Cosponsored with Funders’ Committee for Civic Participation
Census Day, April 1st, 2020, is only two years away. Funders discussed why the census matters and the role that philanthropy can play in ensuring a fair and accurate count. Census data drive key decisions made by government, business, nonprofits, and philanthropy. Although philanthropy cannot and should not supplant the government’s responsibility to ensure a fair and accurate census, funder engagement in support of the census is more important than ever. Funders learned about:
- the current policy landscape regarding important census issues,
- the roles funders can play in census organizing at the national, state, and local levels, and
- the different ways funders have been convening their colleagues, stakeholders, and community leaders to learn about and strategize for a fair and accurate census.
Listeners heard from funders on how they have been engaging at the state and local levels and will leave with concrete next action steps for census engagement at your foundation and in your community. Speakers included Elina Alterman of Kansas Health Foundation, Christian Arana of Latino Community Foundation, Marcia Avner of Bauman Foundation, Terri Ann Lowenthal of FCI, and Alexie Torres-Fleming of Access Strategies Fund.