The constitutionally-mandated decennial census is a cornerstone of American democracy. Accurate data are essential to the fair distribution of representation and the equitable allocation of billions of dollars in annual federal assistance to states, communities, and families. Yet historically, the census has disproportionately undercounted people of color, immigrants, young children, low-income households, and rural communities, among others. And, if those billions in federal assistance were not enough, philanthropy then takes this data and often uses it to help guide its giving, an estimated $499 billion in 2022. 

FCCP’s commitment to racial justice and to achieving a democracy where all communities are counted, resourced, and represented necessitates our deep engagement on the census. Funders’ Committee Census Initiative engages philanthropy, with a particular focus on state and local funders, to leverage their resources and power in support of a fair and accurate census.  As we see it, the census—and its impact on the distribution of power and resources across the country—is directly tied to the most pressing issues and needs of our time: representative communities, fair courts, the right and the ability to vote, trust in government, the criminal legal system, and much more.