U.S. Census 2020
The population of the United States must be counted every ten years under the U.S. Constitution, Article 1, Section 2. The data collected determine the number of seats each state has in the U.S. House of Representatives and how hundreds of billions of federal dollars are allocated to states and localities for key programs, many of which are administered through nonprofits. The 2020 Census began in Alaska on January 21 and the rest of the country on April 1.
Status
Government efforts to count every person in America ended on Oct. 15, two weeks earlier than previously planned, after the U.S. Supreme Court blocked a lower-court order that would have required the Census Bureau to continue field operations through the end of the month. The Census Bureau issued a statement upon completion of the count stating that “well over 99.9% of housing units have been accounted for in the 2020 Census.” Numerous groups have objected, noting the claim does not equate to collection of accurate, high quality data, or a census that is acceptably accurate. A fair, accurate, and complete count of all persons, regardless of immigration status, is necessary for proper allocation of more than $1.5 trillion in federal funding and proportional representation in Congress and redistricting operations.
The Supreme Court agreed to hear a case regarding the exclusion of undocumented immigrants from the census count that will be sent to Congress at the end of the year. In July, the President issued a memorandum instructing the Census Bureau to subtract undocumented immigrants from the count for the purposes of congressional apportionment — the reallocation of the nation's 435 House districts every 10 years. Subsequently, federal court struck down the memorandum, ruling that the President’s action violates the executive branch's "constitutional responsibility to count the whole number of persons in each State and to apportion members of the House of Representatives among the States according to their respective numbers." The matter will be heard by the Justices on November 30, with a decision likely in early January 2021.
Why It Matters
Charitable nonprofits can help ensure that hard-to-locate individuals are counted because they are trusted members of the community with direct access to many populations, even during COVID-19.
Results of the U.S. 2020 Census will influence individuals, communities, governments, for-profit entities, and nonprofit organizations throughout the next decade. Data obtained will inform decision makers in all sectors and lead to allocation of political power and financial resources. If the data are wrong, there will be inequitable distribution of resources for basic community needs, such as education, food and income security, health care, housing, transportation, and much more. The allocation of $1.5 trillion in federal funds hinges annually on the decennial data, including funding for state and local governments, as well as for nonprofits to deliver services to individuals and communities.
The National Council of Nonprofits is concerned that without an accurate count billions of dollars will not flow to where resources are most needed to help communities. Our statement to Congress explains the significance of an accurate count, and the amicus brief filed by the National Council of Nonprofits, joined by the National Human Services Assembly and YWCA USA, with the U.S. Supreme Court breaks down the main reasons nonprofits should get involved: dollars, data, and democracy.
Where We Stand
“A fair, accurate, and complete count of all persons is important for our democratic institutions as the census determines how representatives are apportioned among the several stats, as well as how hundreds of billions of federal dollars are allocated to states and localities for key programs, many of which are administered through charitable organizations. Undercounts of individuals and demographic groups that charitable nonprofits serve can lead to inadequate representation and funding, which in turn put more pressure on nonprofits and foundations, state and local governments, and businesses in undercounted areas to do even more to address unmet needs. The National Council of Nonprofits believes that it and all charitable nonprofits have a significant stake and role to play in ensuring that all residents are counted as part of the 2020 Census.”
What Nonprofits Can Do / Take Action
Nonprofits are encouraged to engage and help ensure a fair, accurate, and complete count, particularly in hard-to-count areas. Several ways to engage on the issue include:
- Identify and partner with organizations and community stakeholders that are already connected to hard-to-count communities and have built strong relationships and trust.
- Advocate to federal, state, and local lawmakers for funding to support census outreach efforts.
- Use the Census Project toolkits to take action.
History
On July 21, 2020, the President signed a memorandum instructing the Commerce Secretary to exclude undocumented immigrants from the 2020 Census, which is an unconstitutional act to undermine the accuracy and integrity of the 2020 Census. In 2019, President Trump announced the Census Bureau would not include the citizenship question on the 2020 Census questionnaire and would seek information from other government records. The U.S. Supreme Court subsequently rejected the Commerce Secretary's claimed rationale for adding the citizenship question and sent the case back to the district court, allowing the federal government the opportunity to provide a separate rationale for inclusion of the question. The National Council of Nonprofits attended the Supreme Court oral arguments, and, joined by the National Human Services Assembly and YWCA USA, submitted an amicus brief to the U.S. Supreme Court in opposition of inclusion of the citizenship question. Read What the US Supreme Court's Census Decision Means for Nonprofits for further analysis of the case. The federal judge overseeing the New York lawsuit formally blocked the citizenship question on the census form on July 16, 2019.
