AUSTIN, Tex. — More than 100 leaders across the state celebrated the launch today of Texas Counts, a statewide collaborative effort working to leverage, amplify and share resources across communities and sectors to ensure that every Texan is counted in the 2020 Census. Texas Counts today announced the online connector hub TexasCounts.org and the statewide Texas Counts Pooled Fund, which provides funds to enable local communities to target outreach efforts and implement best practices.

Research shows that even a one percent undercount of Texas’ population would cost the state billions of dollars and crucial representation in the U.S. Congress over the next decade.

The Center for Public Policy Priorities and Communities Foundation of Texas (CFT) anchor the new Texas Counts, which is spearheaded by a steering committee representing Texas business, health, education, government, faith-based, nonprofit, and community-based organizations. 

“The vision of Texas Counts is to ensure that our state receives the congressional representation, the funding, and the information we need to thrive for the next ten years,” said Ann Beeson, CEO of the Center for Public Policy Priorities. “Texas Counts will serve as a partner, connector, and hub for 'get out the count' efforts led by communities all across our state.” 

Texas Counts philanthropic and foundation partners have raised more than $3 million to distribute to eligible organizations mostly targeting “Hard-To-Count” (HTC) communities. HTC population groups include children 5 years and younger, immigrants, low-wage families, and people with limited access to the internet and government services. 

Communities Foundation of Texas (CFT) is leading efforts to build the statewide Texas Counts Pooled Fund (TCPF) to support census outreach. “There’s a huge gap in census outreach for Texas,” said George Tang, Managing Director for CFT’s Educate Texas. “While there are many local and county-led Complete Count Committees mobilizing within specific regions, there was not yet a statewide collaborative effort. Because we will win or lose the count as a state, we launched Texas Counts to share resources, connect communities and fund outreach to the Hard-To-Count communities across the state.”

Texas organizations serving HTC communities are encouraged to go online to TexasCounts.org and apply for funding, complete the stakeholder survey, explore the resources, and join the online community. The TexasCounts.org online hub features a robust discussion forum where members can crowdsource best practices for reaching and educating Texans about the upcoming 2020 Census. 

“So much is at stake for Texas businesses and Texas families,” said Beeson. “Representatives of every major community sector have joined Texas Counts because we know jobs, housing, schools, libraries, roads, and more depend on an accurate and complete census count. That’s why Texas Counts exists — we’re here to help.”

For more information about the Texas Counts pooled funds and education outreach, visit TexasCounts.org and sign up to become a Census Champion for Texas. 

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