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Door County Economic Development Corporation

EIN 39-1621905 · Sturgeon Bay, WI

Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood75 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

DCEDC IS A PUBLIC/PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP DEDICATED TO IMPROVING THE ECONOMIC VITALITY OF THE COUNTY AND ITS RESIDENTS. DCEDC HAS BEEN SUCCESSFUL IN HELPING EXISTING BUSINESSES CREATE AND RETAIN THOUSANDS OF JOBS THROUGH A MYRIAD OF PROGRAMS AND INITIATIVES.

Income
$505,269
Spending
$786,104
Spent on programs
85%
Reserves
15.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 45%
Employees
7
Volunteers
20
Highest pay
$116,902, secretary and executive director

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 75 out of 100. Higher than 49% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 15.3 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 2% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 56% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 15% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    85% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 7 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 92% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    14 of 14 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    7 of 7

    Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Impact evidence

Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.

Programs described in its return (3)
  1. $516,930 spent. WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT BUSINESS ADVANCEMENT AND ADVOCACY IN 2024, DCEDC WAS IN THE SECOND YEAR OF ITS 2023-2025 STRATEGIC PLAN WHICH FOCUSES ON PROVIDING PROGRAMS, INITIATIVES AND SERVICES THAT SUPPORT THE SUCCESS OF ALL BUSINESSES IN DOOR COUNTY, REGARDLESS OF SIZE OR SECTOR. HIGHLIGHTS FROM 2024 INCLUDE: CONDUCTED THE 2024 BUSINESS SURVEY, WHICH GARNERED 75 RESPONSES, AND BEGAN RETENTION VISITS; CONDUCTED A WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT CONFERENCE TO LAUNCH THE WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE; RE-LAUNCHED THE ATTAINABLE HOUSING COMMITTEE; WORKED ON POLICY ISSUES SUCH AS CHILDCARE AVAILABILITY AND AFFORDABILITY; ADVOCATED FOR DOOR COUNTY'S INCLUSION IN THE 2024 LACK OF WINTER WEATHER EIDL PROGRAM; OFFERED FINANCING PROGRAMS FOR SMALL BUSINESSES; SUPPORTED STUDENT ENGAGEMENT IN BUSINESS BY CONDUCTING THE HIGH SCHOOL JOB FAIR AND MANUFACTURING DAY TOURS, AND ENHANCED CONNECTIVITY TO STUDENTS AND SCHOOLS THROUGH THE BUSINESS AND EDUCATION PARTNERSHIP COMMITTEE. ASSISTED COMMUNITIES WITH GRANT APPLICATIONS FOR BROADBAND ENHANCEMENTS; CONDUCTED AND PRESENTED STUDY TOWARD SECONDARY RESIDENT IMPACT OF BROADBAND ENHANCEMENTS; CREATED RENTAL HOUSING INVENTORY; HELPED COMMUNITIES ADD HOUSING UNITS TO INVENTORY; REFRESHED ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT WEBSITE TO CONVEY INFORMATION REGARDING COMMUNITY RESOURCES AND TOOLS; INCREASED SOCIAL MEDIA AND COMMUNICATIONS PRESENCE TO CONNECT RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES TO OPPORTUNITIES.ENTREPRENEURIAL GROWTH: GRADUATED EIGHT STUDENTS THROUGH THE ENTREPRENEURIAL TRAINING PROGRAM; CONDUCTED THE SECOND LIGHTHOUSE LAUNCH PITCH EVENT; ASSISTED COMMUNITIES WITH GRANT APPLICATIONS FOR BROADBAND ENHANCEMENTS; SERVED 59 ENTREPRENEURS WITH INDIVIDUALIZED SERVICES, SUCH AS BUSINESS PLANNING; OFFERED EVENTS AND PROGRAMS FOR ENTREPRENEURS AT THE DCEDC BUSINESS CENTER; OFFERED FINANCING PROGRAMS FOR SMALL BUSINESSES.BUSINESS ADVANCEMENT AND ADVOCACY: CONDUCTED THE 2024 BUSINESS SURVEY, WHICH GARNERED 75 RESPONSES, AND BEGAN RETENTION VISITS; CONDUCTED A WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT CONFERENCE