GUIDE TO CHARITABLE FUNDS
at the Door County Community Foundation
The mission of the Door County Community Foundation is to inspire people to give back to sustain and advance the community we love. We do that by serving as a conduit for giving. We’re a charity whose purpose is to make giving simpler, easier, and more tax efficient so you can be as generous as possible to the charities and causes you care about.
We’ve published this Guide to Charitable Funds as a resource to help you with your giving. For a more complete listing of the nearly 400 non-profit and civic groups in Door County, visit us online at www.GiveDoorCounty.org – or just give us a call at (920) 746-1786.
Help us inspire people to give back to sustain and advance the community we love.
Board of Directors
Jim Vander Heiden, Chair of Egg Harbor
Retired Vice President/Principal, HGA Architects and Engineers
Stephen O’Hearn, Vice Chair of Sister Bay
Retired, Partner and Global Insurance Leader, PwC
Vicki Wilson, Secretary of Sturgeon Bay President-Founder, Door County Coffee & Tea Co.
John McGinnis, Treasurer of Sturgeon Bay
Retired Executive, Energy Industry
Jeff Ottum, Past Chair of Sturgeon Bay
Retired Senior Vice President Human Resources, Schreiber Foods, Inc.
Fred Anderson of Sister Bay
Owner, Ashbrooke Hotel, Egg Harbor
Inge Alverson Bacon of Sevastopol
Certified Public Accountant
John Bykowski of Ephraim
Retired President and CEO, SECURA Insurance Companies
Professional Staff
Bret Bicoy President & CEO
Jessica Holland VP of Philanthropic Services
Julie Haen Senior Business Officer
Greg Diltz of Jacksonport Retired Paramedic, Former Owner of Northern Door Communications
Natalie Gorchynsky of Egg Harbor Community Philanthropist
John Hauser of Sturgeon Bay Chaplain, Door County Medical Center
Kristen Jeanquart of Sturgeon Bay Owner, Door County Digital Communications
Keith Mutchler of Sevastopol Retired, Paper and Packaging Manufacturing
Donna Scattergood, RN, PhD of Sister Bay Serial Entrepreneur/Holistic Nursing and Functional Medicine, Healthcare Organizational Behavior Consultant, Educator
Dan Westbrook of Washington Island Retired, Consumer Paper Products Research, Manufacturing and Marketing
John Herlache Emeritus Director
Adam Peronto Philanthropic Services Officer
Jean Gothberg Business Officer
Heidi Copiskey Administrative Assistant
Budgeted Operating Costs as a Percentage of Assets:
COMMUNITY PROJECTS AND INITIATIVES
The Door County Community Foundation’s Board of Directors has launched and/or endorsed several community efforts that operate as a project or initiative of the Community Foundation. Please consider supporting these important initiatives. Visit them online to learn more.
Baileys Harbor Open Space Preservation Fund
BaileysHarborOpenSpace.org
Door County Civility Project DoorCountyCivilityProject.org
Door County Scholarship Network DoorCountyScholarships.org
The Ellie Helm Foundation EllieHelmFoundation.org
Community Opportunity Investment Network InvestDoorCounty.org
Door County Food Pantry Coalition FeedDoorCounty.org
Door County Sheriff’s Office Crime Prevention Foundation SafeDoorCounty.org
GO BO! Foundation GoBoFoundation.org
DDC State Parks Challenge Funds DoorCountyStateParks.org
Door County Granary Fund SturgeonBayHistoricalSociety.org/ Granary
DOORWAY TO LEARNING Doorway To Learning Campaign Fund brighterdoorcounty.org
Muse Overture Initiative Campaign Fund musecampaign.org
Willie’s Cornerstone Foundation WilliesCornerstone.org
Northern Door Children’s Center Essential Campaign EssentialDoorCounty.org
Workforce Housing Lending Corporation BuildDoorCounty.org
Grants Awarded from All Funds at the Foundation:
115 Club Ltd.
350.Org
Abington Friends School
ACLU Foundation
Aging & Disability Resource Center of Door County
Agrace HospiceCare Foundation Inc.
Algoma Fire and Rescue Association Inc.
Alliance for the Great Lakes
Altrusa International Foundation, Inc. Door County, WI
Alzheimer’s Association
Alzheimer’s Research Foundation
America Share USA, Inc.
American Cancer Society
American Chemical Society
American Civil Liberties Union of Wisconsin Foundation Inc.
American Diabetes Association Inc.
American Heart Association
American Lung Association
American Red Cross
American Red CrossNortheast Chapter
American Red Cross of Southeastern Pennsylvania
AMIkids Inc.
Amnesty International USA
Andean Health and Development Inc.
Arizona State University
Arm in Arm
Art and Nature Center
Back Roads Church
Baileys Harbor Community Association
Baileys Harbor Fire-Rescue Association Inc
Baileys Harbor Historical Society
Bay View Lutheran Church
Beaufort County Open Land Trust
Bellin College
Best Friends Animal Society
Bethany Kids
Bicycle Federation of Wisconsin Educational Foundation Inc
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northeast Wisconsin Birch Creek Music
Performance Center, Inc.
Board of World Mission
Boys & Girls Clubs of the Bay & Lakes Region
Bradley Jordan Foundation Inc
Bradley University
Bright Focus Foundation
Bryn Mawr Film Institute
BUG Firefighters, Inc.
Calvary and Zion United Methodist Church
Camp Manito-wish YMCA
Campus Crusade for Christ Inc.
Capital Harmony Works
Capuchin Community Services
Carleton College
Carthage College
Casa Alba Melanie Hispanic Community Resource Center
Catholic Extension
Catholic Foundation for the Diocese of Green Bay
Catholic Relief Services
Center for Family Services
Central Asia Institute
Centurion Ministries
Development Dept
Children First Development Center Inc.
Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin Foundation Inc.
Christ the King Lutheran
Church
Church of Atonement
City of Sturgeon Bay
City Relief Inc.
Clapham Education Group
Clean Water Action Council of NE Wisconsin
Clean Wisconsin
Co-Impact Philanthropic Funds Inc.
Inspiring people to give back to sustain and advance the community we love.
Scholarships Awarded to Students Attending the Following Universities:
Arizona State University
Bellin College
Edgewood University
Grinnell College
Harvard College Student Accounts Office
Iowa State University
Lakeland University
Marian University
Martin Luther College
Massachusetts Institute of Technology - MIT
Northeast Wisconsin Technical College
Northern Michigan University
Purdue University
Queen Margaret University
Ripon College
The University of Alabama
University of Florida
University of Hawai’i
University of Iowa
University of Minnesota - Twin Cities
University of Notre Dame
University of Saint Thomas
University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire
University of Wisconsin-LaCrosse
University of Wisconsin-Madison
University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh
University of Wisconsin-Platteville
University of Wisconsin-River Falls
University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point
Washington University in St. Louis
Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary
Yale University
SERVICE CLUBS AND CIVIC GROUPS
100+ Women Who Care Door County Charitable Fund www.100WWCDoorCounty.org
Colin and Friends Concerts Inc.
College Possible Colorado College
Combatting Homelessness and Dependency Inc.
Community Church Fish Creek
Cornell University
Corpus Christi Catholic Church
County of Door
Cross Catholic Outreach Inc.
Crossroads at Big Creek, Inc.
Cycling Without Age
Czech Youth Music Camp
Diabetes Foundation Inc.
Direct Relief
Doctors Without Borders
Door Cancer, Inc.
Door County Auditorium
Door County Bookmobile Inc
Door County Charities, Inc.
Door County Economic Development
Order of the Eastern Star Honor Chapter #1 of the State of Wisconsin Charitable Fund www.sturgeonbayoes.com
Rotary Club of Sturgeon Bay Charitable Trust Fund www.sturgeonbayrotaryclub.org
Jacksonport Women’s Club Charitable Fund
Rotary Club of Door County North Charitable Fund www.doorcountynorthrotaryclub.com
Henry S. Baird #174 F. & A.M. Charitable Fund www.HSBaird.com
Sturgeon Bay Breakfast Rotary Charitable Fund www.facebook.com/sbbreakfastrotary
Sister Bay Community Ice Rink Door County’s Winter Commons Fund
Door County Environmental Council Inc
Door County Fire Chiefs Inc
Door County Habitat for Humanity
Door County Historical Society Inc.
Door County Housing Partnership, Inc.
Door County Jazz Foundation Inc.
Door County Land Trust
Door County Library Foundation, Inc.
Door County Maritime Museum
Door County Master Gardeners Association Inc
Door County Medical Center Foundation
Door County Secret Santa
Door County Sheriff’s Department
Door County Therapy Dog Teams Inc.
Door County Toys for Kids
Door County Trails
Door County Veterans Service Council, Inc.
Door County YMCA
Door Kinetic Arts, Inc.
Door of Life Christian Church
Door Peninsula Astronomical Society
Door Shakespeare, Inc.
Door-Tran Inc.
Ducks Unlimited
EAA Aviation Foundation Inc.
Easter Seals Wisconsin
Edgewood University
Egg Harbor Historical Society
Eland Electric Corporation
Emanuel Evangelical Lutheran Church
Emmanuel Lutheran Church Environmental Defense Fund
Ephraim Fire-Rescue Association, Inc.
Ephraim Historical Foundation, Inc.
