CLCT Roadmap to the 2030 Census
Every Person Counts. Every Community Deserves to Be Heard.
Colorado’s communities deserve an accurate count as part of the decennial Census, and that starts with making sure all voices shape the process, from start to finish. Through our Roadmap to the 2030 Census work, Communities Lead Communities Thrive (CLCT) is engaging nonprofits, specifically those serving hard-to-count communities, in census work as part of our broader effort to improve how public resources reach communities across Colorado.
Through policy advocacy, capacity building, and tools that expand access to funding, we work to ensure that community-based organizations have the support they need to serve their communities effectively – including playing a central role in civic engagement efforts like the decennial census.
The 2030 Census is coming. The time to prepare is now.
What Is The Census, And Why Does It Matter?
The U.S. Census is a constitutionally mandated count of everyone living in the United States, conducted every 10 years. But it’s much more than a headcount. An accurate census count is the foundation for fair political representation. It shapes how hundreds of billions of dollars in federal funding flow to communities across the country each year – funding that supports schools, hospitals, housing, transportation, and emergency services. And data from the Census is used by countless public and private entities to make decisions that impact us every single day.
When communities are undercounted, they lose out. Hard-to-count communities face the greatest risk of being missed; they include:
- Elderly residents
- Ethnic and racial minorities
- Immigrants
- Low-income populations
- Members of the LGBTQ+ community
- People experiencing homelessness
- People with disabilities
- Reentering residents
- Renters
- Rural residents
- Veterans
- Young children
That’s not just a statistical problem; it’s an equity problem with substantial consequences for all Colorado residents. As a matter of fact, in 2019, the Colorado legislature appropriated $6 million to be used for census outreach in hard-to-count communities as part of the 2020 Census effort. In May 2026, the State of Colorado published its 2030 Census Strategic Action Plan, which includes recommendations for the infrastructure that will be necessary to achieve work toward an accurate count.
A Setback – And Why Community Engagement Matters More Than Ever
In early 2026, the U.S. Census Bureau announced it was dramatically scaling back its planned census test, removing Colorado Springs – along with sites in rural western Texas and Tribal lands – from its list of test locations. The test was narrowed to just two communities in the American South.
For Colorado, this was a significant loss. The test would have provided an opportunity to refine methods for counting group quarters like military barracks and college dorms, generate thousands of temporary jobs in the Pikes Peak region, and build critical partnerships between government and community organizations ahead of 2030.
The Census Bureau has stated it remains committed to conducting “the most accurate count in history” for 2030. We intend to hold them to that – and to make sure Colorado’s communities are ready to support an accurate count.
CLCTRoadmap to 2030: Summer 2026 Census Listening Sessions
This summer, CLCT is hosting a series of community listening sessions across to hear directly from nonprofit leaders, including those in our coalition, about their perspective on the Census, including:
- What they know (and don’t know) about the Census and why it’s important
- What concerns or barriers exist around participation
- What information and support organizations need to serve as effective messengers for their communities
- Response to the state’s recent report and recommendations on how the state can support nonprofit organizations in reaching historically undercounted populations ahead of 2030
- Funding needs to support outreach efforts
- These listening sessions will result in a report published this fall that will provide a landscape analysis of how Colorado’s nonprofit sector is currently positioned to support an accurate count, and recommendations to strengthen nonprofit organizations’ ability to support outreach efforts as trusted community messengers.
These sessions are designed for nonprofit leaders and community organizations, especially those serving hard-to-count communities.
If your organization is on the frontlines of serving Colorado communities and you’re interested in participating in a listening session, complete this form to receive updates about our work.
Colorado Public Radio, February 2026: Colorado Springs Dropped from U.S. Census Test Sites
Summit Daily, June 2026: Colorado has a plan to ensure a more accurate Census in 2030
Colorado Newsline Commentary, June 2026: Colorado Must Start Preparing for the 2030 Census
About Communities Lead Communities Thrive (CLCT)
Communities Lead Communities Thrive (CLCT) is a coalition of nonprofits dedicated to advocating for more equitable access to public funds for small, community-rooted organizations that serve historically underinvested communities in Colorado. Through our Funding the Frontlines initiative and ongoing engagement work, we amplify the voices of those closest to community – because the people most affected by public systems should be the ones shaping them.