TO LAUNCH THE WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE; ADVOCATED FOR DOOR COUNTY'S INCLUSION IN THE 2024 LACK OF WINTER WEATHER EIDL PROGRAM; OFFERED FINANCING PROGRAMS FOR SMALL BUSINESSES; SUPPORTED STUDENT ENGAGEMENT IN BUSINESS BY CONDUCTING THE HIGH SCHOOL JOB FAIR AND MANUFACTURING DAY TOURS, AND ENHANCED CONNECTIVITY TO STUDENTS AND SCHOOLS THROUGH THE BUSINESS AND EDUCATION PARTNERSHIP COMMITTEE.SUSTAINABLE LIVING: CONDUCTED AND PRESENTED STUDY TOWARD SECONDARY RESIDENT IMPACT OF BROADBAND ENHANCEMENTS; CREATED RENTAL HOUSING INVENTORY; HELPED COMMUNITIES ADD HOUSING UNITS TO INVENTORY; RE-LAUNCHED THE ATTAINABLE HOUSING COMMITTEE; WORKED ON POLICY ISSUES SUCH AS CHILDCARE AVAILABILITY AND AFFORDABILITY.COMMUNICATIONS AND ENGAGEMENT: REFRESHED ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT WEBSITE TO CONVEY INFORMATION REGARDING COMMUNITY RESOURCES AND TOOLS; INCREASED SOCIAL MEDIA AND COMMUNICATIONS PRESENCE TO CONNECT RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES TO OPPORTUNITIES.
  2. $137,320 spent. BUSINESS ATTRACTION, RETENTION AND EXPANSION - DCEDC WORKS TO RETAIN CURRENT BUSINESSES ACROSS ALL INDUSTRIES IN DOOR COUNTY AND ASSISTS THEM TOWARD EXPANSION OPPORTUNITIES. THESE SERVICES INCLUDE EDUCATION AND FACILITATION REGARDING EXPORT OPPORTUNITIES, PROVIDING LABOR DATA AND PROJECTIONS TOWARD MAKING BUSINESS DECISIONS AND PROVIDING SITE SELECTION SERVICES FOR EXPANSION OPPORTUNITIES. DCEDC ALSO WORKS WITH DOOR COUNTY COMMUNITIES AND PROPERTY OWNERS TO ATTRACT NEW BUSINESSES TO LOCATIONS THROUGHOUT DOOR COUNTY, INCLUDING SPACES INTENDED FOR RETAIL, COMMERCIAL AND INDUSTRIAL USERS. DCEDC MARKETS AVAILABLE SITES, WORKS WITH THE CITY OF STURGEON BAY TO PROMOTE LOCATION OPPORTUNITIES IN THE CITY'S INDUSTRIAL PARK, AND PROMOTES THE AREA FOR NEW BUSINESS LOCATIONS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY.
  3. $10,714 spent. ENTREPRENEURIAL AND SMALL BUSINESS SERVICES - DOOR COUNTY, AND THE MIDWEST IN GENERAL, IS A HOTSPOT FOR ENTREPRENEURIAL ACTIVITY. DCEDC PROVIDES SERVICES FOR ENTREPRENEURS INCLUDING BUSINESS PLAN DEVELOPMENT, FINANCING THROUGH REVOLVING LOAN FUNDS, AND LOCATION SELECTION ADVICE. DCEDC ALSO PROVIDES OPPORTUNITIES FOR LOCAL ENTREPRENEURS AND SMALL BUSINESSES TO MEET AND LEARN FROM THE SUCCESSES OF OTHERS. THROUGH ITS MARKETING AND COMMUNICATIONS PROGRAMS, DCEDC PROMOTES DOOR COUNTY ENTREPRENEURS AND SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS AND THEIR SUCCESSES IN DOOR COUNTY. IN 2024, DCEDC PROVIDED TAILORED SERVICES TO 59 INDIVIDUAL BUSINESSES, GRADUATING AN ADDITIONAL EIGHT BUSINESSES THROUGH THE ENTREPRENEURIAL TRAINING PROGRAM. IN 2024, DCEDC ALSO CONDUCTED ITS SECOND LIGHTHOUSE LAUNCH PITCH CONTEST FOR SMALL BUSINESSES.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Legitimacy checks

  1. Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.

    Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  2. Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.

    Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.

    Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 30, 2026.

  3. Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.

    On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.

    Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 10, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2025.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since September 1989.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  6. Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.

    Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.

    Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated October 7, 2026.

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