Local governments and foundations collaborating to ensure a complete and informed Census.
The organizations below are working together to ensure a complete, informed, and safe 2020 Census. We’re meeting regularly with advocates and representatives from trusted community-based organizations who are guiding us on how we can best prepare residents for the annual count. Philanthropic organizations are also coming together to help community-based organizations conduct outreach to historically under-counted populations.
City of Seattle
Seattle Census Task Force
Mayor Jenny Durkan convened the Seattle Census Task Force to advise on Census policy and outreach to historically under-counted communities. The City of Seattle is working in collaboration with King County and the State of Washington to ensure a complete, informed, and safe Census count. Go here to see the full list of Task Force members.
King County
King County Complete Count Committee
Chaired by former Governor Gary Locke, who also oversaw the 2010 Census while serving as Commerce Secretary during the Obama administration, the Complete Count Committee will align the work of nonprofit and philanthropic organizations and county government to connect with communities that have historically been under-served and under-counted, including people of color and people who earn lower incomes.
Seattle Foundation
Regional Census Fund
On April 1, 2019, Seattle Foundation announced the creation of a $1 million Regional Census Fund in partnership with the City of Seattle and King County. This fund will support trusted community-based organizations to conduct effective outreach in historically under-counted communities. With frontline partners, the Regional Census Fund will provide funding and technical support to organize, educate, and activate residents in historically underrepresented communities, including communities of color, immigrants and refugees, Native people, LGBTQ residents, and others. The Regional Census Fund will focus on work in King County and the Washington Census Equity Fund will focus on efforts across Washington. To make it easier for applicants, both funds are sharing request for proposal and application portals here.
Philanthropy Northwest
Washington Census Equity Fund
Philanthropy Northwest is the network for philanthropists of all types who are committed to Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington, and Wyoming. Philanthropy Northwest, with seed funding from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, has launched the Washington Census Equity Fund, a statewide pooled fund of philanthropy partners, which will support 2020 Census outreach, education, and resources to ensure a robust and accurate Census count. The Washington Census Equity Fund will focus on efforts across Washington and the Regional Census Fund will focus on work in King County. To make it easier for applicants, both funds are sharing request for proposal and application portals here.
State of Washington
Office of Financial Management (OFM) 2020 Census: Everyone Counts
The Washington State Office of Financial Management (OFM) serves as the liaison between the state and the U.S. Census Bureau, acts as an advocate on census-related issues for Washington, and facilitates the bureau’s mission of achieving a complete, accurate 2020 Census count.