The Women's Fund of Door County recently announced that every contribution and pledge received by December 31st will be matched dollar for dollar by the Lutsey Family Foundation. 

"We think the commitment of the community needs to be there as well as our own belief in the need for the Women's Fund here in Door County," explained Sharon Lutsey. "We hope the challenge grant will provide another jump start to get more focus on what the Women's Fund is doing on the peninsula."

The Lutsey Family Foundation will match up to $25,000 in gifts and pledges to the Women's Fund of Door County.

Tom and Sharon Lutsey, the leaders of the Lutsey Family Foundation, were part-time residents of Door County for 20 years until they moved permanently to the peninsula 6 years ago. Their family has a long tradition of helping the women and families of Northeast Wisconsin face today's challenges. 

"A family led by a woman is 3 ½ times more likely to live in poverty than other Door County families," says Sally O'Brien, Co-Chair of the Women's Fund. "The studies also show that Door County women working full-time earn 30% less than men."

By offering a matching grant challenge the Lutseys believe the public will have an opportunity to uphold and sustain the work underway by the four-year-old Women's Fund and the non-profit organizations who receive programming dollars to aid local women and families. 

"We feel any level of donation shows support for women and girls in this community," says Lutsey.  "A lot of business owners are men who employ women and single mothers and they have come to recognize that what's happening in a woman's life affects how that woman is doing on the job."

The Women's Fund uses these contributions to support its granting program. It has distributed several dozen grants over the last two years to organizations such as HELP of Door County to assist survivors of domestic abuse, FISC Consumer Credit Counseling for adult financial literacy programs, and the Young Adult Parent Support (YAPS) Program to provide one-on-one services to teenage parents.

Make a matching gift today using a credit card or make a multi-year pledge using our downloadable Contribution Form. 

The Porte des Morts Staircase Fund was established to raise money and assist in the construction of a staircase at Porte des Morts Park to connect the top of the bluff to the shore below.

Porte des Morts Park, (fr. Death's Door) is located on the far north shore of Door County, cleverly hidden at the end of Kenosha Road between Gills Rock and Northport. Before travelers even arrive, they are treated to a drive down the last length of Hwy 42 that ominously weaves back and forth like a snake. This windy picturesque road to Death's Door is the popular subject among both amateur and professional photographers.

Porte des Morts Park is owned and maintained by the Town of Liberty Grove with ample parking, a picnic table, grill, a beautiful view of the water and minimal enhancements. However, there is no safe way to get to the shore, some 30 feet below.

A staircase to the shore will benefit all park visitors by providing the public with greater shore access. As well as enjoying the park, every visitor can further their experience with the opportunity to hike the shore, geocache, swim, kayak, stand-up paddle, snorkel, scuba dive and see even more of Door County's beauty. 

Consider making a gift to support this important community project. Details and sponsorship opportunities are available on the Porte des Morts Staircase Project website. You can give immediately with a credit card by visiting the Community Foundation online and selecting the "Porte des Morts Staircase Fund" from the list of programs to support. 

The deadline for applying to the Historic Preservation is quickly approaching. Applications must be received by November 20th at 4:30 p.m.

Working in partnership with the Clifford and Clara Herlache Heritage Foundation, the Historic Preservation Fund supports the appreciation, enhancement and preservation of historical landmarks and the cultural heritage of Door County, Wisconsin.

The Community Foundation welcomes applications from historical societies as well as other kinds of charities that want to preserve and celebrate the history and culture of Door County.

Application materials may be downloaded from the Community Foundation's website. If you have questions or would like feedback on your idea prior to submitting an application, contact Christine Henkel.

The Historic Preservation Fund is one of the Community Foundation's Community Impact Funds. You can make a gift today using a credit card, or contact us to learn about how you can include a gift in your estate plans to forever to support this critical issue - or any other issue important to you!

The Community Foundation is honored to administer Molly's Fund, an Endowment for the Door County Humane Society. 

Lost, abandoned, seized, and surrendered companion animals find warm beds, medical care, and ultimately a new forever home once they reach the Door County Humane Society. Animals arrive 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, so the facility must be constantly staffed. Animals arrive from every part of Door County, including Washington Island.

Many charities entrust the administration of their endowment funds to the Community Foundation.

It's a safe and responsible way to manage endowed gifts, long-term assets or operational reserves. The non-profit community also counts on the Community Foundation's planned giving expertise to facilitate gifts into their endowments. 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.