With all the recent headlines about the Census and the potential addition of a question about citizenship on the survey, many nonprofits have asked us how they can get involved. Right now the California Census office is hosting a series of workshops around the state and it is crucial for nonprofits to participate. You can learn about the funding opportunities for outreach and influence Census survey implementation plans at the local level.

And, while you’re there, you can also speak up for the importance of nonprofits as trusted and accessible messengers to hard-to-count communities.

You will learn:

• Funding opportunities for local organizations
• Timelines and deadlines
• Census survey distribution plans
• Rights and protections for survey respondents
• How you can make sure your community is counted

July Meetings:

Salinas – July 17, 2019, 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. (Register here)

San Luis Obispo – July 18, 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. (Register here)

Arcata – July 31, 2019, 10 a.m. – 12 p.m.

Meetings in other locations are scheduled for August and September - go to this page and click on 2019 REGIONAL CONVENINGS AND IMPLEMENTATION PLAN WORKSHOPS to see the list and registration links. Presentations from the meetings held in Palm Desert, Riverside, San Bernardino, Sacramento, Richmond, and Red Bluff are available online as well.

We know that California has the most hard-to-count populations in the country. Nonprofits are crucial to making sure everyone knows their rights, understands the protections in place for respondents, and ensuring the success of the Census. The stakes are high - government is the largest source of nonprofit funding and much of it is allocated based on Census data. Undercounting California's residents will have a direct impact on nonprofits and communities.

For more information about why nonprofits should be involved in Census outreach, and why it’s so important for our communities that all Californians be counted, check out CalNonprofits' Census Toolkit for Nonprofits. 

June 27, 2019: California nonprofits have a huge stake in the Census (which takes place next year.) This morning the Supreme Court’s ruling means that the Census probably will not have a question on it about citizenship, a decision that nonprofits welcome. 

The Court appears to have left open a potential opportunity for the federal administration to add the citizenship question, and nonprofits and community advocates will continue to watch these developments closely.

The number of people counted in a state determines the number of seats in the U.S. House of Representatives and is used in formulas that distribute billions of dollars in federal funds to each state. It is estimated that for every person who is counted in California, our state will receive $2,300 in federal funding -- money that goes to health clinics, HeadStart, road maintenance, food stamps, and local schools.

This year a record-breaking 102 legislators selected a Nonprofit of the Year in their district, and an inspiring group of nonprofit honorees traveled to Sacramento from all parts of the state to attend the sold-out luncheon celebration.

Assemblymember Monique Limón, Chair of the Assembly Select Committee on Nonprofits, opened the luncheon of more than 500 people by highlighting the great work nonprofits from all sectors - arts, environment, human services, animal welfare and more - are doing supporting and advocating for their communities.

The impressive list of nonprofits clearly put the diversity and strength of the nonprofit sector on display. 

During her keynote address, Senator Holly J. Mitchell (Los Angeles) talked about her own history as a nonprofit leader and the challenges she faced and told the crowd: "I've been where you are. I feel your pain." She went on to highlight the importance of nonprofit-government partnerships, noting that both rely on each other to help our communities thrive.

Nonprofits are often "hidden in plain sight" and this event strengthens the crucial partnerships between government and nonprofits and raises the profile of the wonderful work nonprofits are doing across the state. 

A list of the honorees and the program from the day can be downloaded here. You can find all the photos from the event here.