From the National Council of Nonprofits:
On September 10, the U.S. Department of Commerce and the Census Bureau published a proposed rule that would make significant changes to how the 2030 Decennial Census counts people and collects demographic data. If these changes are implemented, it will negatively impact the communities nonprofits serve daily.
The decennial Census is required by the Constitution to count all people living in the United States and plays a critical role in determining the number of seats each state has in the U.S. House of Representatives. Census data informs the distribution of trillions of dollars in federal funding to communities. This funding is used by nonprofits, governments, and businesses to address community needs and deliver services.
The proposed changes would undermine the census’s ability to provide a fair, accurate, and complete count of people living in the U.S. The proposal excludes broad categories of people, including international students, H-1B visa holders, refugees, asylum seekers, undocumented people and other immigrants, from the population count, which is unconstitutional. Additionally, the regulation would eliminate questions on race, ethnicity and sexual orientation from the census, an unprecedented departure from the census’s practice of collecting critical demographic information since its inception.
Get Involved:
Submit a public comment. Use NCN’s comment guide, which includes talking points, a comment template, and instructions for submitting comments. Comments are due October 13, 2026.
Sign NCN’s national letter opposing the proposed changes.
Share these resources with your networks so nonprofits remain aware of the federal regulations affecting their communities.
Worth Quoting
On the census
“An accurate census helps ensure that every community is seen, represented, and has access to the resources it needs. These proposed changes would leave people out of the count and eliminate important information that nonprofits and others use to understand and respond to community needs. The impact would be felt in communities across the country, affecting representation, federal resources, and nonprofits’ ability to serve people effectively. We urge the Department of Commerce to ensure the Census counts everyone and gives us an accurate picture of the communities that make up our country.”
— Diane Yentel, President and CEO of the National Council of Nonprofits, National Council of Nonprofits Responds to Proposed Changes to the 2030 Census, press statement, Sept. 10, 2026.
“The Constitution is clear that every person must be counted in the Census, and the Census Bureau has the responsibility to ensure every community is fully and accurately represented. Now, the Trump Administration is formally moving forward with an unconstitutional effort that would undermine a comprehensive and accurate count and risk depriving communities in Michigan and across the country of the democratic representation and federal resources they deserve.”
— Sen. Peters (D-MI), Chair of the U.S. Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Government Affairs, statement on X, Sept. 10, 2026.