Ongoing Actions for Community-Based Organizations and Local Agencies

Document and Preserve the Work Your Organization Did for the 2020 Census
Learn how to build on past achievements to make 2030 actions even more effective.

Estimated Reading Time: 8 minutes
Collecting Outreach and Data Success Stories for Future GOTC (Get Out The Count) Work
Learn how to really get to the heart and soul of the census.

Estimated Reading Time: 7 minutes
Evaluate Accomplishments, Best Practices, Challenges, and Solutions from Your 2020 Census Campaign
Learn how to begin crafting a strategy for 2030 by reflecting on and analyzing 2020 lessons learned.

Estimated Reading Time: 9 minutes
Contribute to Amplifying 2020 Census Learnings
Learn how to leverage lessons learned into more effective future strategies.

Estimated Reading Time: 7 minutes
Develop a Plan for Engaging Your Census Coalition Throughout the Decade
Learn how to build and maintain relationships with strategic partners, coalition members, funders and funder/PSO collaboratives, as well as government, service providers, and practitioner partners throughout the decade.

Estimated Reading Time: 8 minutes
Stay Updated on Census Data Release Timeline and Policy Issues
Learn how to better understand the impact of census data on policy.

Estimated Reading Time: 5 minutes
Educate Communities on Direct Impacts of the 2020 Census
Learn how to leverage effective storytelling to convey the importance of the census.

Estimated Reading Time: 9 minutes
Connect Decennial Censuses to Other Issues
Learn how to tie the census to all things in your community to raise awareness and increase buy-in.

Estimated Reading Time: 10 minutes
Educate Communities and Elected Officials on the Importance of the ACS
Learn how to use the ACS for deep insights into America.

Estimated Reading Time: 8 minutes
Educate Communities and Elected Officials on the Pulse Surveys
Learn how to promote Census Bureau Pulse Surveys for real-time insights on communities.

Estimated Reading Time: 7 minutes
Educate Partners on How to Use Census Data for Advocacy Efforts
Learn how to turn data into change through education and awareness.

Estimated Reading Time: 10 minutes
Optional: Begin to Build Awareness and Educate Partners on Using Census Data for Advocacy
Learn how to use census data when mobilizing and advocating for change and which other groups to bring into your census coalition.

Estimated Reading Time: 10 minutes
Leverage 2020 Census and ACS Data for Work on Voting Rights, Other Civil and Human Rights Issues, and Social and Economic Justice Campaigns
Learn how to strengthen most any civic campaign with census-driven insights.

Estimated Reading Time: 8 minutes
Support Adequate Funding for the Census Bureau Through the Annual Appropriations Process
Learn how to help call for adequate Census Bureau funding.

Estimated Reading Time: 9 minutes
Begin to Engage With Local and Regional Funders on 2030 Census Design/Planning and How They Can Support State and Community Organizations Engaged in Outreach Efforts
Learn how to engage with funders to build outreach capacity and resources well before 2030.

Estimated Reading Time: 9 minutes
Monitor and, as Appropriate, Contribute to Research and Development Decisions for the 2030 Census, Such as Residence Criteria (e.g., Where People in Prison Are Counted), Operations (e.g., Reliance on the Internet, Mapping Technologies, and Use of Administrative Records), and Questionnaire Development (e.g., Improvement of Race/Ethnicity Questions and Consideration of SOGI Questions)
Learn how to chime in on the census R&D phase to help shape its evolution.
Educate About Census Bureau Economic Surveys
Learn how to use Census Bureau data to check the economic pulse of the US.

Estimated Reading Time: 8 minutes
Support Annual Appropriations for the Census Bureau and Maintain Coalition Relationships
Learn how to advocate for the Census Bureau's success through adequate funding and strong partnerships.

Estimated Reading Time: 9 minutes
Continue On-The-Ground Messaging Around the Importance of the Census With Census Stories, Particularly Related to Any Positive — or Negative — Developments (Such as Redistricting and Voter Access) in the Community
Learn how to tell "stories from the heart" around the impact of the census.
Optional: Begin Developing a Localized 5-Year Roadmap to the 2030 Census to Begin Preparing for GOTC in Your Area
Learn how to expand your census coalition.

