Once a decade, the United States undergoes a counting operation in which every household answers questions that influence policymaking and planning. State budgets and federal programs rely on this census data. Beyond the total population counted, census demographic data (ages, income, housing or employment status, etc.) is the basis for estimates of age, poverty, and other determinants of federal funds for the next ten years.

Census data determines the number of seats each state has in the U.S. House of Representatives and to draw congressional and state legislative districts. Congress also distributes roughly $1 trillion annually to states and localities based on census data. The allocation of resources, including dollars and political representation, means it is critical to get an accurate count of the population across the country.

Historically, the census has undercounted young children, people of color, low-income households, foreign-born residents, the elderly, those living in rural or dense urban areas, and those households with low educational attainment. These populations are those most often served by nonprofits.

Nonprofit organizations and government agencies use census data to determine the need for new schools, hospitals, and other public sector investments in a particular area. Undercounting populations, such as children, particularly poor children, would reduce education grants and special education funding for states. Other consequences could include a reduction in Community Health Centers and Section 8 Housing Vouchers.

Undercounting 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. Just because a person is not counted, does not mean their needs go away. For every person not counted, a state will lose between $533 to $2,309, annually, or roughly $5,000 to $23,000 decennially per person. Gaps created by dollars lost due to inaccurate count risk falling on the shoulders of nonprofits.

Changes and Challenges of the 2020 Census

The census is updated each decade to better capture critical information about the population of the U.S. The Supreme Court ruled that a citizenship question is unconstitutional, encouraging immigrants to participate in the 2020 Census. Further changes include the addition of clarifying questions about same-sex couples, such as specifying if the couple is married or unwed and living together. The census still lacks questions about sexual orientation or gender identity. Without these factors, nonprofits who support this population may struggle to know more about the people they are trying to serve.

Several challenges are impacting the census in 2020. Most of the census forms will be administered online, raising concerns about traditionally undercounted areas having limited or no access to the internet. Covid-19 has reduced the amount of door-to-door outreach and follow up that can be completed and closed or limited accessibility of census stations that help those who do not have internet, who do not speak English, or have questions or concerns about the questions.

Impact to Nonprofits

Charitable nonprofits are grounded in their communities and are the front-line providers for many services to underserved communities. States and local governments often partner or hire nonprofit organizations to deliver services using funding allocated from census data. Undercounts could have devastating effects on the work and sustainability of tens of thousands of nonprofit organizations across the country.

Loss of funding for government services means that an individual turns to a nonprofit to supplement a reduction in other services. As donors try to compensate for a reduction of government support for basic human needs, their contributions are diverted to direct human services, and therefore donations to the arts, education, and other non-urgent missions fall.

How Nonprofits Can Help

These and thousands of other examples demonstrate how all charitable nonprofits, regardless of mission and focus area, are affected when the census fails to count every person.

Nonprofits play an important role in ensuring accurate counting in an area or among a population of people. Nonprofits tend to be located in traditionally undercounted areas and have frequent contact with communities at risk of being undercounted. Due to the trust built by a nonprofit and accessibility to its contingencies, many nonprofits can ensure a more accurate census count.

The organization can help by providing basic information about the purpose of the census and can assist with the completion of the forums by proving access to education materials in multiple languages. Many foreign-born people will trust someone at an organization they frequent that there is no question about citizenship on the census and that answers are kept confidential.

Everyone must be counted during the 2020 Census as it serves as the measure of the population nationwide for the next 10 years. All census offices are scheduled to complete their work by September 30, 2020. It’s not too late to reach out to the constituents your nonprofit works with to encourage them to participate in the census and to provide assistance to ensure an accurate count. Our future depends on it.