Renew Wisconsin Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
RENEW WISCONSIN LEADS AND ACCELERATES THE TRANSFORMATION TO WISCONSIN'S RENEWABLE ENERGY FUTURE THROUGH ADVOCACY, EDUCATION, AND COLLABORATION.
- Income
- $1.4 million
- Spending
- $1.6 million
- Spent on programs
- 79%
- Reserves
- 9.5 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 50%
- Employees
- 20
- Volunteers
- 17
- Highest pay
- $106,575, executive director (began june)
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Fair: 68 out of 100. Higher than 36% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 9.5 months of spending.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 16% of what it owns.
Living within its means
4 of 15Spending exceeded income by 14% of income.
Income trend
5 of 15Income fell 17% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1579% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 21 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 60% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2513 of 14 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, 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 (1)
- $1.2 million spent. RENEW PROVIDES EDUCATION ABOUT RENEWABLE ENERGY, ADVOCATES FOR FAVORABLE CLEAN ENERGY POLICY, AND ISSUES GRANTS TO BUSINESSES AND NONPROFITS LOOKING TO INSTALL SOLAR. IN 2025, RENEW SECURED MAJOR CLEAN ENERGY WINS ACROSS WISCONSIN. THE PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION APPROVED LANDMARK PROJECTS - INCLUDING MAPLE GROVE SOLAR + STORAGE (260 MW SOLAR / 50 MW BATTERY), BADGER HOLLOW WIND, AND WHITEWATER SOLAR - TOGETHER ADDING NEARLY 600 MW OF RENEWABLE CAPACITY TO THE STATE'S GRID. ON POLICY, RENEW ADVANCED THE CONVERSATION ON WISCONSIN'S CLEAN ENERGY FUTURE BY SUBMITTING TESTIMONY IN THE VALUE OF SOLAR STUDIES (VOSS) REVIEW, PRESSING FOR A FAIR AND MEASURED TRANSITION FROM NET ENERGY METERING. WE ALSO CHAMPIONED NEW COMMUNITY SOLAR LEGISLATION, BUILDING MOMENTUM TO EXPAND SOLAR ACCESS FOR RENTERS, SCHOOLS, AND NONPROFITS. THROUGH OUR FLAGSHIP SOLAR FOR GOOD PROGRAM, DOZENS OF NONPROFITS - FROM CHURCHES TO AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROVIDERS - INSTALLED SOLAR SYSTEMS THAT CUT COSTS AND STRENGTHENED COMMUNITY RESILIENCE. OUR NEW CLEAN ENERGY WORKS INITIATIVE BROUGHT STAFF INTO THE FIELD WITH SOLAR INSTALLERS, ENSURING THAT ADVOCACY IS GROUNDED IN THE LIVED EXPERIENCE OF WISCONSIN'S CLEAN ENERGY WORKFORCE. FINALLY, OUR 14TH ANNUAL RENEWABLE ENERGY SUMMIT DREW RECORD ATTENDANCE, LAUNCHED A FIRST-EVER "DEMO DAY" WITH MREA, AND CONVENED POLICYMAKERS, BUSINESSES, AND COMMUNITIES TO ACCELERATE WISCONSIN'S TRANSITION TO A CLEAN ENERGY ECONOMY.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Legitimacy checks
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.
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.
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.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending June 2025.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since March 1992.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
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.
Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.