The Foraker Group

Why should I care about the 2030 Census today?

The United States Constitution, in Article 1, requires a count of every person living in the country every ten years – this is the Decennial Census – and planning for the 2030 count is already underway.

So many decisions that affect Alaskans, like redistricting, are directly tied to census numbers. Every federal dollar is ultimately tied to the census. 353 distinct federal assistance programs allocate, or geographically direct, funding based on Census Bureau data. In FY 2020, $8.26 billion dollars flowed into Alaska through those programs. That figure equaled $11,263 for each and every Alaskan, more than 11 times the economic impact of the 2025 Permanent Fund dividend.

We have 8.26 billion reasons to care about the census. Or better yet, 82.6 billion reasons over the full decade – and that’s before we consider inflation.

All of these reasons amount to 30% of annual state spending – which in turn determines how much nonprofits receive in grants and contracts directly from the federal government and through the State of Alaska and municipalities.

Nonprofits use census data to make critical decisions about where and how to invest resources.

Every sector of our economy relies on census data to make critical decisions about how to serve communities, where to invest resources, and how to better address local needs. Every road, airport, port, and the products in the grocery store are determined by census numbers. It is critical that the Decennial Census provides a complete and accurate count and that it meets the requirements set in the U.S. Constitution.

Alaska has always been declared a “hard to count” state by the federal government. Unfortunately, it may get even harder to have a complete, accurate count in the 2030 Census. The proposed changes will impact not just who gets counted but how.

Among the hardest to count are the 229 Alaska Tribes, which represent 40 percent of the federally recognized tribes, and one-fifth of Alaska’s total population. Two-thirds of Alaska Native people live in rural and/or remote areas, accessible only by air or by boat, which truly translates to being “hard to count.” In the 2020 Census, like virtually every census since statehood, Alaska Native people were undercounted, and this is even more likely to happen if proposed changes are implemented.

How can I stay involved?

In Alaska, the Alaska Census Working Group, a nonpartisan, multi-sector effort including nonprofits, state and local government, business, education, and Alaska Native organizations, is focused on ensuring all Alaskans are counted in 2030. We activated the Alaska Counts Campaign in 2030 and are doing it again in 2030.

Read about the work and lessons learned from 2020 here.

Want to be part of the working group? Contact Foraker to join the effort.

Read our current policy alerts and take action