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Door County Community Foundation

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Doorway to Learning, Inc.

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November 12, 2024 – Children First Development Center, Inc. and Door Community Child Development Center, Inc. announced they are merging on December 1, 2024. These two independent Door County childcare centers currently provide high standards of development and learning for children, from newborns to four-year-olds, and are combining into the newly formed Doorway to Learning, Inc.

The Door County Community Foundation is collecting contributions for Doorway to Learning, Inc. through the Childcare Centers Assistance Fund until they able to put their own donation system in place.

This merger was necessary to keep both centers from closing due to their financial challenges. By combining resources, expertise and staff, it creates a unified organization that promotes the highest standards of child development and learning. Following the merger, Doorway to Learning, Inc. will only strengthen the commitment to providing a nurturing, safe, and stimulating environment for all children.

Operations will be combined initially at the Gordon Road facility in Sturgeon Bay. The Egg Harbor Road facility in Sturgeon Bay will close temporarily but the Board anticipates reopening it as future childcare needs warrant. The merger’s economies of scale will allow the newly formed Doorway to Learning, Inc. to continue to provide the best care for children, while remaining sustainable for the future.

Devin Vandertie, Board President of Doorway to Learning Inc., said, “Our combined teams will work collaboratively to ensure a seamless transition and continued commitment to excellence.”

Once integrated, their plan is to conduct fundraising efforts that will allow the newly consolidated organization to offer additional enrichment experiences and enhance the quality care our families deserve. The Board also understands that childcare can be a huge financial burden and another long-term goal with fundraising is to subsidize a portion of the tuition for families in need. You can give online to the consolidated center through the Community Foundation’s Childcare Centers Assistance Fund.

The Door County Community Foundation was instrumental in forging the alliance. Its President & CEO Bret Bicoy said, “Finally, sustainable, high-quality childcare in Sturgeon Bay can become a reality. I hope Door County’s generous community supports this critical element of stabilizing our workforce.”

The combined teams will work collaboratively to ensure a seamless transition and continued commitment to excellence. The Board expresses its appreciation and support of the families, teachers, and the community during this exciting transition. Doorway to Learning, Inc. is grateful for the continued opportunity to teach and watch the future leaders of tomorrow bloom into their extraordinary selves.

Make a contribution to support childcare in Door County!

The Door County Community Foundation is playing a leading role helping ensure that sustainable childcare is available to working families in Door County. Please consider giving to either of these two very worthy efforts:

Doorway to Learning, Inc. primarily serves the southern half of Door County. Please consider making a gift online or send a contribution to Doorway to Learning, Inc., c/o Door County Community Foundation, Inc., 222 N. 3rd Avenue, Sturgeon Bay, WI 54235. Contact Doorway to Learning at 920-818-0877.

Northern Door Children’s Center primarily serves the northern half of Door County. To learn more about their campaign to expand childcare availability in their Sister Bay facility, visit www.EssentialDoorCounty.org.

Destination Door County Challenge Fund

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Donate today to double your impact and help raise $150,000 for your favorite Door County State Park!

Take action now by simply clicking on the State Park poster of the property you care about most and make your gift online:

Destination Door County, working in partnership with the Door County Community Foundation, has launched the State Parks Grant Initiative to improve and enhance Newport, Peninsula, Potawatomi, Rock Island, and Whitefish Dunes State Parks. This $150,000 per park is divided into three parts.

Using room tax dollars generated by the visitors to our community, Destination Door County has already committed the first $50,000 to each non-profit “friends group” at our five State Parks. This initial funding will be utilized for modest upgrades and improvements to their facilities.

The second $50,000 will come from generous folks like you. The individual friends groups have been asked to identify a larger project that will truly enhance their respective State Park – and have been challenged to raise a second $50,000 from people like you.

Once each friends group achieves this challenge goal, Destination Door County will match the community’s contributions and add the third $50,000, completing the cycle.

By working together, we’ll generate $150,000 each for Newport, Peninsula, Potawatomi, Rock Island, and Whitefish Dunes State Parks – which is a total community contribution of $750,000 to Door County’s State Parks!

Take action now by simply clicking on the State Park care about most and make your gift online:


If you’d like to mail a check, make it payable to the Door County Community Foundation, Inc. and indicate which State Park you’d like your contribution to benefit:

Door County Community Foundation, Inc.
222 N. 3rd Ave.
Sturgeon Bay, WI  54235

If you’d like to contribute publicly traded stock, or some other kind of asset, please call the Community Foundation at (920) 746-1786 or email info@givedoorcounty.org.

