The decennial census is a nonpartisan exercise and a cornerstone of our democracy.  Every 10 years, the US Constitution requires that all residents, including non-citizens and undocumented immigrants, be counted through a nationwide census. Collecting accurate Census data is an essential part in determining a fair allocation of federal funds and political representation at the federal, state, and local levels. The 2020 Census will have a wide-ranging and long-term impact on the future of New York State.

What’s at stake in New York?

  • In New York State, the distribution of $53 billion in federal funding for programs relies on data derived from the decennial census. A full and fair census count can help policy makers identify community needs and distribute federal program dollars more effectively to localities based on population numbers and other community characteristics the census measures.
  • The decennial census determines how the 435 congressional districts will be apportioned among the states, Electoral College votes, and the population basis for state and local legislative bodies for the next decade. New York is already expected to lose one congressional seat due to decreases in population. An undercount in the 2020 Census could put a second congressional seat in jeopardy as well.
  • New York State has a history of being undercounted, largely due to the unique and diverse demographics of the state. New York is home to large immigrant, minority, and rural populations — all of which are considered “hard-to-count.”

Historically, some populations are “hard-to-count”:

  • Urban and rural areas with large low-income populations, people of color, immigrants, non-English speakers, migrant workers, ex-offenders, young children, the elderly, those who are disabled, renters, the homeless, and those living in mobile homes or multi-unit residences are historically hard-to-count. The 2020 Census will also be the first all-digital count, adding new challenges of counting those who lack digital literacy and internet access.
  • Additional concerns about the 2020 Census include insufficient and delayed funding, turnover of experienced leadership at the Census Bureau, and a climate of fear in immigrant communities, compounded by the suggestion that the Census will include a citizenship question.
  • In April 2018, the NY Funders Alliance partnered with Philanthropy New York to provide a webinar titled Who and Where are New York’s “Hard to Count?” featuring Jeff Behler, Director, NY Regional Office, and Steve Romalewski, Director, Center for Urban Research at the Graduate Center, City University of New York. View the recording here.

The Census is Hiring!

Check out the U.S. Census Bureau’s main jobs page for more information, or look here for jobs based in New York state.

Resources for Funders

Get Out the Count

Visit our Get Out the Count website page for resources specifically geared toward supporting efforts to “Get Out the Count” in New York.

General Resources and Statements

Maps & Data

  • Interactive Response Outreach Area Mapper Learn More Now
  • Map of Hard-to-Count Communities in New York Learn More Now
  • List of planned locations for Census Bureau Area Census Offices Learn More Now
  • 2020 Census Hard-to-Count digital map (CUNY Mapping Service) Learn More Now
  • “Demographics & Socio-Economic Data” for New York State – resources provided by Cornell Learn More Now

Webinars & Presentations

  • FCI Briefing Series: “Census 2020 Messaging Testing Results” Learn More Now 
  • “Census 2020: What’s At Stake For New York Funders” presentation at the 2017 NYS Funders Conference in November 2017 hosted by NY Funders Alliance Learn More Now
  • “Census Operations 102: Key Milestones and Counting Activities” from The Leadership Conference Learn More Now
  • “Who and Where are New York’s Hard-to-Count” from Philanthropy NY and NY Funders Alliance Learn More Now
  • “Child Advocates’ Roles in Ensuring a Full Count of Young Children in the 2020 Decennial Census” – Partnership for America’s Children Learn More Now
  • “Funders and the 2020 Census” – Mini Webinar Recording. Learn More Now

Fact Sheets

  • Census Bureau – Why Your Foundation Should Become a 2020 Census Official Partner – Learn More Now
  • Census Bureau – How the 2020 Census will invite everyone to respond – Learn More Now
  • FCCP’s Funders’ Census Initiative (FCI) – Factsheet on Census Accuracy and Undercount Learn More Now
  • The Leadership Conference – Fact Sheet: The American Community Survey and Civil Rights Learn More Now
  • 2020 Census Complete Count Committee – Introduction and Guide from the Census Bureau Learn More Now
  • NALEO Educational Fund – NY Census Fact Sheet Learn More Now
  • Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights – Fact Sheet: The Census and Civil Rights Learn More Now
  • Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights – Fact Sheet: The Census and Health Care Learn More Now
  • Census Private Sector Fact Sheet Learn More Now

