glittercatbarista.com
IG: @glittercatbarista · @tbengrimm

OVERVIEW + OBJECTIVES
WHAT IS GLITTER CAT?

The team at Glitter Cat is incredibly excited for year three! After the incredible growth from our first year hosting one
bootcamp to our second year putting on four bootcamps, five community events, and one follow-up bootcamps for
nationals qualifiers, we spent year two learning, growing, and adding in as much glitter as possible!

As of July 2019, we are a 501(c)(3) non-profit which allows us to expand our sponsorship opportunities and reach even
more coffee professionals. For the upcoming 2021 competition season, we will host follow-up bootcamps for nationally
qualified Coffee in Good Spirits and Roasters competitors, in addition to launching the Business Accountability Project,
hosting a Digital Competition, organizing a COVID-19 grant relief fund, and laying the groundwork for Glitter Cat
Labs. Our mission continues to be changing the face of what the average coffee competitor looks like and creating
communities for coffee professionals from marginalized communities to thrive personally and professionally.

OBJECTIVES

  1. Increase representation and success of competitors who self-identify as part of a marginalized community:
     including but not limited to BI-POC, LGBTQIA+, womxn, and people with disabilities.

  2. Deconstruct questions around rules and regulations and provide free training from US and World Champions.

  3. Foster special, unique, and meaningful communities that transcend bootcamps while building relationships and
     networking communities between senior and junior competitors.

  4. Provide professional resources for career development beyond the competition stage.

IN THE 2020 SEASON,
WE SAW MAJOR CHANGES.
Glitter Cat’s vastly expanded program saw incredible successes and unique
challenges that will inform the future of the program. Glitter Cat’s main
objective in 2018 was to help change the face of the average barista
competitor, and we started to see major changes in the 2020 season.

             CLICK HERE FOR A FULL LIST OF GLITTER CAT
          DEMOGRAPHICS, RANKINGS, RECAPS, AND PHOTOS.

OBJECTIVE 1: INCREASE REPRESENTATION

  At the qualifier level, representation of communities significantly increased.

      CONTINUED COMMITMENT TO BARISTAS WITH DISABILITIES

  Nicole Henderson (GC2020), is the first deaf person to compete in a United
  States Coffee Competition.

   INCREASE OF BI-POC REPRESENTATION IN BARISTA AND BREWERS

  In 2019, 1 black person qualified for Nationals across the four competitions,
  2019 Glitter Cat Anthony Ragler.

  We saw two black women make history by qualifying for USBrC and USBC
  this year: Kristina Jackson (GC2020) and Michelle Johnson (Honorary Cat).

  This year, Anthony Ragler (GC2019) was the first black USBC finalist since
  Lem Butler in 2016, and the second black finalist in USBC history.

  In USBrC, 2020 Glitter Cats Dre Morales (10th place) and Peace
  Sakulclanuwat (17th place) presented Mexican and Thai coffees, which are
  not often showcased in coffee competitions.

    WE SPARKED MAJOR CHANGE IN REPRESENTATION FOR USCIGS

  2019: Over 90% of National qualifiers identified as male and/or white

  2020: 10 of 24 national qualifiers are Glitter Cats, all of whom identify as
  BIPOC, LGBTQIA+, or womxn.

  GLITTER CAT NATIONAL QUALIFIERS
  • USBC: 5 (14% of National Qualifiers)
  • USBrC: 5 (16% of National Qualifiers)
  • USCIGS: 10 (42% of National Qualifiers)

OBJECTIVE 2: TOP TIER TRAINING

Jianing “Douzi” Du, World Brewers Cup Champion
2019, flew in from China to instruct at the Brewers
Cup Bootcamp, a major opportunity for new and
veteran competitors!

Each bootcamp had the reigning 2019 U.S.
champion instruct.

Each bootcamp had World certified judges and
multiple U.S./World Champions

OBJECTIVE 3:
FOSTERING RELATIONSHIPS

Glitter Cats supporting Glitter Cats!

NYC Glitter Cats built an event and fundraiser to
support national qualifiers from New York.
They raised over $5000!