Ephraim Men’s Club
Ephraim Moravian Church
Episcopal Church of Christ the King and Holy Nativity
Family Services of Northeastern WI, Inc.
Father Flanagan’s Boys Home
Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin
First Baptist Church
First Tee of Northeast Wisconsin
FISC Consumer Credit Counseling of Door County Inc
Food for the Poor
Fox Valley Symphony Orchestra Association Inc.
Fox Valley Veterans Council Inc.
Francis Hardy Center for the Arts Freedom for Heroes
Friends of Door County Libraries Association
Friends of Ephraim-Gibraltar Airport
Friends of PBS Wisconsin
Friends of Peninsula State Park
Friends of Plum and Pilot Islands
Friends of Potawatomi State Park
Friends of Rock Island State Park
Friends of the Cornell Lab of Ornithology
Grants Awarded from All Funds at the Foundation Continued:
Friends of the Elisha D. Smith Public Library Inc.
Friends of the Necedah
National Wildlife Refuge
Friends of the Pavilion, Inc.
Friends of the World Food Program Inc
Friends of Whitefish Dunes
State Park
Gathering Ground
Gathering Waters Conservancy
Georgetown University
Germantown School District
Giants of the Earth Heritage Center
Gibraltar Area Schools
Gibraltar Booster Club
Gibraltar Historical Association
Girl Scouts of the Northwestern Great Lakes Inc.
Glacial Community YMCA Inc
Grand Chapter, Order of the Eastern Star
Greater Delafield Community Fund
Greater Green Bay YMCA Inc
Green Bay Botanical Garden
Grinnell College
Guardian Org Foundation
Guest House of Milwaukee Habitat for Humanity
Harvard College Student Accounts Office
Heartland Business Systems, LLC
Heifer International
HELP of Door County, Inc.
Hope for Haiti Inc
Hope United Church of Christ of Sturgeon Bay
Hopeful Horizons
Horseshoe Bay Farms Inc
Hug It Forward
Ice Age Trail Alliance
IEEE Foundation
Immanuel Lutheran Church
Interlochen Center for the Arts
International Crane Foundation Inc.
International Focusing Institute
International Rescue Committee Inc
Iowa State University
JA Worldwide
Jesuit Retreat House
John Hancock Life Insurance Company
Kahilu Theatre Foundation
Kirkwood Historical Society
Knights of Columbus Charities Inc.
Knock Publishing Company
Lakeland University
Lakeshore CAP, Inc.
Lakeshore Natural Resource Partnership
Lancaster Public Library Foundation Inc.
Laurel House
Lawrence University
Legal Aid Society of Door County
Lexie Henkel
Literacy Door County
Low Country Habitat for Humanity
Lupus Foundation of Colorado Inc.
Lupus Research Alliance Inc.
Lutheran Social Services
Maine Ski and Snowboard Museum
Marian University
Massachusetts Institute of Technology - MIT
Medical College of Wisconsin
Mental Health America
Lakeshore Inc.
Mequon Nature Preserve Inc
Mercer Street Friends
Metropolitan Opera Association Inc.
Midsummer’s Music Ltd
Midwest Environmental Advocates
Miller Art Museum
Milwaukee Area Technical College FoundationMilwaukee PBS
Milwaukee Chamber Theatre
Milwaukee School of Engineering
Milwaukee Water Commons Inc.
Mission Pre-Born Inc.
Modern Day Missions
Mote Marine Laboratory
Mount Calvary Lutheran Church
Mount Olivet Lutheran Church
Mount Washington Observatory
Muse Sturgeon Bay, Inc.
Museum of Wisconsin Art
Music on the Hill
Musk Ox Development Corporation
Namur Belgian Heritage Center
National Audubon Society
National Geographic Society
National Multiple Sclerosis Society
National Park Foundation
National Parks Conservation Association
National Wildlife Federation
Natural Lands Trust, Inc.
Nature Conservancy
Neighbor to Neighbor
New York Public Radio WQXR, WNYC, NJPR, NYPR
Newark School of the Arts
Newport Wilderness Society
Northeast Wisconsin Technical College
Northeastern Wisconsin Antique Power Association Inc.
Northern Door Children’s Center
Northern Door Pride
Northern Metal and Roofing Company
Northern Michigan University
Northern Sky Theater
Northwoods Wildlife Center, Inc.
Norwegian American Historical Association
Notre Dame de la Baie Academy
Ocean Conservancy
Old Glory Honor Flight Inc
On Broadway Inc.
Open Door Bird Sanctuary
Open Door Pride
Open Wings Learning Community
OXFAM America
Ozaukee Washington Land Trust Inc.
Parker School
Parkinson’s Foundation Inc
Peninsula Chamber Singers Inc.
Peninsula Music Festival, Inc.
Peninsula Players Theatre, Inc.
PFLAG Door County
Philadelphia Orchestra Association
Pillars Inc.
Planned Parenthood Federation of America
Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin
Platteville Mainstreet Program
Port Royal Sound Foundation
Prince Dance Company
Prince of Peace Lutheran Church
ProHealth Care Foundation, Inc.
Public Arts Initiative of Egg Harbor Inc.
Purdue Foundation
Purdue University
Queen Margaret University
Rawhide Inc.
Ready Readers
Recreational Aviation Foundation
Redeemer Presbyterian Church
Ripon College
Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation
Rogue Theater Inc
Rotary Foundation of Rotary International
Salvation Army New Jersey Division
Salvation Army- Wisconsin & Upper Michigan Division
Search for Common Ground
Senior Citizens Agency of Northern Door Inc
Sevastopol School
Shepherd of the Bay Lutheran Church
Shriner’s Hospital for Children
Sierra Club Foundation
Sister Bay Historical Society
Sister Bay/Liberty Grove Firefighters Assoc.
Sisters of St Francis of the Holy Cross
Skylight Music Theatre
Smithsonian Institution
Society of St Vincent De Paul Lighthouse Dist Cncl of WI Inc
Southeastern WI Invasive Species Consortium Inc.
Southern Door Community Foundation, Inc.
Southern Door County School District
Southern Poverty Law Center
Southwest Section of the Ninety Nines
Special Olympics
SSM Health Cardinal Glennon Children’s Foundation
St Anthony on the Lake
St John Bosco Catholic School
St Joseph’s Catholic Church
St Jude Children’s Research Hospital Inc
St Pauls Lutheran Church
St. Joseph Food Program Inc.
St. Joseph’s Indian School
St. Katharine Drexel
St. Luke’s Episcopal Church
St. Nicholas Orthodox Cathedral
St. Norbert College
St. Peters Lutheran Church
StageQ, Inc
Stella Maris Parish
Stephens College
Strong Towns
Sturgeon Bay Girls Front Court Club Inc
Sturgeon Bay Historical Society
Sturgeon Bay Moravian Church
Sturgeon Bay School District
Sturgeon Bay United Methodist Church
Sturgeon Bay Yacht Club Sail Training Foundation
Sturgeon Bay Youth Athletic Club Inc.
Sue Baldwin Fund
Sunshine Community Compost
Sunshine House, Inc.
Susan G Komen Breast Cancer Foundation
Swarthmore College
The Carter Center
The Clearing Folk School
The Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee
The Fuller Center for Housing, INC.
The Land Institute
The League of Women Voters of Door County
The Libenu Foundation
The Michael J. Fox Foundation
The Nature Conservancy
The Nature ConservancyWisconsin
The Nature Conservancy in PA and DE
The Nature Conservancy of South Carolina
The Naval Institute Foundation Inc.
The Ridges Sanctuary, Inc.
The Salvation Army
The Salvation Army Philadelphia Corps.
The University of Alabama
The UW Platteville Foundation
The Wilderness Society
The Yoga Womb Inc.
The Zuni Youth Enrichment Project
Thiensville-Mequon Rotary Foundation Inc. GMRP
Third Avenue Playhouse
Town of Brussels
Town of Forestville
Town of Gibraltar
Town of Jacksonport
Town of Nasewaupee
Trenton Area Soup Kitchen
Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church
Trinity Lutheran Church
Tufts University, The Friedman School of Nutrition Science
Turning Point USA
Ukraine Partnership Foundation
Unbound
Unicef
Union Congregational United Church of Christ
Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Door County
Unitarian Universalists of Sarasota
United Service Organizations, Inc. (USO)
United States Association for UNHCR
United Way of Door County
United Way of the Low Country
University Community Social Services
University of Iowa
University of Louisiana at Lafayette Foundation
University of Minnesota - Twin Cities
University of Notre Dame
University of Saint Thomas
University of Wisconsin Eau
Claire Foundation
University of Wisconsin Foundation
University of Wisconsin Stevens Point Foundation
University of Wisconsin
Superior Foundation
University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire
University of Wisconsin-Green Bay Foundation
University of Wisconsin-LaCrosse
University of Wisconsin-Madison
University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh
University of Wisconsin-Platteville
University of Wisconsin-River Falls
University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point
Urbanite Theatre Inc.
Valleybrook Church
Vanderbilt University
Veterans Community Project
Vida Inc.
Village of Egg Harbor
Village of Ephraim
Violence Intervention Project, Inc.
Wartburg College
Washington Island Community Health Program
Washington Island Farm Museum Inc.
Washington Island Foundation
Washington Island Government
Washington University
Washington University in St. Louis
Waynflete School
We Are Hope Inc.
Wellesley College
WI Humane Society
Wild Ones Door Peninsula Chapter
Willow Creek Community Church Inc.
