News from Ford

Ford Foundation Encourages Grant Makers to Get Involved in 2010 Census

The Ford Foundation is committed to educating and engaging historically undercounted populations about the importance of the 2010 Census and is encouraging other funders to get involved to help ensure an accurate count.

The census is a once-in-a-decade count of all of the people in the United States. An accurate count facilitates the flow of public, private and philanthropic resources to communities and regions most in need.

A number of foundations and nonprofits are promoting the 2010 Census in the communities they serve. The Ford Foundation is an active member of the Funders Census Initiative, a working group of funders and grantees committed to ensuring an accurate count. In addition, Ford has developed a 2010 Census Funder Tool Kit (PDF) and supported a Census Message Manual (PDF) for funders.

Although April 1, 2010, is designated as Census Day, forms are mailed to residential addresses in March and the count will take place over a period of months. The Census Bureau will follow up through early July with households that do not promptly mail back their census forms, so there is still time to get engaged.

Census information influences political representation and the level of resources communities receive.

Census data are used to allocate nearly $400 billion in annual federal funds for vital programs in education, job training, healthcare, transportation, housing, community development and other community needs.

Companies use census data to determine where to locate grocery stores, banks, restaurants and other businesses.

The count data are also used to apportion seats in the U.S. Congress, redraw election districts in Congress and for state and local government offices and to set policy priorities.

Hard-to-Count Populations

Despite the Census Bureau's extensive outreach efforts, many groups are historically and disproportionately undercounted. They include:

• People of color, especially young black men
• Young children, especially children of color
• Immigrants and people with limited English proficiency
• Low-income populations and renters
• People displaced by natural disasters
• People receiving public assistance
• People who are unemployed
• People who are homeless

Populations that tend to be overlooked in the count are the same groups that many funders and grantees work to support. Grant makers have a unique ability to ensure that the census reflects an accurate picture of our nation and that historically undercounted populations are counted.

Ford Foundation Commitment

The Ford Foundation has invested more than $15 million dollars to support 2010 Census activities and is a major funder of grassroots organizations working to increase census participation, particularly of historically undercounted groups. Some grantees include:

Twenty-First Century Foundation
Support for organizations working to ensure the participation of black men, who routinely suffer one of the highest undercount rates.

Public Interest Projects
Dedicated resources to increase the count of immigrant populations.

Southern Coalition for Justice
Investments in increasing census participation in the South, which has experienced much of the country's population growth in the decade since the last census was conducted.

What Grant Makers Can Do

The 2010 Census is a once-in-a-decade opportunity to make a tremendous impact on the well-being on the people and communities funders support. There is still time to become more informed, educate colleagues and grantees, and fund census outreach efforts.

Funders can stay informed by joining the Funders Census Initiative and visiting the Census Bureau's Web site to learn more about becoming a Census Partner.

The Ford Foundation has also developed valuable tools to help funders get involved:

Ford Foundation 2010 Census Funder Tool Kit (PDF)
Provides a snapshot of the 2010 Census, its implications and practical steps grant makers can take to ensure everyone is counted.

Census Message Manual (PDF)
Ford-supported guide provides funders with messages targeted to specific communities to encourage participation in the census.

Strengthening democratic participation to help give everyone a voice in their future is central to the Ford Foundation’s mission. Ensuring an accurate 2010 Census count is a vital part of that effort.

Media Contacts

Press Line

Tel

(+1) 212-573-5128

Fax

(+1) 212-351-3643

Email

pressline@fordfoundation.org

Joshua Cinelli

Media Relations Chief

Email

j.cinelli@fordfoundation.org