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BLOG for ADVOCATES
We created this blog to share interesting advocacy related items that cross our desks. It can be anything from new research on funding for advocacy to examples of unusual advocacy strategies. If you have an item to share please send it to npaction@npaction.org.
Friday, March 12, 2010 Charities Actively Engaged in Census Encouragement NPR reports that foundations and nonprofits are taking an active role in promoting the census and making sure there is an accurate count. One of the organizations highlighted in the article is Voto Latino, which tries to encourage civic engagement by Latinos. Voto Latino is also one of two dozen groups splitting more than $1 million as part of the Illinois "Count Me In" campaign, which is funded by ten foundations. One of Voto Latino's strategies was to develop a new mobile phone application to be used in Los Angeles County. Users download it, learn about the census and then take a quiz on what they've learned. Then they get to download five free songs by top recording artists, such as Pitbull and Morrissey. And the more they forward the link to friends, the more likely they'll be among a thousand people invited to a free "secret" concert somewhere in the L.A. area. Those that nonprofits often serve, have the most to benefit from the census, but are also the least likely to participate. It is very important to educate the public that the census helps determine which communities get government funding for things like education and mass transit. "Charities also say an accurate census helps them with their own work, by giving them a better idea where the greatest needs are and how they might spend their charitable dollars in the years ahead." Posted by Amanda Adams |