Neither your gift nor the grant from Destination Door County will be used to replace existing funding that would have otherwise been budgeted for the State Parks.  Instead, your contribution will enable each non-profit Friends Group to imagine new initiatives that will expand or enhance their respective park.

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The food pantries of Door County, working in partnership with the Door County Community Foundation and United Way, have created the Door County Food Pantry Coalition. It’s our community’s coordinated, sustainable response to providing food and other supplies to people who are struggling. If you’re able to help out, please consider making a donation or volunteering your time.

Please remember that the Door County Food Pantry Coalition is NOT paid for by the government. Our pantries are able to help you because of the generous donations of your friends and neighbors. If you’re having a hard time making ends meet, the members of the Food Pantry Coalition want to extend a helping hand.

While everyone is working together through the Coalition, each food pantry operates in a different way. Some pantries are only able to provide non-perishable items, while others can offer refrigerated and frozen foods. A few pantries also make toiletries and other household supplies available. In some cases, the pantries allow you to come into their facility to pick out what you need. Others take your “order” for what you need then bring it outside to you.

Please look through the list of pantries below to understand what each one offers and how they operate. Then decide which one is best suited to help you during your time of need.

1. Washington Island Community Health Program Food Pantry

1763 Town Line Rd, Washington Island
http://mywichp.org/Programs.html
(920) 535-3035 or (920) 750-9265

Food distribution takes place on the 1st Monday of each month from 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm in the Trinity Lutheran Church basement.  Those interested should call for information and will select from a list of available pantry items. Selections will be boxed and brought to client’s vehicle on distribution day.  

Typical available food items include breakfast cereals, oatmeal, pancake mix, peanut butter, jelly, boxed milk, canned soups, canned tuna, canned vegetables, canned fruits, canned tomato products, canned beans, dried beans, rice, pasta, dried fruits and nuts, cheese, and frozen fruits, vegetables, fish, pork products and beef products.  Other items may include toiletries, paper products and dog/cat food.

2. Klaud’s Food Pantry at Shepherd of the Bay

11836 Hwy 42, Ellison Bay
www.shepherdofthebay.org
(920) 854-2988

The Shepherd of the Bay Pantry is available to anyone, on an as needed basis. Items include non-perishable foods and personal care items. 

The pantry is open daily, 7:00 am-9:00 pm.

3. Koinonia Kupboard at First Baptist Church

2622 S Bayshore Drive, Sister Bay
www.firstbaptistsisterbay.com
(920) 854-2544

Koinonia Kupboard is a self-service pantry. Clients should walk in the front entrance and will be welcomed by someone in the office, there is no sign-in or registration. Koinonia Kupboard is open Tuesdays 9:00 am – 3:00 pm, Wednesdays 1:00 pm – 5:00 pm, and Thursdays 9:00 am – 3:00 pm. For after hours requests, please call (920) 854-2544 x 10.

Available items include non-perishable foods and toiletries with no restrictions.

4. Door of Life Food Pantry

2731 Hwy 42, Sister Bay
http://www.dooroflife.org/
(920) 421-1253

Door of Life Food Pantry is a 24/7 help yourself food pantry that operates on the honor system.

Door of Life has a small freezer and often has bread and other perishables in there. They also offer non perishable items and try to keep personal care items on their shelves as well.

5. Stella Maris CARE 24/7 Food Pantry

4019 State Highway 42, Fish Creek
www.stellamarisparish.com
(920) 868-3241

The Stella Maris CARE 24/7 Pantry operates 24 hours each day on the honor system. Clients can enter the church entryway and help yourself to items you are in need of.

Product includes non-perishables, some hygiene items, and often a supply of breads.

6. Feed and Clothe My People of Door County

204 North 14th Avenue, Sturgeon Bay
feedmypeopledoorcounty.com
(920) 743-9053

Clients should call ahead and share the size of the family, the ages of any children, and if you have special needs – dietary issues, toiletries, etc.  Feed My People will make an appointment for you to come pick up your food – about two weeks supply.  The food will be waiting for you outside on a cart at the appointed time. The food pantry at Feed and Clothe My People of Door County is open Mondays and Thursdays, 1:00 pm – 5:00 pm, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, 10:00 am – 2:00 pm.

