Inspiring People to Give Back to Sustain and Advance the Community We Love. The Community Foundation nurtures the spirit of gratitude in Door County, protects its future with caring and foresight, and ensures individual gifts continue to give year after year to human needs, the arts, the environment, education and other charitable causes.
Focus Areas
artseducationenvironment & water conservationhealth & human servicesmental healthsustainabilitysenior serviceseconomic & community developmentscholarships / youth
Who They Fund
students and learnersyouth and recreation participantslocal communities/general public
About Door County Community Foundation
A 2023 grant of $411,795 to United Way of Door County is a good starting point for understanding Door County Community Foundation Inc: the foundation moves large sums into local institutions that provide charitable, cultural, and community services across Door County. Its recent grant list includes repeated support for organizations such as Third Avenue Playhouse, Door Community Auditorium, Door County YMCA, and Write on Door County Inc, showing a mix of arts, recreation, education, and human services. The grantmaking profile also reaches environmental and conservation groups, public-service recipients, and scholarship-related support for local students.
The foundation’s scale is substantial for a place-based funder, with $6,395,993 in annual grants and $50,282,429 in assets on the latest 990 on file. Recent awards range from six figures to mid-five-figure gifts, alongside smaller local grants. Several recipients appear more than once in the recent-grants table, including United Way of Door County, Door County YMCA, Help of Door County Inc, Horseshoe Bay Farms Inc, and Zion Lutheran Church, which points to ongoing relationships rather than isolated awards. Across the record, the emphasis stays close to Door County and to organizations serving residents, students, and community institutions.
What Door County Community Foundation Funds
Arts and cultural organizations are a visible part of the foundation’s recent giving. It awarded $382,362 to Third Avenue Playhouse in Sturgeon Bay for recreational purposes and $310,636 to Door Community Auditorium in Fish Creek for recreational purposes, then followed with another $93,932 to Third Avenue Playhouse in 2024.
Education and student support also show up repeatedly. Write on Door County Inc received $173,198 in 2023 for educational purposes and $123,234 in 2024 for charitable purposes, while the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay Foundation received $81,560 in 2023 for educational purposes.
Community health and basic needs are another clear thread. Door County Medical Center Foundation received $299,745 in 2023, and Help of Door County Inc received $62,989 in 2023 and $58,313 in 2024. Environmental giving appears through Crossroads at Big Creek Inc at $159,169 in 2023 and Door County Land Trust at $70,827 in 2024.
How Door County Community Foundation Gives
Financial Snapshot
Annual Giving
$8.2M
Total Assets
$63.6M
Total Revenue
$14.8M
Total Expenses
$10.3M
Typical Grant Size
Most grants fall between $8K and $39K, with a median of $15K.
25th Percentile
$8K
Median
$15K
75th Percentile
$39K
Geographic Reach
Local13 states funded
Funding intensity
LowHigh
Headquarters
Leadership
BRET BICOY
Accepts unsolicited proposals
Deep Analysis
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programmatic/project supportdirect service fundingmulti-sector grants
Topics
environmental conservation and educationrecreational and outdoor programsformal and informal educational programscommunity public services
Typical grant size is $8,311 at the 25th percentile, $15,000 at the median, and $38,638 at the 75th percentile, although the recent-grants table also shows several much larger awards in the six-figure range. The pattern is repeat giving rather than one-off support: United Way of Door County, Door County YMCA, Help of Door County Inc, Horseshoe Bay Farms Inc, and Zion Lutheran Church all appear more than once in the recent record. The foundation is a mixed community foundation and gives through several named funds and board-directed grant programs, including discretionary and community investment funding. Some programs accept unsolicited requests, including Sustainability Grants, the Door County Scholarship Fund, Women’s Fund of Door County Community Grants, Healthy Water Door County Grants, and Bargains Unlimited Charitable Fund Grants.
Where Door County Community Foundation Makes Grants
Giving is overwhelmingly local. 84% of grants go to recipients in Wisconsin, and every grant in the recipient-country distribution is in the United States. Recent awards cluster in Door County communities, especially Sturgeon Bay and Fish Creek, with additional grants in Egg Harbor, Sister Bay, Baileys Harbor, and Forestville. The record also includes a few grants outside the county in Green Bay, but the overall pattern remains centered on Door County.
Frequently Asked Questions About Door County Community Foundation
What kinds of organizations does Door County Community Foundation Inc support most often?
