Community Grants

The Women’s Fund of Door County operates as a component fund of the Door County Community Foundation, an established philanthropic organization dedicated to strengthening communities through targeted grantmaking and charitable support. The Women’s Fund specifically focuses on advancing the well-being of women and girls in Door County, Wisconsin. Its Community Grants program reflects a localized funding approach that prioritizes measurable impact and community-informed solutions, aligning with the broader foundation’s mission to address critical social needs through strategic investments. The purpose of the Women’s Fund of Door County Community Grants is to support charitable projects that directly benefit women and girls within Door County. The program emphasizes initiatives that provide education and information, foster self-esteem and dignity, and address pressing challenges through evidence-based solutions. Applicants are encouraged to incorporate data and measurable outcomes into their proposals, particularly demonstrating how women and girls are served. Priority consideration is given to projects that remove barriers for underserved populations, promote inclusivity, introduce innovative approaches, and generate long-lasting educational or social impact. Funding through this program is flexible in structure, as there is no explicitly defined minimum or maximum grant amount. However, the fund typically distributes multiple awards per cycle, with an average grant size of approximately $5,000. Eligible uses of funds include programmatic activities aligned with the mission, while several restrictions apply. The fund does not support debt retirement, budget deficits, loans, re-granting programs, or multi-year commitments. Additionally, projects advancing specific religious beliefs are generally excluded unless discussed in advance with the foundation. Expenses incurred prior to award decisions are also ineligible, and fundraising efforts, capital campaigns, and endowment contributions are typically not supported unless exceptional justification is provided. Eligibility is limited to qualified public charities and units of government that serve women and girls in Door County. Organizations must demonstrate their capacity to deliver services within the defined geographic area and align their proposals with the fund’s priorities. Each organization may submit only one application per Community Grant cycle, although they may reapply in future cycles or apply to other programs offered by the Community Foundation concurrently. The application process requires completion of the Common Grant Application Form along with Addendum W. These materials likely include narrative descriptions of the proposed project, organizational information, and supporting documentation. While specific evaluation criteria are not explicitly detailed, the emphasis on data-driven impact, inclusivity, and innovation suggests that proposals are assessed based on alignment with mission priorities, demonstrated need, feasibility, and potential for measurable outcomes. The program operates on a recurring, biannual cycle, with application deadlines set for the fourth Monday in March and the fourth Monday in September each year. Applicants can expect notification of funding decisions within five to seven weeks following the submission deadline. All awarded organizations are required to submit a final report upon completion of their project, ensuring accountability and documentation of outcomes. For additional information or support, applicants may contact the Door County Community Foundation via email at info@GiveDoorCounty.org or by phone at (920) 746-1786.

Emphasize measurable data on women and girls served; prioritize inclusion and barrier removal; highlight innovative approaches and long term impact