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A Little About Cause Coasters
A small idea. A piece of cedar. A pretty good reason to give back.
Cause Coasters started in Portland, Oregon, in 2018, with a cup of coffee.
I was at a local coffee shop called Extracto when I noticed something about the sleeve wrapped around my cup. The shop had stamped its logo onto an otherwise ordinary piece of cardboard. Simple, inexpensive, and unmistakably theirs.
I loved it.
At the time, I'd been making things out of wood and looking for ways to turn that hobby into something more meaningful. Seeing that little stamp sparked an idea: What if I could do something similar with wood?
A little experimenting later, Cause Coasters was born.
From a hobby to something with a purpose
The first real opportunity to put the idea to work came when a friend's dog needed an expensive emergency surgery. With veterinary bills approaching $10,000, I started making coasters to help raise money.
It was a pretty simple concept: make something people would actually want, sell it for a reasonable price, and put some of the proceeds toward something that mattered.
That experience helped shape what Cause Coasters would become.
Today, 6.19% of every sale goes to nonprofit organizations doing meaningful work. It's a small percentage with a very intentional purpose, and one that I hope grows alongside the business.
Made by hand. Made to be kept.
Every Cause Coaster starts with cedar and a custom design. I cut, sand, and hand-stamp each coaster using black archival ink.
No mass-produced promotional trinkets. No laser-engraved finished designs. Just a simple, useful product with a little character.
Some feature original artwork. Others carry company logos, school mascots, city skylines, or designs created for a particular event.
That's become one of my favorite parts of this business: helping someone turn an idea into something tangible.
Whether it's 50 coasters for a small gathering or hundreds for a corporate event, the goal is the same. Make something memorable enough that people actually want to keep it.
Because let's face it, the world probably doesn't need another stress ball with a company logo on it.
A little more about the person behind the coasters
I'm based in San Diego, California, where I run Cause Coasters alongside raising two young kids.
My professional background spans software, sales, customer relationships, and the sports industry. But I've always enjoyed the satisfaction that comes from making something with my hands.
There's something uniquely rewarding about starting with an unfinished piece of wood and ending with a product that someone is excited to give away—or better yet, keep.
I take a lot of pride in the details, from getting a design just right to making sure the finished coasters are something I'd be happy to hand to a customer myself.
Let's make something good.
If you're planning an event, looking for thoughtful client gifts, outfitting a wedding, or simply have an idea you'd love to see stamped onto cedar, I'd love to hear about it.
And if we can create something people enjoy while supporting a good cause along the way?
Even better.