Wilson and Carol Trueblood Performing Arts Center Inc.
Wisconsin Eastern Star Foundation
Wisconsin Eye Public Affairs Network
Wisconsin League of Conservation Voters
Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary
Wisconsin Public Radio
Wisconsin Public Television
Wisconsin Special Olympics
Wisconsin Wetlands Association
Wisconsin Women’s Business Initiative Corp.
Wisconsin’s Green Fire Inc.
Workforce Housing Lending Corporation
World Central Kitchen, Inc.
World Food Program USA
World Vision
World Wildlife Fund
Write On Door County, Inc.
Yale University
Yes Prep Public Schools Inc.
Zion Lutheran Church
Zion United Methodist Church
Friends of the Door County Park System Inc
Martin Luther College
Peninsula School of Art
Peninsula Symphonic Band
Students for Life of America Inc.
University of Florida
University of Hawai’i
CHARITABLE FUNDS SUPPORTING CAUSES IN DOOR COUNTY
Discretionary Endowment Funds offer you the best of both worlds – the opportunity to choose a broad area that interests you (such as children, the arts, or the environment) while relying on the Door County Community Foundation’s volunteer boards and committees to identify the organizations that will make the greatest impact on that issue. Your gift is endowed and will provide a permanent source of income to be granted to those organizations that are truly making a difference in Door County. We can even create a new Fund named in your honor or in memory of a loved one. Please consider donating today, or in your estate plans, to a Discretionary Endowment Fund.
For Good Forever Fund
www.GiveDoorCounty.org
We simply cannot know what issues or opportunities the future will bring, but we can be confident that the Community Foundation will be there to address it because of the For Good Forever Fund – the general unrestricted endowment for Door County. We’re here For Good. And we’re here Forever. This permanent pool of money is a flexible resource to fund our sustainability and advancement grants, invest in community projects, and support future programs of the Community Foundation.
Bargains Unlimited Charitable Fund
Since 1995, Bargains Unlimited has been a resale store with a mission, using its proceeds to support the citizens of Northern Door County. That legacy continues and expands through the Bargains Unlimited Charitable Fund which supports projects that assist working people in Door County or enrich the quality of life for our community’s aging population.
Community Investment Fund
www.CommunityInvestmentFund.org
The Community Investment Fund, created in partnership with Destination Door County, uses a portion of the room tax dollars paid by visitors to offer grants to projects that meaningfully improve the quality of life for those who live and work in Door County. The unique granting program illustrates how tourism can build a better life for the residents of Door County.
Healthy Water Door County
www.HealthyWaterDoorCounty.org
Door County’s unique geography makes our water vulnerable. As a peninsula situated on the Niagara Escarpment, our thin soil layer, combined with the vertical and horizontal fracturing common in our bedrock, makes protecting our water a priority. The mission of Healthy Water Door County is to protect our community’s human, environmental, and economic health by guarding against threats to our water.
Door County Mental Health Support Fund
www.LittleEddieBigCup.org
The Mental Health Support Fund was established in 2015, following the tragic loss of Edward Strege, a beloved community member, to mental illness. Access to behavioral healthcare remains a significant challenge in Door County, and the fund supports projects that strengthen community well-being by promoting mental health awareness, advancing mental health education, and expanding access to mental healthcare services throughout the county.
Women’s Fund of Door County
www.WomensFundDoorCounty.org
The Women’s Fund of Door County builds, enriches, and nurtures the lives of women and girls through collective wisdom and philanthropy. The Women’s Fund invests in educational opportunities for women and girls and supports arts programs which enrich their souls. It makes grants to promote healthy activities for young girls and to provide support for seniors. It supports efforts to improve women’s health and invests in initiatives that promote equality. Because when she thrives, we all prosper.
Door County Green Fund
www.GreenFund.com
Door County is blessed with an abundance of natural resources. From our lakeshore to the wetlands, our orchards to the meadows, the open spaces and our rural roads – there is something about the beauty of this place that keeps us here or calls us back each year. The Green Fund supports land acquisition projects in our community and also invests in environmental education, funds land preservation, eradicates invasive species, and supports other types of “green” projects.
Door County Children & Youth Fund
www.GiveDoorCounty.org/children
If the future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams, then there is no greater gift to a child than to nurture their ability to believe in their own potential and promise. The Community Foundation supports charities that are working to ensure a brighter future for the community’s children – whether it be alleviating their burdens today or helping them realize the opportunities of tomorrow.
Door County Education Fund
www.GiveDoorCounty.org/education
Door County Arts Fund
www.GiveDoorCounty.org/arts
The “arts” describe a broad range of creative activities that can stimulate thought and inspire the soul. Therein lies the purpose of the Community Foundation’s Arts Fund. The Community Foundation supports creative charitable activities in Door County that use the arts to enrich the community and touch the lives of the people of Door County.
Education must go beyond traditional schooling and formal education. It should include informal modes of learning and extend beyond traditional settings. It must be integrated into the home and throughout the community – and education is not limited to children. The Community Foundation believes that learning is a lifelong pursuit – and nurtures its incorporation into the many aspects of life in Door County.
Door County Growing Older
As our population ages, many of our residents face unique challenges that impact their health, independence, and overall well-being. The Door County Growing Older Fund invests in initiatives that work to address the diverse issues and opportunities associated with aging, foster intergenerational connections, and help build a supportive community where we can all enjoy growing older together.
Door County Health and Human Needs Fund
www.GiveDoorCounty.org/health
It’s difficult to appreciate the incredible beauty and quality of life here in Door County if the very basic needs of your life are not being met. The Community Foundation supports charities that are working to aid those who live in the shadows of society – those whose health or human service needs are not being adequately addressed.
Door County Historic Preservation Fund
www.GiveDoorCounty.org/history
People have been coming to Door County for generations, each bringing their unique culture and traditions to our community. Working in partnership with the Clifford and Clara Herlache Heritage Foundation, the Community Foundation’s Historic Preservation Fund supports the appreciation, enhancement, and preservation of historical landmarks and the cultural heritage of Door County, Wisconsin.
CHARITABLE FUNDS SUPPORTING INDIVIDUAL CHARITIES
Many charities entrust the administration of their endowments and other funds to the Door County Community Foundation. It’s a safe and responsible way to manage endowed gifts, long-term assets, and operational reserves. The non-profit community also counts on the Community Foundation’s planned giving expertise to facilitate gifts into their funds. By aggregating these assets under the umbrella of the Community Foundation, economies of scale allow for a far more diversified investment portfolio and lower investment fees than any of the charities could achieve on their own.
As a donor, the Community Foundation makes it easy for you to leave a gift in your estate plans (or make a gift today) to as many of these charitable funds as you’d like. Simply name the Door County Community Foundation, Inc. as a beneficiary in your estate plans and designate the specific charitable fund (or multiple funds if you’d like) that should benefit from your generosity. If a charity you care about doesn’t have a fund at the Community Foundation, you can create one for them with your gift, or we can simply pass along your generosity to the charity directly. Our goal is to make it easy for you to give back to sustain and advance the community we love.
All contributions will be used consistent with the terms and conditions of the fund to which it was directed (if applicable). For more information, please contact us.
Bayside Cemetery Association
Bayside Cemetery Charitable Fund www.BaysideCemeteryDC.com
Belgian Heritage Center Fund www.BelgianHeritageCenter.org (920) -825-7319
Building for Tomorrow Fund
Lifetime for Education Fund
Now & Forever Fund
Scholarships Forever Fund
www.BirchCreek.org (920) 868-3763
Boys & Girls Club of Door County Fund
www.BGCBLR.org/door-county (920) 818-1046
Since 1876, Bayside Cemetery has been a spiritual place, possessing a quiet dignity that honors and celebrates the lives of our loved ones. The Cemetery’s tranquil grounds offer not only finely sculpted monuments, but also an abundance of Mother Nature’s artistic handiwork. The natural beauty of these 27 acres imparts a serene feeling in all those who walk in this peaceful park-like setting.
Bayside Cemetery provides families with comprehensive cemetery services of the highest quality. Just north of the Sturgeon Bay city limits, beautiful grave sites and professionally maintained grounds distinguish Bayside as one of the finest cemeteries in Door County.
The Bayside Cemetery Charitable Fund provides an opportunity for the community to support the maintenance of the chapel, grounds, and other facilities of this historic cemetery.
Starting in the 1850s, groups of Belgians left the economic hardship of their homeland and ventured to northeast Wisconsin for better opportunity. Here, they faced the hardships of creating a new home in a harsh woodland. The Belgian Heritage Center aims to share the legacy of those more than 10,000 immigrants and their descendants who greatly influenced the culture of rural Door, Kewaunee and Brown Counties with a farming landscape and customs which included the Walloon language, unique architecture, ethnic Belgian foods and more.
Located in the heart of the Namur National Landmark Historic District that is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the Belgian Heritage Center offers programs, festivals, events, tours, traditional and interactive exhibits, as well as resources for genealogical and historical research. The campus includes a museum in a historic church, a restored parochial school/convent, a traditional Belgian roadside chapel and a cemetery where some of the earliest settlers in Door County are buried. Oral history videos preserve stories in English and Walloon from Belgian descendants who have kept the language alive in Northeastern Wisconsin for more than 150 years.
