In the first of three rounds of grant making to encourage enrollment in the 2020 Census, The Foundation for Delaware County awarded six grants totaling $30,300 to area nonprofits.

The grants will provide resources to ensure a complete and accurate census count for communities in Delaware County which are at risk of being under counted.

The largest grants of $10,000 each went to Multicultural Community Family Services and the Urban League to specifically target hard-to-count populations through education, outreach and technical assistance.

The Foundation is sending a message that the 2020 Census is one of the most important issues for Delaware County this year.

“We have one chance to get this right. It is critical that we do everything we can to ensure a complete and accurate count for Delaware County,” said Frances Sheehan, Foundation president. “We’re pleased that these nonprofits stepped forward because they have experience in the communities that we need to reach, and we’re looking forward to receiving more strong proposals by the March 4th deadline.”

According to Sheehan, Delaware County is one of 24 counties in Pennsylvania at high risk for being under-counted, potentially impacting millions in funding for schools, hospitals, roads, and infrastructure, as well as the county’s representation in Congress.

An analysis by Keystone Counts identified 6 percent of Delaware County households (69,462) specifically at risk for an under-count. Pennsylvania received $39 billion in annual funding that relies on census data to calculate that funding.

The Foundation has partnered with Philanthropy Network Greater Philadelphia, The United Way of Greater Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey, and the Delaware County Complete Count Committee to support organizations promoting a complete and accurate census count for Delaware County.

The Delaware County 2020 Census Action Fund has almost reached its $100,000 fundraising goal to fund census projects in Delaware County thanks to the United Way of Greater Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey’s $50,000 grant that has been matched by contributions from Franklin Mint Federal Credit Union, PECO, Wells Fargo, The Foundation for Delaware County, the Crozer-Chester Medical Fund, and the Delaware County Memorial Hospital Medical Fund.

A full list of grants awarded can be found on The Foundation for Delaware County website here.

The second round of grant requests are due through the foundation’s online portal on March 4 at 5 p.m.

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