Fair Count

Year Founded: 2019

Bold in action, creative in strategy, and rooted deeply in organizing, Fair Count builds long-term power within historically undercounted communities. With the census as their North Star, Fair Count uses every iteration of civic participation as a catalyst to build a more equitable democracy.

Fair Count envisions a thriving democracy that is truly representative of every person and community, creating a nation with equitable and fair access to opportunities, resources, and civic power.

Fair Count believes an equitable democracy demands equitable participation. With many entrances into civic participation, they work over time to bring infrequent or non-participating communities into our democracy by increasing civic participation to strengthen participation in every civic event.

Fair Count builds non-partisan long-term power in rural communities of color that have been historically undercounted in the decennial census, underrepresented at the polls, and whose communities are torn apart in redistricting. While they fight for civic and racial equity in all three pillars of democracy (census, voting access, and redistricting), the census is their North Star because the counting effort sets in motion a critical, decade-long trajectory for both financial resources and political representation. Fair Count uses every iteration of civic participation as catalysts for continued civic engagement to end extractive organizing and build trusted, long-term relationships. Fair Count relies on traditional organizing, faith community outreach and technology innovations to ensure stronger engagement and representation in the census and elections. Fair Count partners with communities, faith institutions, a broad range of organizations, the United States Census Bureau, and non-partisan redistricting efforts to ensure fairness and representation.

Impact Highlights:

• Fair Count has reached over 2 million residents, improved 2020 Census response rates in hard-to-count areas, and secured $1.8B in federal funding for underserved communities.
• Their Commit to Vote card campaign boosted turnout by 2.9% among infrequent voters and 5% among frequent voters—double the industry average.
  They’ve led major redistricting efforts in the South and are the only state-based organization serving on the national redistricting coalition CHARGE.