[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Subject: Your Voice is Needed to Ensure A Fair & Accurate 2020 Census

Audience:  Nonprofit Organizations & Employees on behalf of Sector work

Description:

The U.S. Census is foundational to the functioning of civil society and drives nonprofit decision-making as the nonprofit sector relies upon accurate Census data to measure community needs, develop community solutions, target services, and track progress. The global pandemic has derailed many initiatives to ensure everyone in our communities is counted. Vulnerable communities that have been disproportionally impacted by COVID-19 are at greater risk of being undercounted— which will perpetuate a vicious cycle of exclusion for another decade. It is incumbent upon Congress to protect the participatory democracy that has been integral to nonprofit success. The COVID-19 crisis cannot impede our pursuit to build fair, vibrant, and equitable communities. Contact your Member of Congress today to urge them to pass emergency provisions to ensure a fair and complete count.

Email:
Attaining an impartial and accurate count in the 2020 Census should be a nonpartisan, national priority for all sectors. Every 10 years, the United States government conducts the census — a national accounting of everyone living in every state, D.C. & 5 U.S. Territories to assess demographic changes and population growth. Census results are used to determine proportional political representation, redistricting, Congressional apportionment, and emergency response. Not only is this crucial exercise used to equitably distribute hundreds of billions of federal dollars to state and local municipalities, its findings influence policymaking for public sector investments such as infrastructure, affordable housing, healthcare programs, educational grants, and more.

The nonprofit sector relies upon accurate Census data to measure community needs, develop community solutions, target services, and track progress. The global pandemic has derailed many initiatives to ensure everyone in our communities is counted. As a result, those experiencing homelessness, non-English speakers, LGBTQ+, racial minorities and other “hard to count” populations are not fully engaged in the census process. Vulnerable communities that have been disproportionally impacted by COVID-19 are at greater risk of being undercounted— which will perpetuate a vicious cycle of exclusion for another decade. It is incumbent upon Congress to protect the participatory democracy that has been integral to nonprofit success.

The COVID-19 crisis cannot impede our pursuit to build fair, vibrant, and equitable communities. Please take 60 seconds to send an automated letter to your Member of Congress to urge them to pass emergency provisions to ensure a fair and complete count– and share this link on your personal and organizational social media channels so that others can do the same.

Letter to Congress:

Dear {{target_appropriate_greeting}},

Nonprofits rely on accurate census data to target our services most effectively and track our collective progress. Without immediate legislative action, the current census could produce inaccurate results that will undermine nonprofit work, and the health of our communities, for decades to come.

COVID-19 relief legislation must account for unforeseen delays in the census process, ensure appropriate extensions of deadlines, and enhance necessary oversight of these changes. Specifically, I implore you to include the following measures in the next relief package:

• $400 million to boost the emergency budget for the 2020 census;
• $10 million to further support current surveys; and
• A delay of statutory deadlines by four months for census reporting of 2020 results.

An accurate 2020 Census is the only way for nonprofits in {{target state}} to assess needs, allocate resources, target services and measure our progress. The COVID-19 crisis cannot impede our pursuit to build fair, vibrant, and equitable communities.  As an essential partner to the government sector we urge you to protect the next decade of our work by ensuring an accurate 2020 Census count.

Sincerely,

{{contact_full_name}}

{{contact_address}}

Optional Thank You Message:

Thank you {{contact_first_name}} for supporting a fair and complete count! Please share this with your network and encourage them to take action today![/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]