The mission of the Community Foundation is to advance the quality of life in Door County by investing in collaborative efforts that lead to systemic change. This involves supporting initiatives focused on creating greater efficiencies and changes in community systems, with efforts such as improving service delivery, filling significant service gaps, and launching subsidiary corporations like the Door County Community Opportunity Investment Network (COIN) to facilitate job creation.
Advancement Grants focus on supporting broad, collaborative efforts aimed at effecting systemic change in the Door County community. These grants back initiatives looking to overhaul entire systems within the community to enhance overall quality of life. Specific areas of support include changes in service delivery mechanisms, like transportation, and filling service gaps, such as through micro-lending to small businesses to create job opportunities. The grant process encourages initiatives from within the Community Foundation or those proposed by external charities, groups, or individuals, seeking to engage in significant community improvements without a formal application process. Supported areas can span across the Arts, Children & Youth, Education, Environment, Health & Human Needs, and Historic Preservation sectors, reflecting a wide-ranging impact on community welfare and development.