The recent grant record shows support for charitable, recreational, educational, environmental, public services, and religious organizations. Named recipients include United Way of Door County, Door Community Auditorium, Door County YMCA, Write on Door County Inc, Crossroads at Big Creek Inc, and Door County Land Trust.
How large are the foundation’s typical grants?
The typical grant size is $8,311 at the 25th percentile, $15,000 at the median, and $38,638 at the 75th percentile. The recent-grants table also includes awards above $100,000, showing that the foundation makes both smaller community grants and larger institutional gifts.
Does the foundation support the same organizations more than once?
Yes. Several recipients appear multiple times in the recent-grants list, including United Way of Door County, Door County YMCA, Help of Door County Inc, Horseshoe Bay Farms Inc, and Zion Lutheran Church. That suggests ongoing relationships with some local organizations.
Are there grant programs that accept unsolicited requests?
Yes. Sustainability Grants, the Door County Scholarship Fund, Women’s Fund of Door County Community Grants, Healthy Water Door County Grants, and Bargains Unlimited Charitable Fund Grants all accept unsolicited applications. The Door County Health and Human Needs Fund and the Women’s Fund grantmaking arm do not.
Where do most grants go geographically?
Most grants stay in Wisconsin, with 84% of grants going to recipients in the state. The recent grants cluster in Sturgeon Bay, Fish Creek, Egg Harbor, Sister Bay, and Baileys Harbor, with some awards also going to Green Bay.
Latest 990 Filing
2026
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2026.
Open Grant Opportunities
Current and upcoming funding from Door County Community Foundation that your nonprofit may be able to apply for.
Open nowCloses in 1 day (Sep 28, 2026)Award: $1K+
Community Investment Fund Grants
Community quality of lifeTourism-related amenitiesCapital development+3 more
Who can apply: Projects must benefit visitors and meaningfully improve quality of life for Door County residents. Projects must comply with Wisconsin room-tax statutes and generally should demonstrate visitor use and a reasonable likelihood of increasing paid overnight stays. Lodging and housing projects are prohibited. Qualified applicants include 501(c)(3) public charities, 501(c)(6) organizations, and units of government.
Deadline: 4th Monday of March, June, September, and December at 4:00 p.m.
Open nowCloses in 1 day (Sep 28, 2026)Award: $3K – $5K
Sustainability Grants
ArtsChildren and youthEducation+5 more
Who can apply: Proposed activities must serve Door County residents or improve quality of life in Door County. Applicants must be qualified public charities or units of government. Individuals and non-qualified groups are ineligible. Debt retirement, deficits, loans, regranting, multi-year commitments, and activities advancing a particular religious belief are not eligible.
Deadline: Fourth Monday of March, June, September, and December at 4:00 p.m.
Open nowCloses in 4 days (Oct 1, 2026)Award: Up to $500
Youth in Theatre Grants
Youth theatrePerforming artsYouth participation
Who can apply: Any charitable, educational, civic, or youth group primarily comprised of Door County residents, whether organized or informal, may apply. Youth must play a significant role in production or on-stage performance. Faith-based groups may apply, but funds may not advance a particular religious belief.
Deadline: 4:00 p.m. on the first business day of October, December, March, and May; listed 2026-2027 dates are October 1, 2026, December 1, 2026, March 1, 2027, and May 3, 2027.
Open nowCloses in 4 days (Oct 1, 2026)Award: $200 – $500
Youth as Resources Grants
Youth leadershipCommunity serviceEducation
Who can apply: Any organized or informal youth group primarily comprised of Door County residents may apply. The project must be largely initiated by youth. One application per youth group is allowed per cycle. Youth representatives must present the project to the Service Club Coalition review board. Faith-based groups may apply, but funds may not advance a particular religious belief.
Deadline: 4:00 p.m. on the first business day of October, December, March, and May; listed 2026-2027 dates are October 1, 2026, December 1, 2026, March 1, 2027, and May 3, 2027.
Who can apply: Youth as Resources: any youth group comprised primarily of Door County residents, organized or informal. Youth in Theatre: any charitable, educational, civic or youth group comprised primarily of Door County residents.
Deadline: First business day of October, December, March, and May
Water protectionEnvironmental healthHuman health+1 more
Who can apply: Projects and initiatives must further the mission of protecting Door County's human, environmental, and economic health by guarding against threats to water.
Deadlines and eligibility are summarized from public sources and may change — always confirm the details on the funder's official application page before applying.
