Have a pint…save the world?

That’s a tagline that almost sounds too good to be true. But it’s true – Oregon Public House, the nation’s firsts nonprofit pub, raises funds and awareness for other nonprofits, allowing them to keep doing good work. The pub melds Portland’s beer culture with the city’s abundant do-good energy (we more non-profit organizations per capita then any other city in America). It works to essentially support, market and fundraise for our hundreds of pre-existing nonprofits by selling beer and pub grub.

The pub opened in 2013, and along with being a ground-breaking social venture, it’s also a neat 100+ year old building that offers space for community members to relax and get to know their neighbors. It’s a family-friendly location, tucked into the Woodlawn neighborhood, and you’re likely to find a mix of ages enjoying the pub’s cheerful atmosphere.

Here’s how it works: When customers purchase food and/or drink from Oregon Public House, they simultaneously cast a vote for a nonprofit the pub is currently partnered with. This list rotates twice-yearly, so a variety of nonprofits have a shot at partnering with the pub, collecting votes, and then ultimately earning a proportionate amount of the pub’s earnings.To date, Oregon Public House has donated over 89-thousand dollars to various community nonprofits.

This week on Portland Radio project we featured Oregon Public House as part of our award-winning Community Voices series. You can hear interviews with key members of the organization below:

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