Why Minnesota nonprofits and foundations are leading the way to boost 2020 census turnout

Star Tribune July 6, 2019.

As Minnesota gears up for the census in April 2020, nonprofits are already taking the lead, intensifying a grassroots effort to get out the word about the once-in-a-decade count. Across the country, nonprofits and foundations are getting more involved, and Minnesota’s sector is leading the way.

“Our objective is to get Minnesotans ready to respond. We don’t get a do-over with the census,” said Bob Tracy, director of public policy at the Minnesota Council on Foundations, who added that the sector organized sooner, starting in 2015, and is more engaged than for the past census. “Foundations and nonprofits are much, much more active.”