In addition to canned foods and other non-perishable food such as cereal, pasta, and boxed foods, Feed My People has eggs, cheese, and margarine and other dairy items, and frozen meat. They also have pet food available.

7. Lakeshore CAP Food Pantry

131 S 3rd Avenue, Sturgeon Bay
www.lakeshorecap.org
(920) 743-0192

Due to COVID19 Lakeshore CAP Food Pantry does not currently have a client choice model pantry.  The client comes to the pantry door and shows their picture ID, Lakeshore CAP Food Pantry pulls the client’s pantry card and puts together a pantry based on family size. A volunteer takes the cart(s) to the end of the handicap ramp. The client picks up the cart(s) and loads their car, client returns cart to the end of the ramp.  No appointment is necessary.  Lakeshore CAP is open Tuesdays and Thursdays, 11:00 am – 4:00 pm.

Everyone receives produce/fruit, frozen meats and personal care items.  A family of four receives approximately 150 pounds of food.

8. Holy Name of Mary Food Pantry

7491 County Road H, Sturgeon Bay
www.holynameofmary.church
(920) 495-9053 or (920) 493-6867

The Holy Name of Mary Food Pantry is open the 1st and 3rd Saturdays of each month, 8 – 10 a.m. The food pantry is in the basement of the church. Client choice is available on the food that is needed that day.

Available items include fresh produce, perishable and non-perishable foods, paper products, cleaning products and personal hygiene.

9. Sturgeon Bay Community Church

620 N 12th Avenue (lower level), Sturgeon Bay
www.sbcommunitychurch.com
(920) 746-9587

Every Friday from 9 a.m. to noon, the Food Pantry opens its doors to offer food and necessities, ensuring that families and individuals have access to vital supplies.

The Pantry is located on the lower level of the building, making it easily accessible for those seeking assistance.

Make a Donation

If you’d like to make a donation, please first consider making a monetary contribution. Often the pantries can purchase food at a cost far below what you’d pay for the same item at the grocery store. Monetary gifts also allow the pantries to buy refrigerated and frozen food items that are not easily donated.

Please make a donation online today, or mail your gift to:

Door County Food Pantry Coalition
Door County Community Foundation
222 N. 3rd Avenue
Sturgeon Bay, WI  54235

All monetary contributions will be shared by the food pantries based on where the need is greatest in Door County at any given time. If you’d like to donate food items, please contact the food pantry closest to you.

If you’d like to help out as a volunteer, please email Amy Kohnle at the United Way.

We will get through this if we hold together as a community!

https://doorcountycommunityfoundation.org/door-county-food-pantry-coalition/

Community Investment Fund Grants

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Destination Door County has launched the Community Investment Fund which will use dollars generated by visitors to improve the quality of life for those who live and work in Door County.

Central to the work of Destination Door County is an effort to ensure that every visitor has an enjoyable experience. While Door County is a naturally welcoming community, DDC’s primary reason for ensuring visitors enjoy their experience in Door County is because it benefits our residents. When people visit Door County, they spend money here – creating jobs for our families, generating incremental tax dollars, providing us economic opportunities, and supporting the amenities that enhance the quality of life for those of us lucky enough to call Door County home. We use tourism to build a better life for the residents of Door County.

The Community Investment Fund, created in partnership with the Door County Community Foundation, is a natural evolution of Destination Door County’s work. Using a portion of the room tax dollars paid by visitors, the Community Investment Fund will offer grants to projects that improve the quality of life for those who live and work in Door County. It’s yet another example that tourism makes life better for Door County residents.

Wisconsin State Statutes require that we use room tax dollars in ways that benefit visitors, so that must be a requirement of any application to the Community Investment Fund. However, to earn a grant from the Community Investment Fund a project must also demonstrate how it will meaningfully improve the quality of life for residents of Door County.

Grant awards will vary greatly, ranging from just a few thousand dollars to potentially into the hundreds of thousands.  We anticipate that the average grant will be about $100,000, but more modest requests are welcome and encouraged.  Qualified applicants include 501(c)(3) public charities, 501(c)(6) organizations, and units of government.

Given that the Community Investment Fund must comply with complex Wisconsin State Statute rules regarding the use of room tax dollars, we strongly encourage applicants to reach out to the Community Foundation for an informal assessment of their idea prior to the submission of a formal application.  Email grants@givedoorcounty.org or call the Community Foundation at (920) 746-1786 to schedule an appointment.