Birch Creek Music Performance Center is a residential summer music academy offering advanced student musicians immersive, performance-driven training in a professional, mentoring environment.
Each summer, over 180 students attend their Percussion, Steel Pan & World Music, Symphony, and Big Band Jazz sessions. Students and faculty perform side by side in more than 60 ticketed and free concerts held in our historic concert barn and across Door County, reaching over 10,000 audience members.
They are currently focused on maintaining and enhancing their facilities. Key projects include roof replacement, wall refurbishment, and foundation restoration for the concert barn, as well as updating essential infrastructure such as water heaters, PTAC units, and other critical operational assets. Contributions toward student scholarships, faculty support, and a variety of naming opportunities are always welcome.
At the Boys & Girls Club of Door County, we are many things to the kids we serve because kids today need many things! Club provides caring mentors who meet each child where they are and guide them toward their goals. We offer safe spaces - after school and during summer - where kids can connect and flourish. Club delivers award-winning, high-quality programs that empower youth to excel at school and lead healthy, productive lives. With our experienced staff, safe environment, innovative programs, and distinctive experiences, the Boys & Girls Club of Door County furthers our mission of Inspiring Young People to Explore What’s Possible.
Crossroads at Big Creek Endowment Fund
www.CrossroadsAtBigCreek.org (920) 746-5895
Door County 4-H Leaders Foundation Door.Extension.Wisc.edu/4-H-Youth-Development/ (920)746-2260
Door CANcer, Inc. Fund
www.DoorCancer.com (920) 333-8050
Door County Auditorium Fund
www.DCAuditorium.org (920) 868-2728
Door County Folk Alliance
Door County Folk Alliance Endowment Fund www.DCFolk.com
Door County Habitat for Humanity Assurance Fund www.DoorHabitat.org 920-743-2869
Celebrating 25 years of learning, Crossroads at Big Creek is a 200-acre nature preserve and learning center in the heart of Sturgeon Bay.
Our mission is to inspire environmental stewardship through education, research, land restoration, and outdoor recreation.
Community support fuels our work—helping us restore habitat for wildlife and people alike, and ensuring our hiking and skiing trails remain open every day, all day, at no charge for families, school groups, individuals, and the broader community.
4-H is the nation’s largest youth development and empowerment organization. The 4-H movement is committed to providing youth development opportunities and promoting positive change for young people. 4-H programming aims to engage youth in activities to increase their leadership, communication, and critical thinking skills. In Door County, the 4-H program is dedicated to providing Door County youth with opportunities to develop these skills and be involved with their community.
Door CANcer provides financial assistance for everyday essentials, such as gas, utilities, groceries, and rent, to Door County residents in active cancer treatment. Regardless of a person’s age or financial situation, Door CANcer eases the burden of financial stress, so families can focus on healing, not bills.
As a volunteer-run organization, Door CANcer raises what it gives and gives what it raises. To date, more than one million dollars in assistance has been distributed thanks to the generous support of our community.
Door County Auditorium (DCA) is Door County’s year-round, indoor venue for the performing arts, exhibits and community events presented by a diverse mix of professionals, regional performers and student artists. The stage has been graced by Lyle Lovett, Keb’ Mo’, Melissa Etheridge, Ira Glass, Ziggy Marley, Charlie Daniels and Joan Baez.
DCA is recognized as a 501(c)(3) organization and is supported by Door County visitors and residents alike through ticket sales, sponsorship, advertising, membership and volunteer labor. Annually, over 220 performances, events, rehearsals and school assemblies take place within DCA’s walls.
DCA is home to the Peninsula Music Festival which draws professional musicians from all over the country to perform nine symphonic concerts each August. The musicians, hailing from some of the country’s top orchestras, are conducted by Maestro Rune Bergmann.
In 1995 a group of folk musicians and dance enthusiasts, led by Cy Rosenthal of Sturgeon Bay, came together to play music and hold barn dances, bringing together multiple generations for fun and fellowship. Cy saw local folk bands as a way for musicians to play together, support each other, and improve their skills. Cy died in 2010, but the all-volunteer organization he founded continues his goal of building community through music and dance.
The central activity of the alliance is a series of monthly barn dances – all open to the public – with live music provided by the Alliance band, Sugar on the Floor. The Alliance coordinates regular music “sessions” to provide local folk musicians with opportunities to learn new music and hone their skills, as well as supplying music and dance for community and special events. Donations to the Door County Folk Alliance are used to pay for dance callers, rental of the dance hall, the organization’s insurance, equipment, outreach and educational materials.
Since 1994, the mission of Door County Habitat for Humanity has been to provide a hand up to help others acquire and own decent and affordable housing. They work with future homeowners to build new simple, safe, and decent homes to increase the inventory of affordable homes in Door County. They also work with existing homeowners to complete repairs they would otherwise be unable to afford or complete on their own. All projects are done in partnership with the homeowners as they are required to both contribute time during the project and pay for material costs with a mortgage for home builds and a payment plan for home repairs. Door County Habitat for Humanity provides a hand-up, not a hand-out to current and future homeowners.
Door County Historical Society Endowment Fund
www.DoorCountyHistoricalSociety.org (920) 421-2332
Door County Housing Partnership
Door County Housing Partnership Charitable Fund
www.DoorCountyHousingTrust.org (920) 421-5090
Door County Land Trust Conservation Action Fund www.DoorCountyLandTrust.org (920) 746-1359
Door County Library Foundation, Inc. Fund
www.DoorCountyLibrary.org (920) 743-6578
Door County Trails Fund
Founded in 1926, the Door County Historical Society (DCHS) keeps history alive for future generations. The Society operates two interpretive sites: Eagle Bluff Lighthouse in Peninsula State Park and the Heritage Village at Big Creek in Sturgeon Bay, and hosts several historical programs throughout the year.
Since 1960, the Eagle Bluff Lighthouse consisted of the keeper’s house and tower, oil house, privy, summer kitchen, and barn. The Society will begin another restoration effort to replace the barn and summer kitchen.
Heritage Village at Big Creek demonstrates the story of Door County settlers, their lives and sense of community. The Village includes buildings from the era post-Civil War to pre-World War I including a school, church, granary, blacksmith shop, general store, fish house, privy, period homes, a Norwegian Homestead, and a tool museum.
The Door County Housing Partnership is an independent, nonprofit organization focused on providing permanently affordable home ownership opportunities for working households living year-round in Door County. They use a shared equity home ownership model, and work with the community to provide the subsidy that bridges the gap between what working families can afford and what it costs to purchase a decent home. Homes are priced to be affordable to the working families that stable communities need, representing teachers, nurses, social workers, and municipal workers, to name a few. The DCHP’s unique approach allows the creation of housing solutions that will stay affordable for generations.
Founded in 1986, the Door County Land Trust is dedicated to protecting Door County’s exceptional lands and waters...forever. The Land Trust’s work ensures that life thrives on the Door Peninsula, its islands, and surrounding waters. The Land Trust protects about 10,000 acres which are home to rare and threatened plant and animal species. Through a county-wide network of nature preserves and nearly 30 miles of public hiking trails, these protected lands are a resource for people to experience, research, and connect with the most scenic and ecologically important landscapes that grace Door County. But there is more work to be done!
The Door County Land Trust Conservation Action Fund is the operational backbone of the Door County Land Trust, a nationally accredited and highly respected, not-for-profit, member-supported, local land conservation organization. Your contribution to the Door County Land Trust Conservation Action Fund, enables the Land Trust to apply your donation to the highest and greatest needs in land protection and stewardship throughout Door County.
The Door County Library is an integral, physical, and virtual gateway to access information, ideas, knowledge, and enrichment. Its eight locations provide a welcoming atmosphere and skillfully connect people with the resources they seek.
The libraries provide materials in a variety of media: books, newspapers, magazines, online databases, music, and films, plus the Library of things and toys. Year-round informational programs for adults and youth foster learning and reading. Public access computers and free wireless connections are available at all eight locations.
The Door County Library Foundation supports the Door County libraries in a variety of ways, making its vision possible with funding for important community learning projects. For example, it has recently approved grants for cooking classes at the Baileys Harbor branch and music history lectures at the Sister Bay and Sturgeon Bay branches, along with funding for electronic resource Hoopla and community programs presented as part of Door County Reads..
Door County Trails is leading a once-in-a-generation effort to create a safe, scenic, and connected network of bicycle and pedestrian trails linking our Door County communities. These multi-use trails are not just recreational—they are essential infrastructure that enhance daily life and long-term community well-being.
Trails support healthier communities, access for all, stronger local economies, and environmental stewardship. They connect people to work, school, and vital services. They provide safe, active transportation for residents of all ages and abilities, reduce car dependence, and help preserve the natural beauty that defines Door County.
Your gift to the Door County Trails Fund supports trail planning, design, and construction—along with the essential tools and coordination needed to keep this effort strong and sustained. Together, we can build something lasting—connecting people and places for generations to come.