We’re seeing very strong relationships across
cohorts with baristas, brewers, roasters, and CIGS
competitors collaborating on various projects
beyond competition.

                                                      OBJECTIVE 4: CAREER DEVELOPMENT

                                                      Numerous Glitter Cats have received job offers and started
                                                      businesses and initiatives since their participation in the program
                                                      and establishing themselves on the competition stage.

                                                      GALS workshop - Atlas Coffee Importers led Glitter Cats through
                                                      a Gender Action Learning Systems workshop, which included
                                                      a journey mapping exercise to analyze where they are at and
                                                      where they wish to go, while taking a look at challenges and
                                                      opportunities.

PLAN FOR 2021
With the 2021 competition season effectively cancelled, Glitter Cat will not be slowing down. Rather, this is a fantastic
opportunity for us to expand our organization to have greater impact outside of the competition sphere while supporting
competitors for the delayed national competition next year.

FOLLOW-UP BOOTCAMPS AND SUPPORTING 2021 COMPETITORS
Host a follow-up bootcamp for the ten Glitter Cats who qualified for USCIGS and provide financial and product support
where needed. Support marginalized qualifiers for US Roasters and US Cup Tasters as Adopted Cats.

BUSINESS ACCOUNTABILITY PROJECT
Glitter Cat is using 2021 to break away from being a “competition only training program” and is committed to being
a resource for anti-racism practices. Specifically, the B.A.P. will work with multiple companies to implement anti-racism
measures into their hiring and operations. This will be a yearlong and on-going project with the end goal being a
resource for specialty coffee businesses.

DIGI-CATS DIGITAL COMPETITION
Create a digital socially distant competition for coffee professionals from marginalized communities to be held in Fall 2020.
Competition will resemble US Coffee Competitions with Barista, Brewers, Roasters, CIGS, Cup Tasters and Latte Art.

COMMUNITY EVENT AT EXPO 2021
Glitter Cat plans on putting on a large event in New Orleans to celebrate the completion of the 2021 season and create
a safe space for marginalized attendees. Being attached to Expo 2021, Glitter Cat aims to have an event that has food,
games, beverages, and activities for folx of all different backgrounds to enjoy. Concept includes an event similar to the
Carnivalito hosted in Costa Mesa.

COMETOGETHER.COFFEE: A COVID19 GRANT RELIEF FUND
Collaboration with Fellow Products to create an ongoing relief fund for coffee businesses owned by members of
marginalized communities.

GLITTER CAT LABS
Rent and outfit a space in the Los Angeles area to run most Glitter Cat bootcamps and events and act as a coworking
and training space for marginalized coffee professionals.

PARTNER WITH US!
This year, Glitter Cat will continue to support national competitors for USCIGS, Roasters, and Cup Tasters for the
April 2021 national competition while expanding our reach and impact to the broader coffee community. Seeing as a
traditional competition season is not occurring, Glitter Cat is committed to supporting marginalized coffee professionals
in creative and unique ways. Below is a breakdown of Glitter Cat’s updated scope of work for the 2021 season. Included
in this scope is: Digital Competition, Business Accountability Project, Follow Up Bootcamps, Competition Costs, SCA
community event, and a COVID-19 relief fund.

As a 501(c)(3) we are unable to profit from these funds received and commit to using them to support our mission of
supporting underrepresented and marginalized coffee professionals and all sponsorship monies and in-kind/financial
donations are 100% tax-deductible.

GLITTER CAT FOLLOW-UP BOOTCAMPS
In 2019 we held a follow up bootcamp for USBC qualifiers and found immense success in Nationals placements due to
having direct and intentional follow up training. In 2020 we held a combination USBC-USBrC follow-up bootcamp and
had plans for a USCIGS follow up. These programs are vital in helping the trainees gain confidence and skills needed to
place higher at national competitions.

DIGI-CATS DIGITAL COMPETITION
We could not be more excited then to be in the beginning stages of planning a digital competition and we are going
big! The SCA competitions are a highlight of hundreds of coffee professionals across the country and beyond. We have
seen powerful personal and professional bonds formed because of them and we believe it is important to continue to
drive community through a competitive lens, with a focus on representation and diversity. To do this we are launching a
six-tiered digital competition (Digitition).

