The California Community Foundation (CCF) has announced that it will award $2.03 million in grants to community organizations to help improve participation in the 2010 Census as well as other initiatives.
The foundation, which has been a source of charitable giving throughout the state since its formation in 1915, will devote $1.23 million of the grant funding to 12 nonprofit organizations as part of its census outreach initiative. Grants will also be awarded to organizations that specialize in immigrant integration and empower baby boomer immigrants to utilize their talents to their greatest ability.
Organizations such as the Centro Latino for Literacy and Puente Learning Center will each receive immigrant integration grants of $150,000. They will be awarded over the course of two years.
The Filipino American Service Group and Jewish Family Service of Los Angeles were among the organizations that received community experience partnerships, which each consisted of $120,000 that would be awarded over the course of three years.
Among the 12 organizations that received the largest 10-month Census outreach grants were the Asian Pacific American Legal Center and the Central American Resource Center, each of which received $200,000 in grants. No group received less than $60,000 in grant funding from the foundation.
"There are so many misperceptions around the census that keep people from participating, especially among underserved communities of color." said Antonia Hernandez, president and CEO at the foundation. "In these times of dire need, it is critical that they participate not only to become active members of civic society but also to ensure L.A. County receives the federal dollars for services that correspond to our vast population."
The grant awards by the California Community Foundation comes as part of its new strategic plan that prioritized grant giving to a group of priority areas that need it the most throughout the state, according to its website.