Community Investment Fund Grant Guidelines

The specific priorities of the Community Investment Fund are:

  • Creative ideas that have a meaningful impact on the people who live and work in Door County
  • Impact crosses municipal boundaries
  • Encourages collaboration
  • Leverages additional resources
  • Residents experience the positive impact of tourism

The more of these priorities that are addressed by an application, the more likely it is that a project will receive a grant.

We do not make grants to pay for activities that have been contracted or that occur prior to the awarding of a Community Investment Fund Grant.

Most Common Types of Projects

To help you understand how to meet statutory requirements, projects appropriate for funding from the Community Investment Fund usually fall into at least one of the three categories defined below.

Tangible Development:
The most common type of application that will meet statutory requirements are tangible developments that improve the likelihood that tourists will visit a municipality in Door County. These include capital construction projects as well as upgrades and expansions of existing facilities.  The installation of permanent exhibits will often qualify, as might customer-facing items and equipment that improve their experience.  Appropriate “tangible” projects will result in something that has a definable physical form which are long-term, reusable, or permanent in nature.

Exceptional Events:
These kinds of projects are more challenging to qualify under state statutes but might still be appropriate under certain circumstances.  The most common examples are activities, programs, or events that will be marketed broadly and have significant appeal beyond the normal audience or customers served by the applicant. 

Public Information:
Projects of this type often involve the conveying of information to the public.  Wayfinding or interpretive signage is acceptable.  Supporting the salaries of nature guides or gallery docents may be appropriate in certain circumstances.  If your activities provide useful information that is relevant to those visiting Door County, the operating costs associated with those activities may qualify.  Please confer with the professional staff for more information.

The three categories above articulate the most common types of appropriate applications, but the Community Investment Fund is also willing to have a conversation about the uncommon project – the innovative idea that doesn’t neatly fit into any of these boxes but will still have a meaningful impact on visitors and residents alike.  Creative thinking that pushes the envelope is strongly encouraged, but nobody wants to waste time developing an idea that just isn’t permissible under state statutes.  That’s why all prospective applicants are strongly encouraged to bring their ideas to the Community Foundation for a conversation before taking the time to complete a formal application.  Email grants@givedoorcounty.org or call the Community Foundation at (920) 746-1786 to schedule an appointment.

Projects Prohibited by Wisconsin State Statutes

Unfortunately, the Community Investment Fund is not able to provide financial support for any kind of lodging or housing project.  Wisconsin State Statutes expressly prohibit the use of room tax dollars for that purpose.  However, if you are interested in building affordable workforce housing, we encourage you to learn more about the Workforce Housing Lending Corporation, another project of the Community Foundation that is helping finance the construction of affordable multi-family units. 

Application

Please complete the Community Foundation’s Common Grant Application and the Community Investment Fund Addendum A and submit both via email to applications@givedoorcounty.org. The application documents may be downloaded and saved to your computer while working on them.

Each organization is limited to one application per Grant Cycle. However, organizations may submit applications in successive Grant Cycles or to the other granting programs of the Community Foundation that might be open at the same time.

The Chief Executive of your organization must review the entire Application Packet and sign the Application Form accordingly. This is an important step in the process as on occasion we have received applications that were submitted without the knowledge of the charity’s senior management. To protect your organization and ours, we now require that your Chief Executive review your Application Packet before we will consider it.

For purposes of this application, the “Chief Executive” is generally the highest-ranking paid staff person in your organization. In many charities, it is the Executive Director or President & CEO. For schools, the Superintendent must sign the Application Form. For units of government, the highest-ranking official such as a Mayor or Village Administrator must sign.

For an all-volunteer organization, the Board President should sign the Application Form.

We will accept the typed name and email address of the Chief Executive typed on the Application Form as an “electronic signature” if the Application Packet is submitted by email. However, please note that if it is not an original signature, we may contact the Chief Executive listed on the form to confirm their electronic signature.

Letters of Support from Innkeepers

Consistent with Wisconsin State Statutes, the Community Investment Fund can only invest in projects that will be significantly used by tourists AND are reasonably likely to lead to an increase in paid overnight stays.  If you cannot provide hard data that demonstrates your project meets both these statutory requirements, we strongly suggest you secure at least two Letters of Support from nearby innkeepers such as hotels, motels, inns, resorts, lodges, B&Bs, or short-term rentals.  The Letter of Support should make clear that the innkeeper believes that your project will be used by their guests and is likely to lead to additional overnight stays.  Letters of Support should be submitted as PDF files along with your other application materials to applications@givedoorcounty.org.