Door-Tran Operating Fund www.Door-Tran.org (920) 743-9999
www.ESIEmpowers.com (920) 487-3541
Egg Harbor Historical Society Endowment Fund www.EggHarborWI.com
Ellie’s Fund Endowment www.ElliesFund.org (920) 497-8463
Ephraim Yacht Club
Charitable Fund • Endowment Fund
Aaron R. Moore Sailing Scholarship Fund www.EYC.org (920) 854-7107
Door-Tran is dedicated to connecting people to transportation services that are affordable, available, and accessible. In our aging community, reliable transportation is essential to help residents remain independent. They offer a variety of programs to meet local transportation needs, including Volunteer Transportation, Half-Price Travel and Fuel Vouchers, No-Interest Vehicle Purchase and Repair Loans, Vehicle Repair Grants, Referrals and Personalized Transportation Planning. Door-Tran also provides in-person, phone, online, and print support through our Transportation Resource Guide, helping individuals and families find the best transportation solutions available.
Collaboration is at the heart of what they do. They lead a 60-member Transportation Resource Improvement Partner (TRIP) committee and work with more than 40 dedicated volunteers to ensure transportation resources are shared efficiently and that more trips are provided across the county.
For over 50 years, ESI has served individuals with disabilities to obtain their personal independence and employment goals. ESI offers unique programs and services designed to meet the specific needs of each client. From employment opportunities to day services, the programs and services at ESI focus on developing life skills and fostering independence, allowing each individual the opportunity to contribute to his or her own well-being and the community in which they live.
Support from the community goes directly back into the programs and services offered to the individuals served, making a difference and changing lives.
The mission of the Egg Harbor Historical Society is to make Egg Harbor history come alive for future generations through the collection, preservation, and sharing of Egg Harbor’s heritage. The community’s history is available to residents and visitors through the use of historical manuscripts, advocacy, historical presentations, and family history collections as mediums to facilitate bringing history to the greater community. Information and items of historical interest, in addition to onsite displays and CD programs, are available at the Kress Community Center in Egg Harbor. The center is open year-round. A tour of the historic and culturally significant sites within the Village of Egg Harbor is available online.
Although she was just shy of two years old, Ellie was an incredible source of happiness for all who knew her. She was such a blessing to her family that they felt an obligation to carry on her legacy by spreading joy into the lives of others. That was the impetus for the creation of Ellie’s Fund, Inc., a 501(c)(3) public charity. The Fund provides grants to worthy projects to benefit the people of Northeast Wisconsin.
First, it provides assistance and opportunities to young people in Ellie’s memory. Whether it be providing enrichment activities or meeting human needs, Ellie’s Fund hopes to help. Second, celebrating Ellie’s love for the outdoors, Ellie’s Fund provides assistance to initiatives which celebrate and preserve the remarkable natural beauty of Northeast Wisconsin.
The Ephraim Yacht Club’s mission is to provide outreach programs, equipment, facilities, and funding for sailing education, training, and competition to help students learn the life skills and values important in being productive and active members of the community.
The Ephraim Yacht Club (EYC) was founded in 1906 and operates one of the oldest and largest sailing schools in the Midwest. EYC’s U.S. Sailing certified staff provides instruction to students from youngsters all the way up through senior citizens. Lessons are held mornings and afternoons, and races are held evenings and weekends so students can test and demonstrate their skills. Students learn teamwork and independence by sailing small and large boats. Instructors emphasize proper behavior, sportsmanship, racing etiquette and a Corinthian spirit during all activities. Since 1906, thousands of students have learned the sport of sailing at EYC as well as skills and behavior that will benefit them and their communities the rest of their lives.
The Friends of the Pavilion raises funds to strengthen and support the Kress Pavilion and Egg Harbor Community Center located in the heart of Door County. This year-round facility hosts free and low-cost programming for all ages. Since it opened in 2018, the facility has hosted over 500 free and open-to-the-public programs and nearly 200 non-profit fundraisers. It is also home to the Egg Harbor Seed Library, Egg Harbor Branch of the Door County Library and Egg Harbor Historical Society. Funds raised by the Friends of the Pavilion help to support the building’s programs and continue to offer a space for the Egg Harbor library and Egg Harbor Historical Society.
Although tax dollars and private event rentals are the main source of revenue, the extra funding from the Door County Community Foundation account will support the level of services offered to all of Door County in perpetuity.
For Now and for the Future Fund
Peninsula State Park Research Grant Fund
www.PeninsulaStatePark.org
(920) 868-6256
The Friends of Potawatomi State Park Endowment Fund www.RunWild.org (920) 746-2890
Fund for Nature and Learning www.TheFriendsofWhitefishDunes.org
Gathering Ground Charitable Fund www. GatheringGroundWI.org
Gibraltar Area School District
Gibraltar Area Educational Endowment Fund (920) 868-3284 x231
The Friends of Peninsula State Park are committed to preserving and enhancing Wisconsin’s most complete state park so visitors of all interests, backgrounds, and abilities can enjoy its natural beauty. The Friends support programs focused on interpretation, history, education, and visitor services. Over 1.2 million visitors annually explore the 3,776-acre park, and all donations go directly towards park enhancements. The Friends recently funded 21 miles of new mountain bike trails at the park. Funds are now being raised for improvements at the Highland Trailhead, including a gathering space and an all-season shelter. Past projects include the new Eagle Tower and canopy walk, the Nature Center remodel, an outdoor amphitheater, and an all-inclusive playground at Nicolet Beach. Profits from merchandise sales support a summer naturalist, educational programs, and the purchase of essential equipment.
The Friends of Potawatomi State Park is a nonprofit organization that was founded in 1995 to host the Run Wild event in the park. The Friends group has grown to include all aspects of preserving, protecting, promoting, and providing to make Potawatomi State Park a gem of the Wisconsin State Parks system! Friends members volunteer their time and talents to aid in maintaining and improving Sturgeon Bay’s largest park’s programs and equipment. Projects that the Friends Group have recently accomplished include: the installation of a universal kayak launch, park and trail clean up, installation of two new playground diggers, resurfacing the playground areas with wood fiber, assisting the Park Staff in maintaining the ski trails, funding the Park Naturalist and providing educational programs in the park, and much more!
The Friends are now fundraising for a new Open-Air Shelter at the Old Ski Hill Overlook as well as adding more parking spaces to that area.
The Friends of Whitefish Dunes, Inc. established the Carl Scholz Fund for Nature and Learning in memory of founding member and Sevastopol educator Carl Scholz. His love of Door County was evident in all that he did. His advocacy was paramount in establishing Whitefish Dunes State Park. Education and environmental issues were his passion and he guided the Friends group in the supporting themes of preserving the Park’s unique dunes habitat and the need to engage residents and visitors in learning about these habitats. This fund will be used for efforts to preserve and protect the Park’s unique environment and to aid visitors in learning about it through various Friends projects, including the support of an on-site naturalist and related programming.
Gathering Ground blends agriculture and conservation on its 40-acre working and teaching farm. With a vision for thriving communities connected to the environment and their food through work and play, we focus on sustainable farming practices with our diverse fruit and nut orchards, vineyards, and grazing sheep. We promote biodiversity, community composting, and support our local farms through our farmers market.
Gathering Ground offers an educational internship, Ground School, for young people interested in agriculture, conservation, and environmentalism, as well as programs for all ages, including our annual Dinner in the Vineyard, a celebration of local food and drink among our vines. The Grounds are open for walking tours and picnics. Join us in Planting for the Future!
The purpose of the Gibraltar Area Educational Endowment Fund is to provide a source of funding for Gibraltar Area School District. The intent of establishing this Fund was to provide an avenue for donors to make a tax deductible contribution to the district. Funds can then be used to support playground upgrades, technology upgrades, and grants that support the innovative, creative, entrepreneurial ideas of teachers. Funding can also be used to assist children and families in the district that are experiencing difficulty purchasing things like coats, hats, mittens, eyeglasses and school lunches. This list is not all inclusive, and consideration is given to where the funds are needed most.
As budgets get tighter and costs continue to increase, the need for a Fund such as this becomes extremely important. There is a need for this type of Fund to fill the gaps not provided by traditional funding.
Friends of Whitefish Dunes Carl Scholz
Gibraltar Historical Association Endowment Fund
Gibraltar Historical Association Flagship Fund
Gibraltar Historical Association Operating Fund
www.HistoricNoble.org (920) 868-2091
Francis Hardy Center for the Arts Fund www.TheHardy.org (920) 854-2210
Harry Purinton Youth Sailing Fund www.SturgeonBayYachtClub.com/learntosail stf@sailtrainingfoundation.org (920)743-6934
Domestic Abuse Transitional Living Fund
Eliminating Domestic Abuse Endowment Endowment Fund Established by Connie & Bob Erickson
Thelma Windhauser Endowment Fund
Katie McConkey Memorial Fund www.HELPofDoorCounty.org (920) 743-8785
Hope United Church of Christ Fund
Hope Memorial Gardens Foundation www.HopeChurchDC.org (920) 743-2701
The Gibraltar Historical Association was established in 1984 to collect, research and preserve objects and archival materials which directly reflect or illustrate Gibraltar Township history; to pass on from person to person, to advance history, and to educate residents and visitors about this history; and continue to work towards preservation of historical buildings and green space in the community of Fish Creek, Wisconsin.
The GHA maintains the Alexander Noble house built in 1875, the oldest frame residence in Fish Creek and completely restored and maintained as a functioning museum and an audio tour of 23 historic buildings in our town to share with visitors and residents alike
Preserving the past by operating a museum, providing historic walks, scheduling seasonal events and presenting a Gibraltar Talks series helps keep our mission alive. GHA is a 501(c)(3) and relies on memberships, donations, grants and fundraising to continue its work.
