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. Adequate funding for the Census Bureau to perform the task is imperative to ensure a fair and accurate count. 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. The National Council of Nonprofits is quite 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.
Why It Matters
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 $600 billion 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. Key programs that receive funding specifically from federal grants include the National School Lunch program, Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC), Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), Medicaid, Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG), Head Start, and Early Head Start.
Where We Stand
“Budget decisions at all levels of government are often based on census data. It is imperative that the federal government adequately fund the 2020 United States Census to ensure that the process for counting residents across the nation is fair and complete. The National Council of Nonprofits opposes inclusion of a citizenship question on the 2020 Census questionnaire because of the likelihood that, among other things, it will suppress participation and lead to an unfair, inaccurate, and incomplete count. ... In 2020, the U.S. Census Bureau will conduct the decennial census pursuant to the enumeration clause of the U.S. Constitution. 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 bills 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 state 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 and accurate count, particularly in hard-to-count areas. Several ways to engage on the issue include:
- Convene and educate community leaders and other stakeholders, including the media, about the Census.
- 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.
- Work with state, county, tribal, and local government leaders to create and engage in Complete Count Committees (volunteer committees of government and community leaders from different sectors established to increase awareness about the census and promote participation).
- Connect to national hubs (e.g., Census Project) that are providing resources to learn more about and engage in census advocacy.
- Use the Census Project toolkits to take action.
Status
The omnibus spending bill provides a $1.34 billion increase for the Census Bureau to help prepare for the 2020 count. This was double the President’s budget, which advocates cautioned would only keep the Bureau on “life support.” A bipartisan group of 161 mayors had called on the Administration to provide “adequate funding, qualified Census Bureau leadership, and a full rejection of untested questions that threatens to undermine census preparations and accuracy.”
On March 26, 2018, the U.S. Commerce Department announced that a question on citizenship status will be reinstated to the 2020 decennial census questionnaire. The stated reason for adding the controversial question is to help enforce the Voting Rights Act (VRA) according to a news release and memorandum supporting the decision. The California Attorney General announced on March 27, 2018 that he filed a lawsuit challenging the inclusion of the citizenship question as an “unconstitutional attempt to disrupt an accurate Census count.” Since then, several more lawsuits have been filed, most pertaining to the constitutionality of the citizenship question. On July 25, 2018, a federal judge permitted a lawsuit to proceed filed by the State of New York representing 17 states, six cities, the U.S. Conference of Mayors, and several immigrant rights advocacy groups.
The House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform scheduled a hearing on May 8, 2018 to examine the Census Bureau's progress during the 2018 end-to-end test and examine ongoing preparations for the 2020 decennial census. The National Council of Nonprofits submitted comments to "express the significant concerns ... that aspects of the 2020 Census are so amiss that they pose a serious risk of not getting it right and hurting our country."
Recent News
- How the Census Will Reach the New Urban Millennials, Pew Charitable Trusts, February 13, 2019.
- Census Prep Vital to States' Power - Why Some Could Miss Out, Pew Charitable Trusts, January 31, 2019.
- A Better Count, Governing, January 2019
- Donna Murray-Brown: Making sure immigrants are counted in the 2020 Census, Crain's Detroit Business, December 16, 2018.
- Can There Be a Citizenship Question on the 2020 Census? A Judge Will Soon Rule, New York Times, November 27, 2018.
- With 2020 Census Looming, Governments Face Many Unknowns, Governing, November 2018.
- U.S. Census Bureau, nonprofits team up to prepare for 2020 census, Click On Detroit, September 24, 2018.
- 2020 Census: Congressional Seats, Federal Funds at Risk, USNews, August 28, 2018.
- Nonprofits Already Eyeing 2020 Census, $800 Billion at Stake, The Non Profit Times, June 6, 2018.
- Why the 2020 Census Matters to Nonprofits, Nonprofit Knowledge Matters, National Council of Nonprofits, May 23, 2018.
- Communities rely on nonprofits; nonprofits rely on accurate census, The Provider, Providers' Council, May 2018.
