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The Nonprofit Voter Engagement Network (NVEN) has launched its 2010 Nonprofits Count! campaign, promoting the engagement of nonprofits to ensure a correct count in the 2010 Census. Nonprofits serve millions and can work to reach hard-to-count communities, those that are often served by nonprofits. If the count is not precise, communities are at risk of receiving less funding and fewer resources.

Nonprofits have a unique role to fill in making sure their constituents are fully counted by educating them on the importance of the Census and how to participate. Nonprofits Count provides tools and resources to get nonprofits involved and to engage their communities. For example, there is a series of fact sheets including, Seven Things Any Nonprofit Needs to Know about Census 2010, Why Nonprofits: Key to a Complete Count, and more.

NVEN has recently released A Census Toolkit for Nonprofits, providing all of the necessary information a 501(c)(3) organization needs to know to get involved. Plus, there is a very informative webinar "Nonprofits and the Census: Mobilizing our Communities for Complete Count."

Nonprofits, particularly service oriented groups, hold a particular interest in the outcome of the Census for many reasons. Decisions are made about how federal funds will be allocated over the next ten years, such as spending on programs for the elderly, Head Start, and on emergency food and shelter. If groups are not accurately counted, it could lead to the underfunding of critical services and infrastructure, and under-representation in government. The data collected will be used to determine Congressional, State House and State Senate district lines and the distribution of Congressional seats to states. Skewed political power could result from the manipulation of the Census. Nonprofits can educate their communities on how to participate and the overall importance of the Census.

The Nonprofits Count! 2010 Campaign also has maps of "hard to count areas," regions that have been undercounted by the Census in the past, along with the locations of service oriented 501(c)(3) nonprofits overlayed. To learn more and to find resources for your nonprofit, visit the Nonprofits Count! 2010 Census Campaign website.