There are hundreds of nonprofits in Door County which make groups like 100+ Women Who Care Door County (100+WWC) even more valuable. During their recent April Giving Circle, they amassed $32,000 that has gone on to help three area organizations. The group, which was formed in 2018, routinely engages in the practice of democratized philanthropy to support giving back.
“We give back to the community and it's a great organization to multiply our impact,” said WWC board member Paula Latta, “we want to find ways to be impactful and this is a compressed, efficient way to do that and to also meet other like-minded members of our communities.”
In April, the Door County Fire Chiefs Association was awarded $16,000 and also was given the opportunity to apply for a $5,000 matching grant from the Richard M. Schulze Family Foundation. The Door County Land Trust and Miller Art Museum also received secondary awards of $8,000 each.
“For many nonprofits in Door County, many are very small and so $8,000, which two nonprofits went away with in April, is a significant part of their budget,” said Latta.
The group, which now has 400 members, meets four times a year in January, April, July and October. Members each contribute $100 for the meetings and then nominate nonprofits that they are passionate about. The process then involves vetting and if approved, the nonprofits are entered into a pool and three are randomly drawn. The nominating member and a representative from the nonprofit then have a few moments to speak before the final vote. The primary award winner receives 50% of the money from the quarter followed by two additional nonprofits who split the remaining funds at 25% each.
“The impact of each member is multiplied by all the other members,” said Latta, “it’s a very structured process and everybody gets one vote.”
Latta said being a member of the group has made her feel that she is making a difference and that she has essentially seen her $100 turn into a much larger donation by uniting with the other members. In total, 100+ Women Who Care Door County has distributed more than $710,000 in support since its inception.
“We’ve had 74 awards going to 68 different local nonprofits, which you know, it's just a huge impact and something I'm really proud of,” said Latta.
The next scheduled 100+WWC Giving event will be held on July 28, 2025 at the Donald and Carol Kress Pavilion in Egg Harbor. The next three selected nonprofits, which include Door County Historical Society, Peninsula Music Festival, and Door County Knock Publishing Company, will answer questions prior to the member vote.
For more information, visit www.100wwcdoorcounty.org.
Photo credit: 100+ Women Who Care Door County
