The United States Census is conducted once every decade. This count of people residing in each state and town determines how nearly $700 billion per year is distributed from the federal government to states and localities across the country. These monies help pay for roads, schools, health care, early childhood education, basic living supports, and many more elements central to our communities’ well-being. This population count also determines the level of representation that towns and states get in state and federal government.
The Community Foundation’s Complete Count Committee:
Fairfield County’s Community Foundation is working to ensure that every person in the county is counted – to enable our community to get all the support it deserves, and to be as strong as it can be.
We are particularly focused on ensuring that the “hardest to count” populations across the county are reached, as they are most likely to lose out on federal funding over the next decade.
We are focused on this effort because while FCCF is committed to delivering responsive grant support to communities across Fairfield County, philanthropy alone cannot meet critical social needs. It is essential to have strong, well-funded local and state governments – and a strong Census count in Fairfield County will help ensure that reality.
We are working with a range of important partners to achieve this goal, through our own Complete Count Committee (CCC); our direct engagement with the CCCs in Bridgeport, Danbury, Norwalk and Stamford, where many of the hardest to count are located; in coordination with other charitable organizations across the state; and by providing information and resources to Fairfield County’s community of nonprofit organizations.
The Impact of Covid-19 on Census:
In light of the Covid-19 global pandemic, organizations working to achieve a complete count will have to significantly adjust outreach strategies. For example, partners will have to:
- Reduce in-person connections and rely more on digital (texting) and publicity via social media
- Substitute videos and webinars for in-person education efforts
- Cancel large events
- Execute work with remote staff
- Revise engagement plans to prioritize the health of staff and residents
Please utilize the resources below to assist in any necessary adjustments to your Census work plans.
Nonprofit Resources – help your nonprofit facilitate the most complete Census count possible:
Why a complete count is important for Fairfield County’s future
Virtual Media Toolkit for Census
Specific data on program funding determined by Census, state allocations, other details
How non-profit organizations can help ensure their clients are counted
Is personal information data from the Census legally bound to be confidential? Yes!
