The 2020 Census Grant Program is designed to support the accurate counting of the State’s population and its local jurisdictions including the collection of basic demographic and housing information. The program offers matching grants to non-profit organizations and local governments in their sponsorship of activities designed to support successful enumeration and data collection efforts during the 2020 Census. Funds are administered by the Maryland Department of Planning (MDP) and grants are awarded by the statutorily-defined Census Grant Panel. The Census Grant Panel will award grants to eligible applicants to conduct census outreach activities throughout Maryland to accomplish the following goals:
• Ensure a fair, accurate and inclusive census count for Maryland.
• Increase the self-response rates of hard-to-count communities and populations in Maryland.
Grant awards will range from a suggested minimum of $25,000 to a suggested maximum of $250,000. The deadline for applying is March 1, 2019. You’ll find more information about how to apply here.
Grantees are required to provide a dollar-for-dollar match, which may be either cash or in-kind, as further defined in the program guidelines. Funds awarded will be available no sooner than July 1, 2019 and must be expended by June 1, 2020.
Priority will be given to projects that focus on hard-to-count communities and populations in Maryland, as defined in the program guidelines. If you have questions, or for assistance in completing the application, contact Randall Nixon at randall.nixon2@maryland.gov or (410) 767-8796.