Charitable nonprofits are vital partners of the Census Bureau in planning for and successfully completing the decennial Census. Results of the U.S. Census affects individuals, communities, governments, for-profit entities, and nonprofit organizations for each 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.
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 states and how hundreds of billions of federal dollars are allocated annually to states and localities for key programs, many which are administered through charitable nonprofits. … The 501(c)(3) community – charitable nonprofits, houses of worship, and private foundations – has a significant stake in ensuring that all people n the United States are counted as part of a fair, accurate, and complete census….
~NCN amicus brief to the U.S. Supreme Court
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:
- Advocate to federal, state, and local lawmakers for funding to support census outreach efforts.
- Partner with federal, state, local, territorial, and Tribal leaders for complete count commissions and get out the count efforts
- Connect to national hubs providing resources to learn more about and engage in census advocacy.
- Oppose any inclusion of a citizenship question on the Census.
Status
Elected officials have attempted to include a citizenship question on the Census through previous Administration, which the U.S. Supreme Court rejected in 2019, and the pending Equal Representation Act (H.R. 7109) in 2024. A citizenship question would intimidate residents of foreign descent, both documented and undocumented, resulting in flawed data due to large undercounts of entire groups of residents.
The National Council of Nonprofits sent a letter expressing strong opposition explaining that any undercount resulting from the inclusion of a citizenship question will harm individuals and charitable nonprofits because adding a citizenship question would adversely impact (1) dollars and nonprofit sustainability, (2) data and nonprofit effectiveness, and (3) democracy and the public’s trust in government.
The National Council of Nonprofits, 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 about the Supreme Court oral arguments and celebrated outcome.
More About the Census
- 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.
- Statement to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, National Council of Nonprofits, May 8, 2018.