CivicIQ (c3)
Organization Description
At civicIQ, we use proprietary data tools and direct digital conversations to uncover what communities really think — and how to win their support. Then we engage one-on-one, using trusted channels like SMS, social media, and email to build authentic relationships and mobilize the quiet majority who support clean energy — but usually stay on the sidelines. We also build support by educating and winning over those on the fence. We champion the power of storytelling and local calls to action as a nonprofit media platform, envisioning an America powered by renewable energy and the transformational heroes who are building that future.
2026 Programs
CivicIQ’s 2026 programs target the "marginal" influence of Rural Electric Co-ops to identify pro-clean energy voters in Michigan, Missouri, and Indiana. We advance community benefit frameworks across 10–20 projects to secure tangible wins, modernize narratives, and streamline permitting through depolarization. Our digital strategy scales this impact by deploying a diversified social media brand reaching audiences from progressive youth to conservative ruralites. Finally, we leverage custom AI agents for "narrative regrounding," moving fence-sitters and entrenched opposition toward supporting local clean energy.
2025 Programs
In 2025, CivicIQ focused on scaling localized impact and refining data-driven outreach. We partnered with developers to manage community sentiment and benefits during both greenfielding and permitting phases. A key achievement was developing breakthrough methods for identifying landowner leads in high-priority greenfielding zones. We successfully activated our subscriber base across Facebook Messenger, email, and SMS, generating critical positive public comments that helped secure a landmark permitting victory for a major wind project in Wisconsin. These results validated our ability to move the needle on the ground while building a repeatable framework for national expansion.
Budget Size: Small: Previous year budget $20,000 - $1M
States Engaged: AZ, IL, IN, MI, MO, WI
Geographic Coverage by Congressional District:
MI-01, MI-02, MI-03, MI-04, MI-05, MI-06, MI-07, MI-08, MI-09, MI-10, MI-11, WI-01, WI-02, WI-03, WI-05, WI-06, WI-07, WI-08, MO-02, MO-03, MO-04, MO-06, MO-07, MO-08, IN-01, IN-02, IN-03, IN-04, IN-05, IN-06, IN-08, IN-09 Geographic Density Focus: Rural / Suburban / Small city (<100k)
Core Constituencies: We do not target any specific demographics and/or it is difficult to say who we may reach, Multi-racial (including white)
Staff and Volunteer Balance: Staff powered - Little to no volunteers involved in executing programs
Top Priority Issues: Clean Energy, Civic engagement, Climate change
Lead Contact:
Dana Schultz, Vice President, Community Engagement, she/her, dana@civiciq.org
Last Updated: May 13, 2026