Established in 1962 in honor of Francis Howe Hardy, Ephraim’s historic Hardy Gallery is solely dedicated to supporting Door County’s extensive and vibrant visual art community.
Hardy envisioned the existence of a gallery that would support the development of a growing Door County art community, fostering its growth, and furthering the understanding and appreciation of the visual arts and most importantly, the artists of the Door Peninsula. Upon his passing in 1960, Hardy’s vision became a reality thanks to his wife Helen’s energy and financial contributions.
Today, the Hardy Gallery, as it is still affectionately known, has programs and initiatives that address the needs of the local artist community, creative enrichment of local youth, and is focused more than ever on Hardy’s original vision of educating the public and promoting the visual arts and artists of the Door County Peninsula.
Founded in 2023 in honor of Harry Purinton, a dedicated sailing instructor since 1953, the Harry Purinton Youth Sailing Fund aims to make sailing accessible to all children of Door County. Hosted by the Sturgeon Bay Yacht Club Sail Training Foundation, the fund ensures that no child is left ashore due to financial constraints. Sailing is more than a sport; it teaches self-reliance, boosts confidence, sharpens decision-making skills, and cultivates leadership and character. By donating to the Harry Purinton Youth Sailing Fund, you help young sailors navigate the waters of Green Bay and Lake Michigan and the challenges of life with equal prowess.
Since 1979, HELP of Door County has provided programs serving victims of domestic abuse – working to improve the well-being and dignity of individuals, families and intimate relationships. HELP works to reduce the incidence of violence and conflict within relationships by providing free and confidential victim services including: Crisis Intervention, Safe Homes, Legal Advocacy, Women’s Support Groups, Community Outreach (including workshops, training and speaking engagements), Prison Outreach, Older Adult Victim Services, Transitional Living Program, Violence Intervention Services, Visitation and Exchange, and Youth Advocacy.
Beyond Hope Church and its current vision, the Hope UCC Endowment Fund is today, tomorrow, and forever.
The Hope UCC Endowment Fund grants support to our community, both locally and worldwide. It has been used to support the “All Hands In” Destination Imagination team as it raised awareness of the GO BO! Foundation Family Assistance Program. The Endowment has provided care packages to local soldiers serving abroad and helped support conversational English language classes in Door County. It has supported food assistance programs, installed a hearing loop in its sanctuary, and refurbished the Hope Library.
Five percent of the total is granted annually while the balance is invested. Community needs today do not end when we move on. In your will, as a beneficiary of your retirement plans, life insurance, other accounts, or trusts – give back for today, tomorrow, and forever.
Horseshoe Bay Farms Preservation Fund
www.PreserveHorseshoeBay.org
Legal Aid Society of Door County Endowment Fund
www.DCLegalAid.org (920) 743-3934
Miller Art Center Foundation, Inc. Fund
www.MillerArtMuseum.org 920.746.7124
Midsummer’s Music Ltd. Endowment Trust Fund
www.MidsummersMusic.com (920) 854-7088
In 2018, a group of community minded citizens came together to preserve Horseshoe Bay Farms. A 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization was established with a mission to act as responsible stewards. Horseshoe Bay Farms’ goal is to preserve, rehabilitate, and activate this historic gem in Door County, ensuring its future for generations to come. With a dedicated board, a comprehensive master plan, and a group of passionate volunteers, Horseshoe Bay Farms is positioned for success well into the future. Horseshoe Bay Farms is open to the public, offering historic tours. The Farm provides engaging experiences for visitors of all ages and continues to rehabilitate its historic buildings. The Farm showcases stunning gardens that bloom throughout the year, along with Stickwork, a whimsical sculpture that adds a touch of joy to the community.
Isadoora was founded in 2002 as a company where anyone from the community could gain experience producing, directing, and acting in theatrical productions not typically accessible to amateurs. Our alumni have gone on to professional roles with Northern Sky Theater, Door Shakespeare, Peninsula Players, and Stage Door Theatre Co.
From humble beginnings as friends gathering to read scripts, to fully staged, high-quality production of deeply emotional shows such as Wit and Painting Churches. Funny and heartwarming offerings like She Loves Me and Striking 12. Provocative perspectives in Side Man, Waiting for Lefty, and The Laramie Project Examinations of the darker side of human nature with Assassins,Why Torture Is Wrong and The People Who Love Them. To large-scale productions like Chicago, Isadoora has gone to theatrical places over the course of twelve years that few small, non-professional companies dare to go.
Legal Aid Society of Door County was founded in 1989 by a group of local attorneys and human service providers who recognized that there was a growing number of unrepresented, low-income clients who could not afford family law services.
The mission of LASDC is to coordinate and improve access to civil legal services for low-income individuals in Door County. Most of these services are provided by volunteer attorneys. LAS operates as a screening and referral organization for potential clients who face legal issues that involve family law, landlord-tenant disputes, benefit entitlements, and other civil matters. The organization contracts with a local attorney who provides intake, screening and referral of eligible applicants at the Sturgeon Bay office. Legal Aid Society is an unusual nonprofit organization, in that the majority of administrative cost and much of the client service are provided by volunteer efforts.
Nestled in the heart of Sturgeon Bay, the Miller Art Museum stands as a beacon of cultural enrichment and artistic exploration. Established in 1975, this dynamic institution has been a cornerstone of the local community, fostering creativity and appreciation for the visual arts. With a diverse collection of more than 1,500 works spanning historical to contemporary along with regularly changing exhibitions, visitors are treated to a compelling and diverse array of art. From powerful exhibitions highlighting regional and national talent to thought-provoking exhibits that explore the depths, joys, and complexities of our world, the museum offers something for art enthusiasts of all ages and backgrounds. Beyond its exhibits, the Museum presents an array of educational programs, tours, performances, and events, engaging visitors in experiences that deepen their understanding and appreciation for art. With a commitment to excellence and accessibility, the Miller Art Museum continues to foster connections between artists and community through the creation of opportunities to explore, appreciate, and advance the visual arts.
For over thirty years, Midsummer’s Music has brought world-class musicians to Door County, creating unforgettable chamber music experiences for audiences of all ages. Our concerts celebrate chamber music’s intimacy, vitality, and variety, performed in galleries, churches, schools, museums, memory cafés, and private homes.
The Griffon String Quartet, an essential part of Midsummer’s Music, educates with youth instruction, enriches with health and wellness programs, and excites with dynamic community outreach. From beloved classics to world premieres of commissioned works, every performance is a unique experience.
As Northeastern Wisconsin’s only full-time, year-round professional musical organization, we rely on tax-deductible donations to sustain our mission. Join us in sharing the transformative power of music!
The Northeastern Wisconsin Bird Alliance (formerly Northeastern Wisconsin Audubon Society) was incorporated in 1954 and is one of more than 500 local chapters of the National Audubon Society. Their membership service area covers seven counties and 55 communities throughout Northeast Wisconsin, including all of Door County. NEW Bird Alliance applies the mission of the National Audubon Society at the local level in northeastern Wisconsin, which is to protect birds and the places they need, today and tomorrow, throughout the Americas using science, advocacy, education, and on-the-ground conservation. Active projects include the Oneida Bird Monitoring Project, Project SOAR (Snowy Owl Airport Rescue), and Tracking the Phantoms: A red-shouldered hawk research study utilizing radio telemetry to understand the birds’ movements and migration.
Isadoora Theatre Endowment Fund
Open Door Bird Sanctuary Future Development Fund
www.OpenDoorBirdSanctuary.org (920) 493-2473
Peninsula Players Theatre Charitable Fund www.PeninsulaPlayers.com (920) 868-3287
Peninsula School of Art Youth and Community Outreach Fund
www.PeninsulaSchoolofArt.org (920) 868-3455
The Richard Mauthe Center for Faith, Spirituality & Social Justice Endowment Fund www.RMCenter.org (920) 465-5133
The Open Door Bird Sanctuary raises avian awareness and inspires co-existence with the rich natural world of Door County, of Wisconsin and wherever people call home. Founded in 2010, the Sanctuary, situated on 34 acres, is the only facility of its kind in the area. It offers a unique combination of environmental and wildlife education featuring live birds of prey and interactive programming on site and off. Birds that are unable to be released back to the wild find safe haven at the sanctuary.
The facilities currently consist of a Nature Center and the Bird Care Center, used by staff, volunteers and birds. There are multiple program areas, outdoor aviaries, several trails and a picnic area. Contributions will help with the continued development of ODBS’s Master Plan which includes a new sister building to the Bird Care Center in 2025. Long range additions could include a pavilion, a walk-through aviary, an advanced show area and visitor center.
Peninsula Players Theatre, founded in 1935, is America’s oldest professional resident summer theater located in a unique setting along the cedar-lined shores of Green Bay. The theater’s mission is to support, without reservation, the most exciting theater company possible; to preserve the Theatre in a Garden’s natural beauty; to provide artists the freedom, tools, and facilities they require to entertain, uplift, and inform our audiences; to foster future generations of theater professionals through the internship program; and to maintain fiscal policies that ensure the future security of the theater.
A contribution to the Peninsula Players Charitable Fund helps protect the theater’s past, while securing its future. Your gift will support a tradition of theatrical excellence and fundamental programming such as the internship program, educational workshops, free public seminars and staged readings. Help ensure the future of Peninsula Players Theatre for generations to come.
