We’ve seen this history play out before.
Just as momentum for clean energy gains ground—projects rising, costs falling—a new decree arrives from above. The return of top-down, centralized energy policy isn’t just a debate; it’s an attempt to rule by rollback. It’s the old guard trying to reclaim power by stalling investment and clouding the future with uncertainty.
But here’s the thing about progress: it doesn’t belong to any single person. It belongs to the people building it on the ground, right here in Wisconsin.
The Decree vs. The Reality
When leadership tries to reign over the energy transition, we, the people, pay the price:
- Infrastructure is halted by royal red tape.
- Investment is chased away to more stable lands.
- Communities lose their independence to volatile, old-world costs.
We aren’t waiting for a coronation or a change of heart in a distant capital. At RENEW Wisconsin, we believe in a self-governing energy future. We move forward because the climate doesn’t care who sits in the Oval Office.
A Revolutionary Act for Your Individual Retirement Account (IRA)
You don’t have to be a spectator in this power struggle. If you are 70½ or older, you have a unique tool to help fund resistance to progress-killing policies: the Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD).
Think of it as a way that you can defund an agenda you don’t support and put those funds directly into the hands of those building the future.
With a QCD, you can:
- Direct your spoils: Move IRA funds to RENEW Wisconsin to protect local projects.
- Evade the Taxman: Avoid increasing your taxable income.
- Fulfill your Duty: Satisfy your Required Minimum Distribution (RMD) on your own terms.
- Secure the Colony: Ensure your legacy builds local power, not political theater.
Let’s Democratize Energy
You’ve spent a lifetime building your own estate. You know that true stability isn’t granted by a leader—it’s built through hard work and foresight.
The window to act is open, but the gates can be slammed shut by the next administration. Don’t let your hard-earned resources be eroded by shifting political winds. Use a QCD to reinforce the progress we’ve made.
Wisconsin doesn’t answer to kings. We answer to the future we build.
[Link: Fund the Revolution with a QCD]
Draft for linked page:
Giving via a Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD) is essentially a “direct transfer” that bypasses your personal bank account. This is the secret to its tax-saving power: because you never technically receive the money, it isn’t counted as taxable income.
Here is the step-by-step process to explain for our link:
How to Make Your QCD Gift
- Verify Your Eligibility
- You must be 70½ or older at the time of the distribution.
- Your gift must come from a Traditional IRA, an Inherited IRA, or an inactive SEP/SIMPLE IRA. (Note: 401(k)s and 403(b)s do not qualify directly; they must first be rolled over into an IRA).
- Contact Your IRA Custodian
- Reach out to your financial institution (e.g., Fidelity, Schwab, Vanguard).
- Most custodians have a specific “QCD Request Form” or an online portal to facilitate the transfer.
- Crucial Step: The check must be made payable directly to RENEW Wisconsin. If the check is made out to you, it becomes taxable income and loses its QCD status.
- Set the Amount
- In 2026, you can contribute up to $111,000 per year.
- This amount counts toward your Required Minimum Distribution (RMD) if you are of age (73+), allowing you to satisfy your tax obligation while supporting clean energy.
- Send the Gift
- Your custodian can mail the check directly to us or send it to you to forward to our office.
- Our Mailing Address: [Insert RENEW Wisconsin Address Here]
- Keep Your Receipt for Tax Season
- RENEW Wisconsin will provide a written acknowledgment of your gift.
- When you file your taxes, your custodian will issue a Form 1099-R. (New for 2026: Look for Code Y in Box 7, which helps identify the gift as a QCD).
You (or your CPA) will report the total distribution on your Form 1040, but enter $0 as the taxable amount for the portion gifted.
Pro Tip: Start the process by early December to ensure the funds are cleared by the year-end deadline!