The U.S. Department of Commerce and the Census Bureau have published a proposed regulation that would make significant changes to how the 2030 Decennial Census counts people and collects demographic data. If implemented, the proposed changes would directly impact the people and communities that nonprofits serve every day. To learn more, read the full analysis and press statement from the National Council of Nonprofits.

 

Why The Census Matters to Nonprofits

The U.S. Constitution requires our nation to undertake a census every 10 years to count all people living in the United States. The data collected by the decennial census determines the number of seats each state has in the U.S. House of Representatives and is used to distribute hundreds of billions of dollars in federal funds to local communities.

Census data is also used by nonprofits, state and local governments, businesses, and others to make critical decisions about how to serve communities, where to invest resources, and how to better address local needs. For many organizations, it is the foundation of grant applications, needs assessments, and program planning. It is critical that the decennial census provides a fair, accurate, and transparent count and that it meets the requirements set in the Constitution.

 

What the Proposed Changes Would Do

The proposed changes would undermine the census’s ability to provide a fair and accurate count of the people living in America. If implemented, the proposal would exclude broad categories of people, including international students, H-1B visa holders, refugees, asylum seekers, undocumented people, and others, from the population count used to allocate congressional seats and federal funding.

The proposed regulation would also eliminate questions on race, ethnicity, and sexual orientation, an unprecedented departure from the census’s longstanding practice of collecting critical demographic information.

Together, these changes would undercount the number of people living in communities, reducing their access to federal resources and political representation. They would also make it harder for nonprofits to understand changing community needs and to address racial, social, and other disparities.

 

Nonprofits Can Make Their Voices Heard

The National Council of Nonprofits has created resources to help nonprofits take action to protect a fair, complete, and accurate 2030 Census. Between now and October 13, we encourage nonprofits to:

  • Sign onto a national letter opposing the proposed changes to the census.
  • Submit public comments. Use NCN’s comment guide, which includes a summary of the proposed regulation, talking points, a comment template, and instructions on how to submit comments. Comments are due by October 13, 2026.

Public comment periods are one of the most direct ways nonprofits can shape federal policy, and agencies are required to review and respond to substantive comments they receive. Comments that describe how the proposed changes would affect your organization and the people you serve are especially valuable.