The Community Foundation for Northeast Michigan (CFNEM) is accepting grant proposals from nonprofits and community groups who can help “get out the count” for the upcoming 2020 U.S. Census. Up to $2,500 can be requested for projects and programs that will reach traditionally under counted populations in northeast Michigan, helping to ensure a more complete count in our communities.

Grants will be awarded for projects that help reach such populations as minorities, youth, households without internet access, families with young children, senior citizens, homeless, homebound, immigrants, isolated individuals, low-income families, and other traditionally hard-to-count populations.

All grant eligibility requirements and the application can be found by visiting the CFNEM website at cfnem.org and clicking on “Census 2020”.

The grant deadline is Oct. 1. Nonprofit organizations, churches, schools or government agencies, are eligible to apply. Community groups may also apply, provided they have a nonprofit organization as a fiscal sponsor.

Funding will be available in November.

“Any projects that promote awareness of the Census, and an understanding of the importance of completing the Census survey, are eligible for these grants,” said CFNEM Executive Director Patrick Heraghty. “That includes hosting ‘Census parties’, providing pop-up kiosks for people to use, door prizes for events, and other creative outreach activities centered on Census response.”