Articles, Briefs, & Reports

  • “Census 2020 State Landscape Scan” by Grassroots Solutions and the Bauman Foundation Learn More Now
  • “NAACP Challenge to 2020 Census Preparations Moves Forward” by NAACP Learn More Now
  • “Preparing for the 2020 Census: Estimating Outreach Costs for Hard-to-Count Communities” by Census Counts 2020 Learn More Now
  • “Estimated Costs for all 50 States” Learn More Now
  • “Counting for Dollars 2020: The Role of the Decennial Census in the Geographic Distribution of Federal Funds” by George Washington Institute of Public Policy Learn More Now
  • “2018 Kids Count Data Book: State Trends in Child Well-Being” by the Annie E. Casey Foundation
  • “Fewer People are Answering a U.S. Agency’s Citizenship Query: That’s Fueling Fears for the 2020 Census” from Science
  • “ACLU sues over plans for citizenship question on 2020 census” by AP News Learn More Now
  • “5 Reasons a Robust Decennial Census Benefits All Americans” by the Urban Institute Learn More Now
  • “Concerns Surrounding 2020 Census in New York State” by Spectrum News Learn More Now
  • “The Count Starts Now: Taking Action to Avoid a Census 2020 Crisis” by New York Common Cause Learn More Now
  • “Census Uncertainty Spurs State Action to Prevent Undercounting” by Pew Charitable Trusts Learn More Now
  • “2020 Census Faces Challenges in Rural America” by William O’Hare from University of New Hampshire Carsey School of Public Policy Learn More Now
  • “Counting for Dollars: The Role of the Decennial Census in Geographic Distribution of Federal Funds” by Andrew Reamer Learn More Now
  • “How Your Foundation Can Engage Business and Tech Sectors for a Successful 2020 Census” Learn More Now
  • “Why We Need the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey” by The Census Project Learn More Now
  • “The Power of Board Advocacy: A Discussion Guide for Boards” by Stand for Your Mission Learn More Now
  • “Data for a Strong Economy: Securing an Accurate 2020 U.S. Census is Essential for Business” by Council for a Strong America Learn More Now
  • “Counting Everyone in the Digital Age” by the Leadership Conference Learn More Now
  • “Everyone Counts – How 2020 Census Data Matters to Your Bottom Line” by the National Association of Counties Learn More Now
  • “Which Upstate NY Cities are Shrinking (and growing) the Fastest?”  Learn More Now
  • “Census Officials Say Rhode Island Rehearsal is Going Well. Not Everyone Agrees” by the New York Times Learn More Now
  • “2018 Census E2E Test Issue Brief #1” by the Georgetown Center on Poverty and Inequality, partnered with the NALEO Educational Fund. Learn More Now
  • “The Supreme Court, the Census Case, and the Truth” (opinion) from the New York Times
  • “The 2020 Census: What Funders Can Do” from the Funder’s Network
  • “Assessing Miscounts in the 2020 Census” report from the Urban Institute

Tool Kits

  • 2020 Census Funder Toolkit from FCCP’s Funders’ Census Initiative (FCI) Note: scroll down to “2020 Census Funder Toolkit” and complete short form to receive link to the toolkit Learn More Now
  • “2010 Census Funder Tool Kit: What Funders Can Do to Ensure An Accurate Census Count” by the Ford Foundation Learn More Now
  • “Supporting the Census and American Community Survey: A Tool Kit for Coalition-Building” by The Census Project Learn More Now
  • “Creating Positive Change Through Board Advocacy” a discussion guide for funders by Stand For Your Mission. Learn More Now

Pooled Funds

NEW YORK

In 2017, a small group of funders came together to create a learning community about the upcoming 2020 census, and to consider ways in which philanthropy could play a role in ensuring a fair and accurate census count. That group became the 2020 Census Work Group of Philanthropy New York, the downstate counterpart to the NY Funders Alliance. Earlier this year, the 2020 Census Work Group partnered with NY Funders Alliance to expand the group of funders learning together on this topic to include philanthropic organizations from across all of New York State. The New York State Grantmakers for Census Equity was established as a collaboration through which funders can coordinate the allocation of resources towards census-related activities, including the creation of a pooled fund from which grants are distributed to organizations and institutions throughout the state.

The goal of the group is to have a statewide census fund, hosted at The New York Community Trust, and called the NEW YORK STATE CENSUS EQUITY FUND, operational and disbursing grants by the spring of 2019. All interested funders are invited to join this effort. Learn More Now.

For more information on the pooled fund, please contact any of the initiative leaders: Patricia Swann, The New York Community Trust; Maria Mottola, New York Foundation; or Sol Marie Alfonso-Jones, Long Island Community Foundation.

NATIONAL

NEW VENTURE FUND’S 2020 CENSUS PROJECT: Request for Proposals – an initiative of the Democracy Funders Collaborative Census Subgroup

Moving Forward Together as a Network

Looking for a specific Census 2020 resource? Interested in continued education on a particular census-related topic? Curious how you can plug-in to census efforts around New York State? Contact Emily Alber Chase to explore ways your foundation can continue learning and engaging around the census.