Door County was not immune to the downward nationwide trend of charitable giving. The United States Treasury Department said last week giving was down 1.3 percent over the year prior according to 2018 tax returns, which would reflect the first year since changes to the tax code were made. Door County Community Foundation President and CEO Bret Bicoy says foundation giving was up about 4 percent, but individual gifts were down over three percent. He says the drop in giving affects charities differently.

He expects the Treasury Department to give a similar report next year after 2019 returns are filed. Bicoy encourages people wanting to donate and get a tax break to batch their gifts through a donor-advised fund, which takes into account your total gift but spreads it out over time.