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Census 2010: Why should nonprofits get involved in the Census?

March 22, 2010

  1. Your local community potentially could lose millions of dollars if your area suffers an under-count. The federal government will distribute almost $4 trillion over the next decade based on the data collected in the Census. State governments also distribute billions of dollars every year based on census data. Programs that help people through tough times, educate our children, protect our environment, and enrich peoples' lives receive federal funding based on the Census. For example, census data distributes funding to the states for numerous programs, including this tiny sampling:
    • Section 8 affordable housing
    • Head Start
    • State Children's Health Insurance Program
    • Low income energy assistance
    • Water treatment and conservation programs
    • National Foundation on Arts and Humanities, which provides pass-through grants for arts funding in the states.
  2. Your nonprofit could lose funding, either directly or indirectly, if an undercount occurs. Does your nonprofit deliver essential human services, provide affordable housing, offer mentoring programs for youth, protect the environment, or promote the arts? If you answered "yes" to any of these questions (and many like them), your nonprofit could lose (or gain) because government dollars often flow to nonprofits to deliver those programs based on census data. Plus, even if you don't get money directly from the government, if your state or service area suffers an undercount and loses government money, then grantmakers might redirect their funding from your nonprofit to fill the void of lost government funds for needed human services delivered by others.
  3. Nonprofits have unique access to and credibility with the communities they serve. You have a great opportunity to engage your core constituents to complete the Census form and avoid an undercount.
  4. The communities many nonprofits serve could lose political clout through an undercount. Congressional and legislative districts are redrawn according to the count, so an under-count will lead to under-representation.
"Nonprofits Count," an initiative of the Nonprofit Voter Engagement Network, explains why nonprofits can make a difference.

How can nonprofits participate?
Nonprofits can partner with the Census in many different ways. Participation can be as simple as putting up a poster in your office, or as involved as appointing a staff member to be a liaison for local Census officials.

A special thank you to the South Carolina Association of NonProfit Organizations, for alerting us to this great and timely information!