Nonprofits and the Value of the 2010 Census

Communities are better understood and better served by nonprofits, public services, and businesses for every person counted. Generally, “hard to count” groups include low-income persons, culturally diverse populations, highly mobile groups, immigrants, the homeless, and children. Nonprofit already serve many of these populations and are uniquely positioned to be trusted messengers for the 2010 Census.

 

Ways Your Organization Can Help

The Census Bureau estimates that about 25 percent of persons living in Colorado were not counted in 2000. Here’s how your organization can help ensure the most complete count possible:

• In addition to filling out your forms, encourage constituents, board members, volunteers, and staff to mail back their forms.
• Tell people about the Census. Include Census information in your newsletters, on your Web site, at community events, and in other communications.
• Partner with the Census. Find out how your organization can best help by contacting a Partnership Specialist.
• Offer Census materials and/or on-site assistance. Put up posters, have forms in your office, or receive training and resources to become a “Questionnaire Assistance Center” where people can receive help in completing forms. 
• Help with Census outreach. Promote Census jobs and/or join your local Complete Count Committee to oversee local Census outreach.

Helpful Resources

• For toolkits, training and technical assistance for
  engaging your community in the 2010 Census count, visit www.NonprofitsCount.org.
  For Colorado specific information, go to www.NonprofitsCount.org/CO.htm.
• Contact the regional office of the U.S. Census Bureau and ask to speak to a Partnership Specialist: (303) 969-6750 or visit their Web site.
• For information on Colorado’s Census outreach effort and local data from the 2000 Census, go to www.colorado.gov/2010census.
• For information on Denver’s Census outreach, visit www.DenverCensus2010.org. Contact Martha Rodriguez, census outreach specialist at martha.rodriguez@denvergov.org or (720) 944-3023. 
• Visit our Census page for updated information and resources here.