About the Downtown
Fond du Lac Partnership

The Downtown Fond du Lac Partnership (DFP) is a non-profit organization dedicated to bringing people, activity, business and a thriving civic life back to the heart of Fond du Lac. Through strategic marketing and management of downtown's resources, we're working to re-establish downtown as a gathering place in the center of our community. The DFP serves 214 properties with 295 businesses.

History of the Downtown Fond du Lac Partnership

In 1999, the organization known as the Central Business Council - an ad-hoc group comprised primarily of downtown retailers and business owners - worked with the Fond du Lac Area Association of Commerce in an effort to create a downtown Business Improvement District. Following Wisconsin rules governing BIDs, the business council and the Association of Commerce gathered enough signatures from downtown property owners in a petition drive to prove majority concensus in creating the BID. On September 22, 1999, the Fond du Lac City Council approved the BID. At that time, the stated mission of the BID was to develop downtown Fond du Lac into a place that is supportive of professional, business and institutional services, specialty and retail stores, the arts and government.

Shortly thereafter, a nine-member BID board was formed with representation from property values large and small (as outlined in the new organization's bylaws). On January 1, 2000, the Downtown Fond du Lac Partnership - the name for the organization chosen by the BID board for promotional purposes - launched operations at the Association of Commerce. The DFP is the governing body of the BID. Hereafter, the name DFP will be used synonymously with the BID.

The DFP board created an organization chart modeled after the national Main Street Program's Four Point Approach. The DFP applied to and was accepted into the Wisconsin Main Street Program in July 2004.

The DFP is now governed by an eleven-member volunteer Board of Directors. Funded by the business district special assessment, contributions from the City of Fond du Lac and sponsorships, the DFP works to establish a diverse, prosperous and healthy district that is the social, commercial and cultural heart of our community.

As of January 1, 2013, the DFP became an independent non-profit organization. The DFP employs two paid staff members and is organized into volunteer committees that break down the tasks of the organization.

District boundaries are roughly, Main Street from Follett Street on the north to Ninth Street on the south, and encompassing several side streets east and west of Main. Download the Map

Downtown Fond du Lac Fund

The Downtown Fond du Lac Partnership, Inc. (DFP) is pleased to announce the establishment of the Downtown Fond du Lac Fund of the Fond du Lac Area Foundation.  The downtown Fond du Lac central business district is the heart of our city.  It is here in the heart of our city where tourism thrives and locally owned businesses keep the pulse of Fond du Lac beating.  It is here where celebrations and commemorations take place.  Where memories are made and our children and grandchildren play.  It is our community center. 

The DFP supports the central business district of the city of Fond du Lac, and over the past 12 years, the DFP has reinvested over $250,000 into downtown, but there is much more that can be done. 

The DFP has established the Downtown Fond du Lac Fund of the Fond du Lac Area Foundation to aid in the improvement and beautification of downtown Fond du Lac.  You may choose how your gift will be directed through two options. The Non-Endowed portion is set up to put your investment to work immediately. The Endowment portion becomes part of the DFP’s permanent fund where only the interest generated will be distributed.  Both assure the continuance of the revitalization of our historic downtown.  Monies from all donors will be pooled to fund projects on a larger scale, or you may choose to specifically designate your investment for a particular purpose. Those purposes may include: riverfront/river walk beautification, funding for the design and construction of public art, annual Christmas decorations, landscaping, grants for building improvement project and improvements to historic properties, and more.

The Downtown Fond du Lac Fund is designed to be a long term solution in funding public improvements.  The Fond du Lac Area Foundation manages and invests these funds.  A volunteer board of directors governs the funds, and their distributions.  Gifts to the foundation are tax-deductible. 

Your investment in downtown Fond du Lac is a gift to the entire community.  Donations large and small protect the integrity of spirit and place in Fond du Lac.  Together we can strengthen the social and historic heart of Fond du Lac for years to come. 

Downtown Fond du Lac Fund