Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service is an independent division of Wisconsin Watch, a non-profit news organization dedicated to journalism that makes the communities of Wisconsin strong, informed and connected. 

The Legacy Society honors supporters who have included Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service and Wisconsin Watch in their estate plans through wills, trusts, retirement plan designations, life insurance and more. These community members are committed to ensuring the long-term financial stability and future growth of our nonprofit newsroom.

Your gift will:

  • Sustain fearless reporting that connects communities, uncovers critical issues affecting everyday Wisconsinites and strengthens civic life.
  • Support the growth and training of future journalists, equipping the next generation to keep Wisconsin informed and connected.
  • Strengthen democracy and community resilience by making fact-based news accessible to all, especially underserved populations.

In a media landscape where local news outlets are shrinking, Wisconsin Watch fills a critical gap. Your planned gift is an investment in the future of democracy in Wisconsin, helping protect transparency, justice and informed citizenship for generations to come.

Questions or ready to join the Legacy Society?

Notifying Wisconsin Watch of your planned giving intentions helps inspire others to follow your lead and allows us to better plan for the future of our organization.

Your planned gift makes you a lifetime member of the Legacy Society—joining a community of dedicated supporters shaping the future of local investigative reporting in Wisconsin.

Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service and Wisconsin Watch information:
Legal Name: WCIJ Inc.
EIN Number: 26-2143608

Would you like a member of our staff to get in touch with you about planned giving options? Use the form below to give us your contact details.

Contact our team

Alternatively, you can reach out to Anna January, director of philanthropy, at ajanuary@wisconsinwatch.org or (608) 910-0665.

Ways to give

Wills or trusts

Include specific language in your will or trust naming Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service and Wisconsin Watch as a beneficiary by specifying a dollar amount, a percentage of your estate or the residue of your estate.

Including Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service and its parent nonprofit organization, Wisconsin Watch, in your will, trust or estate plan is as simple as including this language:

I (we) hereby give to Wisconsin Watch, a nonprofit, non-stock Wisconsin corporation with its principal office in Madison, Wisconsin, (CHOOSE ONE)  

  • The sum of $______________  
  • ________% of my estate  or 
  • All my rest, residue and remainder of my estate

Retirement plan assets

Name Wisconsin Watch as the beneficiary of your retirement funds (e.g., IRA, 401(k) or 403(b) plans, or other retirement plans), which may offer tax benefits to you and other recipients of your estate.

Simply make the change with your plan provider with a Change of Beneficiary Form. Beneficiary changes do not need to involve your estate lawyer and are easy and revocable. No income tax is due on distributions.

Life insurance policies

Make a gift of life insurance by designating Wisconsin Watch as a beneficiary of all or a portion of the policy’s proceeds. The gift of a life insurance policy is deductible as a charitable contribution. If you continue to pay premiums after making your gift, the premiums are also tax-deductible.

Charitable remainder trusts

Make a future gift to Wisconsin Watch while retaining income payments for yourself (and/or others) for life or a fixed number of years.

Madison Community Foundation fund

Supporters can make Wisconsin Watch a beneficiary of their estate by naming the WCIJ endowment fund at the Madison Community Foundation. This is an easy option for donors who have already designated MCF in their estate planning.

The information provided is general in nature. It is not intended to be, and should not be construed as, legal or tax advice. Wisconsin Watch does not provide legal or tax advice.

“Milwaukee NNS’ transformative work has not only reshaped our city but has also set a new standard for reporting that advances the community. Their ongoing efforts to champion IDEA principles serve as an inspiration to us all, and we are grateful for their leadership and vision in paving the way for a more inclusive future.”

– Markasa Tucker-Harris, Executive Director, African American Roundtable

Thank you to our Legacy Society members

Barbara Johnson • Renie Schapiro • Sharon Stark and Peter Livingston • Carol Toussaint