Peninsula School of Art (PenArt) is Door County’s inclusive destination for art makers, admirers, students, and advocates – cultivating personal and community wellbeing through classes, programs, and discourse. Since 1965, PenArt has been a leading innovator of creative experiences and arts education for participants of all ages and abilities. Each year, PenArt offers over 2,000 hours of arts instruction to some 700 adult students, and more than 500 hours of instruction to over 300 youth. At the annual Door County Plein Air Festival, thousands of participants engage with world class artists as they paint the Peninsula’s most iconic outdoor scenes. Dynamic events, workshops, exhibitions, and artist residencies celebrate and support people at all stages of creative life while fostering a culture of belonging.
The Richard Mauthe Center for Faith, Spirituality and Social Justice is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization located on the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay campus, but independent from the university system. Its mission is to provide opportunities for the UWGB community to explore faith, nurture their spiritual lives, and serve others.
Every year the Mauthe Center touches the lives of students by putting together events that inspire respect and peace, and promote justice. The purpose of its Endowment Fund is to ensure that the legacy of Rev. Richard Mauthe continues to flourish. Today, it is invigorated to work with the next generation of authentic leaders to write a new chapter – defined by an effort to find innovative ways to continue to transform the lives of students and community members we serve.
Rogue Theater Endowment Fund www.RogueTheater.org (920) 818-0816
Rogue Theater is Door County’s community theater, dedicated to bringing high-quality productions and local talent to the stage. Since its founding in 2013, the company has performed at various locations across Door County. In addition to its productions, Rogue offers educational programs and theater camps for youth and young adults.
Their vision is to create a vibrant space where entertainment and art intersect, encompassing professional theater, music, dance, and visual arts while actively engaging the community. Located at the DC Arts Center in Sturgeon Bay, Rogue Theater is committed to developing a dynamic art center that serves as a hub for diverse community events.
As part of their ongoing efforts, Rogue Theater’s capital campaign aims to secure the DC Arts Center as a permanent home for the venue, with plans to include a dedicated set-building area, fly space, and enhanced lighting to elevate their productions.
Sevastopol Education Foundation, Inc.
Sevastopol Education Foundation www.facebook.com/SevastopolEdFoundation sevastopoledfoundation@gmail.com
History Center Building Fund
Endowment Fund • Operating Reserve Fund
www.SisterBayHistory.org/museum/ (920) 421-0285
Southern Door Community Foundation 1610 Orchard View Ln Brussels, WI 54204
www.SouthernDoorCommunityFoundation.org (920) 825-7373
Sunshine House, Inc. Fund www.SunshineHouseInc.org (920) 743-7943
The purpose of the Rushes Wilderness Foundation is to maintain, improve and provide access to the Rushes Wilderness Area while preserving its natural beauty. The Rushes Wilderness area is the 100-acre nature preserve adjacent to the Rushes on Kangaroo Lake.
Over the years the many volunteers and supporters of the Rushes Wilderness Foundation have accomplished this by: Maintaining and improving nearly five miles of trails in the preserve, planting and maintaining the Butterfly prairie, building the gazebo, planting and caring for memorial trees, maintaining the boardwalks, providing benches throughout the preserve, building and maintaining the observation deck, improving the area by removing invasive species.
This fund was started thanks to the generosity of long time Rushes owners Ruth and William Merkey.
The mission of the Sevastopol Education Foundation is to enrich the experiences of children for a stronger community! To provide support to the students, teachers, staff and programs of Sevastopol School.
Sevastopol Education Foundation, separate from the school, is a 501(c)(3) organization and all donations are tax deductible. By supporting Sevastopol Education Foundation Inc. (SEF) you are providing a foundation for many to thrive. Schools need reliable revenues separate from restricted public funding in order to keep pace with advances in technology and to provide an innovative high quality educational learning environment. SEF is only able to carry out its mission of enhancing the Sevastopol Schools through the generous support of individuals, businesses and organizations. Teachers, parents, coaches or others may request money for projects, equipment or donations from SEF by writing grants within focus areas.
The Sister Bay Historical Society is building for the future with two ambitious plans: a new History, Arts and Community Center on its museum grounds (Highway 57 and Fieldcrest Road), and a Waterfront Museum on the Sister Bay waterfront. The History Center involves repurposing the105-year old Little Sister Barn, and is intended to provide additional space for museum-quality exhibits, research and educational programs, and community meeting space. The Waterfront Museum plan involves renovating the Bunda Boathouse, and showcasing the maritime history of Sister Bay.
These new projects will be wonderful additions to the current museum grounds, which include a collection of historic buildings and artifacts representing life in the early days of Sister Bay. Tours and educational programs are offered from June to mid-October. Your gift to the Historical Society can help fund this important work, whether it’s applied to the new History Center, the Waterfront Museum, or the ever-growing costs of honoring the unique history of this special place.
The mission of the Southern Door Community Foundation is to give support to the Southern Door School District in maintaining and enhancing its facilities and programs. The goal of the Foundation is to build community by providing financial support to the Southern Door School District so students have access to opportunities to become productive members of their community.
A variety of funds are available so that you may choose to donate to an area of specific interest. Funds range from interests in General Education, Arts, Music, Science,Technology, Athletics, Agriculture, Industrial Arts, as well as having numerous scholarship opportunities.
The Foundation can also assist other supporting organizations of the school byproviding a safe and responsible way to manage funds and assist in fund raising activities.
Sunshine Resources of Door County has been empowering individuals with physical and developmental disabilities since 1971. Its mission is to support meaningful lives and foster independence through day services, employment programs, life skills training, and social activities that promote inclusion.
The organization also offers Senior Adult Day Services to support families with loved ones managing Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, or dementia, while Sunflower Cottage provides seniors with opportunities for socialization and companionship.
To ensure accessibility, Sunshine Resources offers transportation for all participants, eliminating transportation barriers. A production facility and resale store provide hands-on job training, while the Employment Services program supports workforce readiness with resume building, interview coaching, job matching, and placement to maximize success.
Ruth and William Merkey Fund
TAP Endowment Fund
United Way of Door County, Inc. Fund www.UnitedWayDC.com (920) 746-9645
Door County Humane Society Charitable Fund www.WIHumane.org (920) 746-1111
Door County Connection Fund www.WPR.org (888) 909-4163
Third Avenue PlayWorks is Door County’s premiere year-round, professional theatre in historic downtown Sturgeon Bay. Their mission is to inspire community connections and spark dialogue through wide-ranging intimate theatre. Third Avenue PlayWorks envisions a Wisconsin where everyone, regardless of background, social, and economic status, has access to cutting-edge theatre,while striving to be recognized among the leading arts organizations in the Upper Midwest. Alongside stage productions, they offer educational opportunities for all ages in their facilities and at local schools. They open their doors for community events on Third Avenue, additional events throughout the year, and partnership opportunities with local businesses and organizations. They are a home for Wisconsin artists, audiences, and for everyone who visits, and we hold fast to the “Wisconsin Idea” to improve the lives of all citizens.
United Way of Door County forges strong partnerships, focuses resources on what matters, and creates measurable results. Its vision is of a community where: family and community wellness are promoted; child care and early education are available to working families; basic needs such as food, shelter, transportation, and clothing are met; the lives of special segments of the population including elderly, disabled, and mentally ill are enhanced; healthcare is available to all; and youth are provided with opportunities for positive development.
Its aim is to use its expertise to add value by assessing community needs; collaborating with and ensuring accountability of partner organizations; and identifying and raising funds. It is a leader in Door County by facilitating, promoting, and ensuring the availability of services that meet the needs of the community as an effective and efficient conduit for philanthropic resources.
The Wisconsin Humane Society (WHS) was founded in 1879 and is the oldest and largest shelter in Wisconsin, annually serving more than 40,000 animals and the people who love them. WHS is an independent nonprofit and receives no general government funding and there is no national umbrella group in animal welfare. WHS operates shelters in Door, Brown, Ozaukee, Milwaukee, Racine, and Kenosha Counties, as well as a spay/neuter clinic in West Allis. The organization offers adoption services, veterinary services, retail stores, youth programs, community outreach, training classes, wildlife rehabilitation, and more. Like at all WHS locations, animals in the adoption program at the WHS Door County Campus have as long as it takes to find a new home. WHS is ranked 4 stars by Charity Navigator.
Since 1917, Wisconsin Public Radio has been a pioneer in radio broadcasting, providing strong, independent and meaningful public radio in Wisconsin. Educating, informing and entertaining have been at the core of WPR’s mission since its inception. Today WPR’s 34 radio stations, seven regional bureaus, three networks, website, online streams, and user-friendly apps serve local, regional, and statewide audiences.
WPR’s commitment to community engagement inspires programming that reflects the people and issues that impact Wisconsin. From thought-provoking discussions, to local and statewide news, to classical, folk and world music, WPR presents the highest quality programming available. Major gifts for specific projects as well as endowment gifts for long-term support also play an important role in funding one of Wisconsin’s most valuable assets.
The mission of Write On, Door County is to inspire and engage writers and readers of all ages, at all stages. Everyone has a story to tell. Write On serves year-round and seasonal residents as well as visitors. Free peer critique groups support writers just starting out. Monthly book discussions connect readers. Classes with published authors help writers advance to the next level of their career. Author events bring together readers and writers in a relaxed setting. These programs take place in a variety of locations, including the Writing Center in Juddville. The Writing Center is a gathering space and resource center for all readers and writers. Write On also offers an author residency program, bringing a diverse slate of authors to Door County to write, teach, and offer public readings. Visitors may enjoy the Writer’s Walk, 59 acres of groomed trails forming Write On’s campus.
