CFMC Allocates $500,000 in Census 2020 Grants: Co-Hosts Convening

CFMC Allocates $500,000 in Census 2020 Grants: Co-Hosts Convening

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE January 16, 2020

Community Foundation for Monterey County Allocates More Than $500,000 in Census 2020 Grants to Local Nonprofits for a Fair and Accurate Count – Co-hosts  Convening February 7, 2020

President's Blog: Census 2020Monterey County, CA – Preparation for the 2020 United States Census is going full steam ahead in Monterey County with the Community Foundation for Monterey County (CFMC) funding efforts to engage communities to participate. The CFMC, through its Census 2020 Fund and in partnership with the State of California, has allocated $508,650 to 19 local nonprofit organizations doing grass roots work to encourage hard to count communities to participate in the upcoming Census.

Funding was made possible by Sunlight Giving, The Blue Shield Foundation, The Claire Giannini Fund, The California Endowment, Monterey Peninsula Foundation and the Siembra Latinos Fund of the Community Foundation for Monterey County. The Community Foundation has played a lead role as a funder, convener and educating nonprofits on their role in the census.

Not counting someone doesn’t mean they’re not here. Loss of funding because of undercounting means California and Monterey County won’t have resources to implement programs for the full complement of people in need,” said Dan Baldwin, CFMC President/CEO.

“This is not a political issue. The issue is being counted, one and all, and making sure Monterey County has the resources it needs to serve its residents.”

Strategy Session February 7, 2020

The CFMC, County of Monterey Census Complete Count Committee and Center for Community Advocacy are hosting a Census 2020 Strategy session Friday, February 7, 2020 for nonprofits, grass roots leaders, city and county staff to collaborate, engage and inspire for the activation phase of the 2020 Census. The event takes place from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at CSUMB at Salinas City Center, Gallery Room 1. Advance registration required by February 3 on Eventbrite:  https://2020montereycountycensusconvening.eventbrite.com. For questions please contact Erika Matadamas, CFMC Program Officer, at erika@cfmco.org or 831.754.5880.

An incomplete count has vital implications for Monterey County residents. Monterey County has one of the highest hard-to-count populations in California: of the population of 437,907 35% or 151,262 people live in hard-to-count areas. Hard-to-count populations represent some of the most vulnerable, including low-income communities, immigrants, indigenous communities, the homeless, people of color and children ages 0-5. For each person not counted, more than $2,000 per person in federal aid in Monterey County will be lost annually, or$20,000 per person over 10 years until the next census.

Census 2020 Grantees

The 19 organizations selected to receive Census 2020 grants through the Community Foundation for Monterey County are:

  • California Rural Legal Assistance
  • Central Coast Center for Independent Living
  • Loaves, Fishes and Computers (LFC)
  • Pajaro Valley Prevention and Student Assistance (PVPSA)
  • Action Council of Monterey County $70,000 Census 2020 Collaborative (Building Healthy Communities, Central Coast Labor Council and COPA)
  • Center for Community Advocacy
  • Centro Binacional Para el Desarollo Indigena Oaxaqueno
  • Community Builders for Monterey County
  • Radio Bilingue
  • Coalition of Homeless Services Providers
  • Catholic Charities
  • United Way Monterey County
  • University Corporation at Monterey Bay
  • CHISPA
  • Central Property Owners Association
  • First 5 Monterey County
  • Castroville Coalition
  • City of Seaside
  • Lideres Campesinas

The 2020 Census Complete Count Committee for Monterey County has been meeting and planning since October 2018 to engage Monterey County residents for a fair and complete count. The committee is comprised of representatives from the County of Monterey, cities, nonprofits and grass roots leaders and is open to all. Visit the Facebook page for more events: https://www.facebook.com/2020CensusMC/.

The United States census is conducted every 10 years in accordance with the U.S. Constitution. The goal is to count every single person living in the entire country. A complete count is essential to many aspects of life, from the allocation of millions of dollars in federal funds to Monterey County for schools, roads, housing, health services, to political representation at all levels of government and economic development impact for the region.

For the first time ever, most questionnaires will be collected online, making it difficult for households that lack digital access to participate. Nine percent of Monterey County’s households have either no internet access or dial up-only. If just 1% of California residents are not counted, California will lose more than $770 million in annual federal funding.

About the Community Foundation for Monterey County
The mission of the Community Foundation for Monterey County, celebrating 75 years since its founding in 1945, is to “inspire philanthropy and be a catalyst for strengthening communities throughout Monterey County.” Individuals, families and businesses create charitable funds at the CFMC to fulfill their philanthropic vision in their lifetimes or through their estates. These funds fuel millions of dollars of grants annually, creating healthy, safe and vibrant communities. The CFMC stewards more than 500 funds and $260 million in charitable assets. For more information visit dev.cfmco.org, call 831.375.9712 or stay connected at www.facebook.com/cfmco or www.twitter.com/cfmco.                                             ###