Glitter Cat is putting on a Digitition for competitions based off of Barista, Brewers Cup, Roasters, Cup Tasters, and Latte Art.

BUSINESS ACCOUNTABILITY PROJECT
Glitter cat is putting together a Business Accountability Project (BAP) for cafes and companies to use to implement
antiracism programs into hiring and cafe experience. Glitter Cat is committed to being an ongoing part of the antiracism
movement and plans on exploring as many possible ways to support BIPOC coffee professionals, specifically Black and
Indigenous folx, starting with the BAP.

COMPETITION COSTS
An unforeseen situation arose in the 2020 Glitter Cat cohorts - the rise of independent competitors. Typically a
competitor’s company will help with registration fees, transportation and/or lodging to events; however, Glitter Cat’s
programming has encouraged folx without direct support of companies to compete. Giving these people access to
resources and training is the reason we exist, but we realized we need to help make the ability to compete in the
competitions themselves more accessible.

COMMUNITY EVENT CONNECTED TO SCA EXPO IN NEW ORLEANS
Glitter Cat plans on putting on a large event in New Orleans to celebrate the completion of the 2021 season and create
a safe space for marginalized attendees. Being attached to Expo 2021, Glitter Cat aims to have an event that has food,
games, beverages, and activities for folx of all different backgrounds to enjoy. Concepts include an event similar to the
Carnivalito hosted in Costa Mesa.

COMETOGETHER.COFFEE: A COVID-19 GRAND RELIEF FUND
Glitter Cat has teamed up with Fellow Products and Go Fund Bean to create Cometogether.coffee, a project to support
small cafes and businesses that have been affected by covid-19. Glitter Cat is not requesting funding at this time for this
project; however, we feel it is important information to share as there are administrative costs associated with this project,
such as Charitable Solicitation Registration and donation platform fees, marketing materials, and lawyer consultations.

SPONSORSHIP MENU
We are so excited you are interested in partnering with Glitter Cat! As you review the menu below, we encourage you to
get creative with benefits and how you want to support the program. If you have an idea of how to differently represent
teamwork, we would love to hear it! We want this to benefit you as much as you are benefiting the 2021 Glitter Cats and
greater coffee community with your generosity!

SILVER SPONSOR OF GLITTER CAT PROGRAMMING: $5,000
      Benefits include

		              Logo placement on website and online materials
		              Instagram highlight reel and feed post
		              Placement on sponsors banner at bootcamps
		              Send swag/materials for bootcamps
		              Sponsor an aspect of a program such as “Meals sponsored by ___” or “Ice breakers sponsored by ___”

GOLD SPONSORSHIP OF GLITTER CAT PROGRAMMING: $10,000
     Benefits include (Silver plus….)

		 Logo/company name on press releases
		 Business Accountability Project partner
		Instagram takeover
		 Invitation to speak or judge community events

DIAMOND SPONSORSHIP OF GLITTER CAT PROGRAMMING: $15,000
     Benefits include (Gold plus…)

		              Annual Title Sponsor
		              Testimonial videos as part of the Digital Competition
		              Swag for Digi-Cats and judges
		              Listed as partner for all Glitter Cat programming 2021

For the 2021 season, we are running seven different programs, each of which needs sponsors such as you! In fact,
we could not do our work without you. Because we are a volunteer endeavor, 100% of donations are redistributed to
support marginalized coffee professionals and to help deconstruct racist systems.

From year one to year two we grew by over 500%. Our budget grew from $20,000 to $100,000. This growth allowed
us to put on five Bootcamps, eight community events, and support multiple competitors financially through the
competition season. Heading into year three, our goals remain lofty with a budget of $250,000 to support competitors,
Black and Indigenous coffee professionals, and put on the digital competition.

All partners will receive an annual report after the completion of the competition year. All donations, both financial and
in-kind, are 100% tax deductible and tax receipts and acknowledgments of donations will reflect this.

Thank you so much for investing in Glitter Cat to help support BIPOC, disabled, womxn, and LGBTQIA+ communities.