- Opposing a Citizenship Question in the 2020 Census, Nonprofit Advocacy Matters, National Council of Nonprofits, April 16, 2018.
- Here's Why an Accurate Census Count Is So Important, New York Times, March 28, 2018.
- Omnibus Spending Bill Released, Nonprofit Advocacy Matters Special Edition, National Council of Nonprofits, March 24, 2018.
- Increasing Ruckus Over the 2020 Census, Nonprofit Advocacy Matters, National Council of Nonprofits, February 20, 2018.
- 2020 Census, Nonprofit Advocacy Matters, National Council of Nonprofits, February 5, 2018.
- Tinkering with the Census 2020, Nonprofit Advocacy Matters, National Council of Nonprofits, January 8, 2018.
- Census 2020 – Nonprofits, Tell Local Government to Sign Up, Nonprofit Advocacy Matters, National Council of Nonprofits, December 11, 2017.
- 2020 Vision, Nonprofit Advocacy Matters, National Council of Nonprofits, September 18, 2017.
- The 2020 Census is in Trouble and Needs Our Help, Nonprofit Quarterly, September 7, 2017.
Additional Resources
- About the Census, United State Census Bureau
- Census Partnerships, United State Census Bureau
- Statement to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, National Council of Nonprofits, May 8, 2018
- Letter to the House Appropriations Committee on Full Funding of the 2020 Census, National Council of Nonprofits, May 16, 2018
- 2020 Census: Actions Needed to Address Challenges to Enumerating Hard-to-Count Groups, Government Accountability Office, publicly released August 27, 2018
- The Census Project, a broad-based network of national, state, and local organizations that supports a fair and accurate 2020 Census and comprehensive American Community Survey (ACS)
- Stakeholder Toolkit, The Census Project
- NCSL Census Resources and Legislation, National Conference of State Legislatures
- Response Outreach Area Mapper (ROAM), National Conference of State Legislatures
- Mapping Hard to Count Communities for a Fair and Accurate 2020 Census, Hard to Count 2020 Interactional Map, City University of New York
- Ensuring Good Census Data, Foraker (AK)
- Why a Fair and Accurate Census Matters to Thriving Private and Public Sectors, The Leadership Conference Education Fund, July 2018
- #ILVote, Forefront, July 22, 2018
- Why Does the Census Matter to Nonprofits?, Washington Nonprofits, May 18, 2018
- Be Counted Michigan 2020, Michigan Nonprofit Association
- Massachusetts Census Equity Fund 2020, consortium of Massachusetts nonprofits
- Census Policy Advocacy Network, consortium of California nonprofits
- Census Citizenship Question Decision, Minnesota Council of Nonprofits
- Counting for Dollars 2020: The Role of the Decennial Census in the Geographic Distribution of Federal Funds, GW Institute of Public Policy, March 19, 2018
- Learning about the 2020 Census, Idaho Nonprofit Center, March 7, 2018
- Forefront (IL) Announces New Democracy Initiative, Forefront (IL), January 19, 2018
- Factsheet: Citizenship and Legal Status Questions on the 2020 Census: Preventing a Decennial Disaster, Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, January 1, 2018
- Everyone Counts: How 2020 Census Data Matter to Your Bottom Line, National Association of Counties
- Overview of the 2020 Census and the American Community Survey, The Leadership Conference
- Area Profiles and Dashboards, State Data Center (SDC) Clearinghouse
- 2018 KIDS COUNT Data Book, Annie E. Casey Foundation
- Letter to Congressman Cummings, Maryland Nonprofits, May 7, 2018
- Statement to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, CT Community Nonprofit Alliance, May 7, 2018
- Letter to Chairman Gowdy, Together SC, May 11, 2018.
- 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
- Breakdown of Hard to Count Population Costs (excel spreadsheet), Center for Urban Research at The Graduate Center / CUNY, the Fiscal Policy Institute, State Voices, and The Leadership Conference Education Fund