Combining Individual Projects into a Single Application

It is permissible to include multiple projects in a single application so long as each individual project has a strong and natural correlation with the others.  For instance, consider a municipality seeking grants to fund a beach improvement effort, the construction of a new playground, and the expansion of a shelter.  If all three of these projects occur in close proximity to each other at a single park, they have a strong and natural correlation and thus may be combined into a single application.  In another example, consider an organization that wants to install wayfinding and interpretive signage on multiple properties spread out across the County.  While the installation of the signage will occur on individual properties far apart from each other, the types and purposes of the signs are similar everywhere and thus can be combined into a single application because they have a strong and natural correlation to each other.

Individual projects that do not have a strong and natural correlation must be submitted on separate applications.  Please remember that applicants are allowed only one application per grant cycle.

While it’s permissible to combine multiple projects with a strong and natural correlation into a single application, the budget on the application should separate the individual line-item expenses by project.  For instance, rather than adding up the total design, equipment, and labor costs for all three projects into single line items, instead, list them by individual project.

Application Deadlines

Community Investment Fund applications are accepted multiple times a year as follows:

Spring Community Investment Fund Grant Cycle
Applications Due: 4th Monday of March at 4:00 p.m.

Summer Community Investment Fund Grant Cycle
Applications Due: 4th Monday of June at 4:00 p.m.

Fall Community Investment Fund Grant Cycle
Applications Due: 4th Monday of September at 4:00 p.m.

Winter Community Investment Fund Grant Cycle
Applications Due: 4th Monday of December at 4:00 p.m.

Please provide your contact information if you would like to receive emails announcing when applications become available for the various grant programs of the Community Foundation.

Submit your completed Common Grant Application and Community Investment Fund Addendum A via email to applications@givedoorcounty.org.

On occasion, our spam filters inadvertently screen out emails from some charities. You should receive an email within 3 business days of our receipt of your application confirming its receipt. If you do not receive this confirmation, please call (920) 746-1786 to confirm that we received your application materials.

Applicants will be notified of a decision about 7 weeks after the application deadline.

Given that the Community Investment Fund must comply with complex Wisconsin State Statute rules regarding the use of room tax dollars, we strongly encourage applicants to reach out to the Community Foundation for an informal assessment of their idea prior to the submission of a formal application.  Email grants@givedoorcounty.org or call the Community Foundation at (920) 746-1786 to schedule an appointment.

Final Report

Grant recipients agree to provide a Final Report as a condition of receiving a grant.

All grantees must submit a completed Final Report via email to grants@givedoorcounty.org within 60 days of the expenditure of the Community Foundation’s grant funds. 

Following the announcement of the Community Investment Fund Grants, Destination Door County and the Door County Community Foundation held multiple informational sessions for anyone interested in learning more about the Community Investment Fund and how the grant application process will work. The virtual session was recorded for those unable to attend.

Donate to the Olivia M. Dahl Excellence Fund

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The Olivia M. Dahl Excellence Fund is a component fund of the Door County Community Foundation, Inc., a 501(c)(3) public charity. Thus, all gifts are fully deductible as allowed by law.

Give using a Credit Card
The Community Foundation welcomes gifts to any of our funds via credit or debit card. Please click here to begin a credit card transaction.

Give by sending a Check
Please mail checks to:
Olivia M. Dahl Excellence Fund
c/o Door County Community Foundation
222 N 3rd Ave
Sturgeon Bay, WI 54235

Give Stocks, Real Estate, or Other Assets
The Community Foundation is pleased to accept direct gifts of highly appreciated assets – generally saving you from capital gains taxes and offering you a charitable deduction as well. Contact the Community Foundation if you’re interested in making such a gift to any of our Funds.

Give through your Estate Plans
The Community Foundation is a terrific vehicle for giving back through your estate plans. We’re able to work with most any kind of planned gift including bequests, retirement accounts, insurance policies, life estates with retained interest, charitable remainder trusts, charitable lead trusts – and far too many other tools to list them all here. Contact us at the Community Foundation and we’d be honored to help you give back to any of our Funds – or any charity in Door County or across the United States.

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