|
Dear Friends,
At the Women’s Fund of Door County, we believe that when she thrives, we all prosper. Every day we invest in programs that lean into our mission of championing women, removing barriers to their success, and investing in programs that create lasting change. In total, we have granted more than $1.2M.
A focus on women’s health took center stage at our annual Celebrate Women Luncheon and speaker panel and this year we introduced an exciting new $30,000 grant opportunity dedicated to innovative programs that support the health and well-being of local women and girls. Stay tuned for the grant recipient announcement in early 2026!
Did you know that the Women’s Fund of Door County is one of just 17 Women’s Funds across Wisconsin? Together, we steward $31M in assets and have distributed more than $18M in grants to uplift women and girls statewide—a powerful reminder of what we can achieve when we work together.
We’re deeply grateful to every one of you who helps advance our mission—whether through financial gifts, event participation, or simply sharing our message within the community. Your support truly changes lives.
Yet, the need continues. This year, more than 400,000 women nationwide have left the workforce (Bureau of Labor Statistics). Labor participation among mothers with young children has dropped three percentage points in just the first half of 2025—often due to the rising cost of childcare that outpaces earning potential.
- Single women with children make up the majority of people living in poverty in Door County.
- Domestic violence and mental health challenges disproportionally impact women.
- Only 1% of healthcare research is invested in female-specific conditions beyond breast cancer.
- Girls entering the workforce represent only 28% of STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math) careers nationwide.
In 2025, the Women’s Fund of Door County granted more than $245,000 to vital programs and initiatives that enhance the lives of local women and girls. Yet, philanthropic giving to women’s and girls’ causes remains disproportionately small—just 2% of all charitable giving nationwide.
As Door County's largest charitable fund focused on the needs of local women and girls, your contributions help address this disparity on a local level. The Women’s Fund is uniquely positioned to champion initiatives that address the dynamic needs women and girls face in our community.
Our strategic grants eliminate barriers, expand opportunities, and enrich lives. This year, your generosity supported:
-
Girls’ leadership and mentoring programs, including a summer STEAM program that sparks interest and builds skills in science and technology careers.
-
Programs supporting mothers and infants, as well as programs to improve the quality of life for senior women.
-
Domestic violence support services, offering safety and empowerment for those in crisis.
-
Arts and music enrichment programming to amplify female voices and train the next generation’s talent.
-
Career skill-building and new business training and start-up for women entrepreneurs.
We’re also proud of our continued childcare partnership with United Way of Door County, made possible in part by a fourth $100,000 grant from the Ford Foundation. We co-funded a community childcare coordinator, supported local childcare centers and in-home providers, and offered summer program scholarships. This ongoing work helped launch the new Door County Childcare Task Force, which is exploring sustainable solutions to ensure accessible, affordable, high-quality childcare.
Your support makes all of this possible. With your continued generosity, the Women’s Fund can keep meeting the needs of women and girls in Door County—today and for generations to come.
Please make an impactful year-end gift to the Women’s Fund of Door County and help women and girls reach their full potential. When SHE thrives, we all prosper!
On behalf of the entire Board, thank you for your support.
Warm regards,
| 