Estimated Reading Time: 7 minutes
Connect the Census to Elections in Your Election and Voter Turnout Work
Check back here in Spring 2024 for a detailed guide on how to take this and other Census Roadmap actions ...
Host at Least One Webinar About the Revised Race and Ethnicity Standards and How to Answer the New Questions
In 2024, the federal government finalized new standards for collecting race and ethnicity data—changes that will directly impact how questions are asked in the 2030 Census.
Participate in August ACS Awareness Month
Check back here in Spring 2024 for a detailed guide on how to take this and other Census Roadmap actions ...
Learn More about the Census by Participating in the Census Seminar Series and Census Book Club
Check back here in Spring 2024 for a detailed guide on how to take this and other Census Roadmap actions ...
Invite Others in Your Community to Join Census Awareness-Building Events
Check back here in Spring 2024 for a detailed guide on how to take this and other Census Roadmap actions ...
Start Educating Local and State Entities about the Local Update of Census Addresses (LUCA) Operation (Fall 2024)
Offer at least one broad briefing or webinar for local and state officials/agencies about the importance of LUCA participation.
Continue to Support Sufficient Annual Funding (Federal Appropriations) for the Census Bureau, Educate Communities about the ACS, and Maintain Relationships with 2020 Census Coalition Partners
Check back here in Spring 2024 for a detailed guide on how to take this and other Census Roadmap actions ...
Provide Educational and Engagement Opportunities Focusing on the Importance of SOGI Data Collection on the ACS and Census
Check back here in Spring 2024 for a detailed guide on how to take this and other Census Roadmap actions ...
Optional: Educate Local governments and Other Partners about the Importance of Census Bureau Economic Surveys in Providing a Full Picture of Our Communities
Check back here in Spring 2024 for a detailed guide on how to take this and other Census Roadmap actions ...
If the 2026 Census Test Is Taking Place in Your Area, Prepare to Help With Gotc, Local Hiring, and Other Operational Efforts to Make the Test a Success
Learn how to strengthen most any civic campaign with census-driven insights.

Estimated Reading Time: 8 minutes

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More Roadmap Resources

Click here for a quick overview of Roadmap-related resources to get started at any time >

Including our Census Day 2023 Webinar for the States Count Action Network (S-CAN) on how to use the Roadmap to 2030 anytime now until the next decennial census is officially underway.

Overview of Actions for Community-Based Organizations

November 20, 2023

Ongoing Actions for Community-Based Organizations and Local Agencies

Document and Preserve the Work Your Organization Did for the 2020 Census

Collecting Outreach and Data Success Stories for Future GOTC (Get Out The Count) Work

Evaluate Accomplishments, Best Practices, Challenges, and Solutions from Your 2020 Census Campaign

Contribute to Amplifying 2020 Census Learnings

Develop a Plan for Engaging Your Census Coalition Throughout the Decade

Stay Updated on Census Data Release Timeline and Policy Issues

Educate Communities on Direct Impacts of the 2020 Census

Connect Decennial Censuses to Other Issues

Educate Communities and Elected Officials on the Importance of the ACS

Educate Communities and Elected Officials on the Pulse Surveys

Educate Partners on How to Use Census Data for Advocacy Efforts

Optional: Begin to Build Awareness and Educate Partners on Using Census Data for Advocacy

Leverage 2020 Census and ACS Data for Work on Voting Rights, Other Civil and Human Rights Issues, and Social and Economic Justice Campaigns

Support Adequate Funding for the Census Bureau Through the Annual Appropriations Process

Begin to Engage With Local and Regional Funders on 2030 Census Design/Planning and How They Can Support State and Community Organizations Engaged in Outreach Efforts

Educate About Census Bureau Economic Surveys

Support Annual Appropriations for the Census Bureau and Maintain Coalition Relationships

Continue On-The-Ground Messaging Around the Importance of the Census With Census Stories, Particularly Related to Any Positive — or Negative — Developments (Such as Redistricting and Voter Access) in the Community

Optional: Begin Developing a Localized 5-Year Roadmap to the 2030 Census to Begin Preparing for GOTC in Your Area

Connect the Census to Elections in Your Election and Voter Turnout Work

Host at Least One Webinar About the Revised Race and Ethnicity Standards and How to Answer the New Questions

Participate in August ACS Awareness Month

Learn More about the Census by Participating in the Census Seminar Series and Census Book Club

Invite Others in Your Community to Join Census Awareness-Building Events

Start Educating Local and State Entities about the Local Update of Census Addresses (LUCA) Operation (Fall 2024)

Continue to Support Sufficient Annual Funding (Federal Appropriations) for the Census Bureau, Educate Communities about the ACS, and Maintain Relationships with 2020 Census Coalition Partners

Provide Educational and Engagement Opportunities Focusing on the Importance of SOGI Data Collection on the ACS and Census

Optional: Educate Local governments and Other Partners about the Importance of Census Bureau Economic Surveys in Providing a Full Picture of Our Communities

If the 2026 Census Test Is Taking Place in Your Area, Prepare to Help With Gotc, Local Hiring, and Other Operational Efforts to Make the Test a Success

Sign Up for Roadmap & Census Updates

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Our Roadmap and related resources have been updated for 2025.