Advancement Grants

Advancement Grants

Status: ACTIVE
Funder: Door County Community Foundation
Last Updated: January 22, 2026

Summary

Advancement Grants are designed to foster collaborative initiatives that promote systemic change and enhance the quality of life in Door County. These grants support various projects aimed at improving community services, such as transportation and micro-lending for small businesses. By investing in comprehensive solutions, the Community Foundation seeks to bridge significant service gaps and empower organizations to create sustainable job opportunities, ultimately leading to a more resilient community.

Overview

NOTE: There is no formal application process for an Advancement Grant. Instead, these initiatives are of the Community Foundation’s making. Or they might arise from a charity, group, or an individual who approaches us with a good idea. To discuss a possible idea you might have, contact us to begin a conversation. Advancement Grants Advancement Grants invest in collaborative efforts which lead to systemic change and advance our quality of life in Door County. Advancement Grants invest in collaborative efforts which lead to systemic change and advance our quality of life in Door County. These grants support initiatives which look at entire systems in our community and work to bring about greater efficiencies if not a whole scale change in how things are done. An Advancement Grant might bring changes to how we deliver a service in Door County – such as transportation. The Community Foundation made the initial investment in Door-Tran, created the corporation, and lent one of our Board members to serve as an organizer and President of the new Door-Tran Board. Advancement Grants also fill significant gaps in service – such as micro-lending to small entrepreneurial companies which create job opportunities. The Community Foundation is in the process of launching a subsidiary corporation, the Door County Community Opportunity Investment Network (COIN), to facilitate such investments because the most effective human service program is one which helps its clients get good jobs. Through the Advancement Grants process, a non-profit organization might receive assistance from the Arts Fund, the Children & Youth Fund, the Education Fund, the Green Fund, the Health & Human Needs Fund, and/or the Historic Preservation Fund. There no longer are separate applications for each of these Discretionary Funds as there were in the past. Advancement Grants are typically large scale initiatives which require a significant investment of time of both the professional staff and board of the Community Foundation, in addition to any grant awarded.

Eligibility

You can learn more about this opportunity by visiting the funder's website. Organizations building collaborative efforts which can lead to systemic change and advance our quality of life in Door County.