Recent News
- Supreme Court Prepares to Judge whether Undocumented Immigrants "Count", Nonprofit Quarterly, October 21, 2020.
- Federal Judge Bars Trump Administration From Ending Census Early, The New York Times, September 25, 2020.
- Court Orders Census Counting To Continue Through Oct. 31; Appeal Expected, NPR, September 24, 2020.
- Census 2020: A Call for Nonprofit Action -- Before It's Too Late!, Nonprofit Quarterly, August 11, 2020.
- What is the census and how is it used? Here's what you need to know about the 2020 census, USA Today, February 28, 2020.
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General Resources
- Census 2020, United States Census Bureau
- Census During COVID Toolkit, Census Counts 2020
- Language Guides, United States Census Bureau
- 2020 Census Jobs, U.S. Census Bureau
- Census Resource Library, Census Counts 2020
- Response Outreach Area Mapper (ROAM), National Conference of State Legislatures
- Counting for Dollars 2020: The Role of the Decennial Census in the Geographic Distribution of Federal Funds, GW Institute of Public Policy, November 18, 2019.
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State Resources
- Alaska Counts 2020 Census, The Foraker Group (AK)
- 2020 Census Toolkit for Nonprofits, CalNonprofits
- Census Policy Advocacy Network, consortium of California nonprofits
- Census 2020 Toolkit for Nonprofits, Connecticut COUNT Me In 2020
- DANA's Mission Minute: CENSUS 2020, Delaware Alliance for Nonprofit Advancement, April 10, 2019.
- Forefront (IL) Announces New Democracy Initiative, Forefront (IL), January 19, 2018.
- Census 2020: KY Nonprofits Count, Kentucky Nonprofit Network
- 2020 Census: Resources for Nonprofits, Massachusetts Nonprofit Network
- Massachusetts Census Equity Fund 2020, consortium of Massachusetts nonprofits
- Be Counted Michigan 2020, Michigan Nonprofit Association
- MI Voice Counts, Michigan Nonprofit Association
- Census 2020, Minnesota Council of Nonprofits
- Missouri Counts: 2020 Census, Missouri Foundation for Health
- Montana Census 2020, Montana Nonprofit Association
- Montana Census 2020 - Make It Count, Montana Department of Commerce
- 2020 Census, New Hampshire Center for Nonprofits
- 2020 Census, New Mexico Thrives
- Census 2020, North Dakota Association of Nonprofit Organizations
- Why Does the Census Matter to Nonprofits?, Washington Nonprofits, May 18, 2018.
- State-by-State Resource Map, Census Counts 2020 and Leadership Conference
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Hard to Count Resources
- Mapping Hard to Count Communities for a Fair and Accurate 2020 Census, Hard to Count 2020 Interactional Map, City University of New York
- Preparing for the 2020 Census: Estimating Outreach Costs for Hard-to-Count Communities, Center for Urban Research at The Graduate Center / CUNY, the Fiscal Policy Institute, State Voices, and The Leadership Conference Education Fund
- Mail Contact Strategies Viewer, U.S. Census Bureau
- Type of Enumeration Area (TEA) Viewer, U.S. Census Bureau
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Funding and Communication Resources
- Video Library, U.S. Census Bureau
- Census 2020 Toolkits, Florida Nonprofit Alliance
- The Complete Count Grant Fund, webinar (00:47:45), Massachusetts Nonprofit Network, December 5, 2019.
- Get Counted in Illinois, video (00:01:16), #ILCountMeIn2020, February 13, 2020.
- 2020 Census Action Kit for Nonprofits, Washington Nonprofits
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Citizenship Question Resources
- Department of Commerce v. New York, U.S. Supreme Court, June 27, 2019.
- Nonprofits Celebrate Supreme Court Decision That Keeps Citizenship Question Off the 2020 Census, National Council of Nonprofits, press release, June 27, 2019.
- Brief of National Council of Nonprofits, National Human Services Assembly, and YWCA USA as Amici Curiae in Support of Respondents, Supreme Court of the United States, April 1, 2019.
- Citizenship Question Packs Supreme Court for Oral Arguments, National Council of Nonprofits blog, April 29, 2019.
- 2020 Census Resource Page, Brennan Center for Justice
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Statements and Letters to Congress
- Business for the 2020 Census, For-Profit Businesses and Associations, June 18, 2019.
- Letter to the House Appropriations Committee on Full Funding of the 2020 Census, National Council of Nonprofits, May 16, 2018.
- Letter to Chairman Gowdy, Together SC, May 11, 2018.
- Statement to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, National Council of Nonprofits, May 8, 2018.
- Statement to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, CT Community Nonprofit Alliance, May 7, 2018.
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