At the Door County Community Foundation, we help build and strengthen community. We bring people and organizations together that want to make a difference in our world.
The Community Foundation makes philanthropy easy. We help individuals and families establish a customized charitable Fund without being burdened by the regulatory requirements, tax liabilities and administrative and fiduciary hassles associated with setting up a private foundation. Our donors can self-direct their contributions to specific charities, invest in broader areas of interest, or provide unrestricted gifts to a Discretionary Fund to address emerging community needs.
As a 501(c)(3) public charity, our donors qualify for the maximum tax deduction as allowed by law.
Since our founding in 1999, the charities of Door County have benefitted from more than $35 million that has been disbursed from the family of charitable Funds at the Door County Community Foundation. Our assets have grown to $75 million today, with more than $5 million in contributions and pledges last year alone.
Give today or through your estate plan. Give however it’s right for you.
Just remember to Give Door County.
Create a Philanthropic Legacy in Your Estate Plans
Gwenn and Joe Graboyes both grew up in Philadelphia, but their paths didn’t cross until medical school at Washington University in St. Louis. They fell in love, and in the brief month between graduation and the start of their residencies they squeezed in a wedding. Though East Coast transplants, they were quickly taken by Midwestern culture and its people. They decided to stay on the condition, as Joe requested, that they would live near water.
The Graboyes raised their two children in Milwaukee and, encouraged by friends and coworkers, began visiting Door County for family vacations. What started as an occasional getaway became a cherished place to reset and relax, and they quickly realized this was where they wanted to retire. Here, they found not just natural beauty but a community rich with opportunities to engage in the arts, environmental efforts, their church, and the many organizations that help Door County thrive.
Today, the retired surgeons spend much of their time giving back as volunteers and
immersing themselves in the community through their interests. Joe is an active sailor and biker, and Gwenn is a Master Gardener who loves “walk and talks” with friends and participating in environmental advocacy. Their generosity, however, didn’t begin in retirement. Gwenn traces it back to childhood when her mother asked her and her brother to donate half their Halloween candy to children in an orphanage. She and Joe passed this value on to their own children using three piggybanks: one for saving, one for spending, and one for giving.
The couple created their estate plan years ago, wanting to support the organizations they love long after they are gone. The Door County Community Foundation provided an ideal opportunity to discuss the couple’s estate plans and ways that their philanthropy could impact the community today. They realized they could do more now, not just someday. Their estate plan still ensures that, upon their passing, the Graboyes’ generosity will continue to support causes that strengthen this
The Door County Community Foundation’s services have really simplified our lives and helped bring our giving priorities into focus. They have helped reshape our concept of giving to meet the needs of nonprofit organizations within our broad philanthropic philosophy.
– Joe and Gwenn Graboyes
community that they love. And both of their adult children will receive Funds to continue the family’s tradition of giving — an evolution of that original “giving piggybank.”
“Working with the Foundation has been really spectacular,” Gwenn says. “To have the services and skills, the personalities, and the genuine warmth in this tiny community is truly impressive.” The relationship helped them streamline their giving, focus on their philanthropic goals, and support local organizations in meaningful ways, now and in the future.
Including the Door County Community Foundation in your estate plans is a seamless and strategic way to transfer assets to charity. Whether you want to support a cause you care about, give to specific organizations in your family’s name, or like the Graboyes establish a legacy of giving for the next generation, an estate gift offers a flexible, tax-wise option. Your assets, and the earnings they generate, can support the community forever.
Giving to Your Future Through a Discretionary Fund
For Bev and Gary Schulze, giving back, collaboration, and sharing are more than guiding principles—they are ways of life.
Though both had long connections to Door County, Bev and Gary’s paths didn’t cross until later in life. Each had experienced the profound loss of a spouse, and through that shared grief they found not only a deep connection with one another, but a mutual devotion to service, faith, and the Door County community they both love.
Bev, born and raised in Chicago, first discovered Door County while camping with her late husband and friends. The family returned year after year to Peninsula State Park, drawn by the landscape and slower pace of life. On a rainy trip more than 50 years ago, a drive around the peninsula led them to property for sale in Ellison Bay. They purchased the land and built a home, and after retirement made Door County their full-time residence.
Gary’s roots in Door County began even earlier. Raised in Milwaukee, he began visiting Door County as a child, spending summers camping at Peninsula State Park—experiences that sparked a lifelong love of nature. A former elementary school principal, Gary took pride in knowing
every student in his schools, reflecting his deep commitment to children and education. That dedication later inspired him to establish a scholarship at Wisconsin Lutheran College for students who might not otherwise qualify for traditional aid.
When Gary asked Bev on their first date, it was only fitting that he chose cross-country skiing at Peninsula State Park—the place that had shaped both of their lifelong connections to the peninsula. As their relationship grew, so did their shared passions. They hiked, skied, kayaked, played bridge, and deepened their bond through faith and a shared sense of responsibility to serve others. Just one year after their first date, they were married, with their seven children lining the aisle to welcome their new family. So active were they in the local bridge community that their wedding famously led to the cancellation of a large tournament— everyone was celebrating their union instead.
Retirement in Door County didn’t slow Bev and Gary’s involvement; it has simply evolved. Bev founded an adult day care program in Northern Door, served as head of the SCANDIA Auxiliary, and continues to volunteer weekly at Serenity Spring, as well as with the Egg Harbor Library and Fish Creek Historical Society. Together,
Sharing is the main lesson we’ve learned from church. We are responsible for everybody. If everybody does a little bit, it can make a big impact.
– Bev and Gary Schulze
the Schulzes are active members of Calvary Methodist Church in Egg Harbor, volunteered at Birch Creek, and supported the Door County Land Trust through events and outreach.
Over time, they recognized their role in giving back was changing.
“We feel so fortunate to live in Door County,” Bev shares. “It is a caring community. Early on, we volunteered a lot. Now we’re at a point where we can support the volunteerism of others. We hope our giving encourages others to donate or volunteer too.”
To ensure their values continue to shape the community they love, Bev and Gary established a Discretionary Fund at the Community Foundation. Designed to support Door County forever, the fund provides a permanent source of income to meet the community’s evolving needs. While the causes reflect the Schulzes’ passions, the Community Foundation’s Board of Directors directs annual grants to organizations making the greatest impact.
A gift to a Discretionary Fund is a gift to the future. Though no one can predict what lies ahead, Bev and Gary are confident the Community Foundation will be there—ready to meet new challenges and opportunities, just as the community has always been there for them.
Simplify your Giving with a Donor Advised Fund
We give to organizations that are having an impact on the communities we care about – and we like using our Donor Advised Fund at the Door County Community Foundation as the vehicle to do that. We find that the Community Foundation is well informed about Door County and it’s a convenient tool no matter where we are giving.
Steve and Lisa O’Hearn’s story begins in Wisconsin, where they each grew up and later pursued careers as CPAs. The couple met in Milwaukee while working at PricewaterhouseCoopers. Lisa stepped back from her career to raise their daughter and two sons in Mequon while Steve’s career set the pace for the family’s next chapters.
That career took them around the world – from Wisconsin to Tokyo to New York City – and after their youngest left for college, to Zurich and Munich. It was in Switzerland, while Lisa was nursing a broken wrist, that she made a declaration that would shape their future: when they retired, they should have a home in Door County. No matter where the O’Hearns lived, they made time every year to visit Door County – a place that already felt like home. Today, the couple splits their time between New York City and Door County, spending the majority of it here, drawn by the community and their deep commitment to it.
Wherever life placed them, community
always mattered. Lisa has a gift for weaving herself into the fabric of the places she calls home. In Door County, that has meant helping plan Door County Christkindlmarkt from its inception, as well as supporting other efforts of the Sister Bay Historical Society, 100+ Women Who Care and the local Green Tier Committee. Steve’s service is rooted in faith and guided by the belief that “what you do for the least of My brethren, you do for Me.” He gives his time and leadership as a board member of the Door County Community Foundation, the Peninsula School of Art, and the Workforce Housing Lending Corporation.
Their spirit of service naturally extends to their philanthropy. As Steve and Lisa explain, “We traditionally tended to direct our giving to organizations we were involved in, where we could see the impact our dollars were having, fully aware that service multiplies the dollars. But the more trust we develop in our communities, the more confidence we have in leaders, the more freely we can give. We have tremendous trust in the people of Door
County.”
Their financial expertise also plays a thoughtful role in how they give. Steve and Lisa are intentionally building their Donor Advised Fund with a long-term vision, planning ahead so their philanthropy can grow and support the communities they love well into later stages of life. As they explain, “We do that because of the advantages of aggregating tax deductions now [commonly referred to as bunching]. It’s a very convenient way to create more giving down the road.”
A Donor Advised Fund operates much like a private foundation, but without the administrative burdens, high operating costs, or required tax filings. These funds offer a flexible and meaningful way for individuals, families, businesses, or groups to stay personally involved in their philanthropy. And when that giving is done through the Door County Community Foundation, donors gain access to knowledgeable professional staff who help them explore the causes that matter most – turning generosity into lasting, community-centered impact.
– Steve and Lisa O’Hearn