William Penn Foundation, The Heinz Endowments, and HealthSpark Foundation Announce $1.3 Million in Grants to Increase Pennsylvania Census Participation

PHILADELPHIA, August 19, 2026 — The William Penn Foundation and its co-funding partners HealthSpark Foundation and The Heinz Endowments announced $1.3 million in new grants to support organizations across Pennsylvania working to increase the self-response rate among underrepresented communities for the 2030 Census. The grants were awarded to 22 organizations to develop and advance community-driven, place-based plans that will guide census-related education, outreach, communications, and get-out-the-count activities throughout the state.

“Building trust in Pennsylvania’s democratic processes like the census is essential to increasing participation and collecting an accurate count of all residents,” explained Jessica Richards, Director of William Penn Foundation’s Democracy and Civic Initiatives program. “In partnering with the Endowments and HealthSpark and engaging these organizations from across the state at the same time in planning for the 2030 census, we hope to collectively build more coordinated, data-informed census education and programming.”

The United States Constitution requires a census every ten years to count all people living in the country. This population count serves as the basis for the number of congressional representatives assigned to each state and for distributing trillions of dollars of federal funding to the states. This includes programs like Medicaid, Medicare, and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) as well as funding for infrastructure, education, housing, and more.

Although the U.S. has conducted the census since 1790 and considerable federal resources are dedicated to the effort, some groups of people, including Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino/a, children ages 0-4, renters, and men ages 18-49, are less accurately represented than others in the final count. The organizations awarded grants through this opportunity are actively working to increase the census self-response rate among these priority populations.

"The census directs over $90 billion dollars in federal funding annually to Pennsylvania across hundreds of programs that matter deeply to our residents and our communities. Nonprofits, foundations, academia, and the private sector also rely on census data to provide services, guide investments, and inform meaningful research,” said The Heinz Endowments Civic Participation Director Matt Barron. “Every Pennsylvanian counts, and it will take all of us working together to make sure that every Pennsylvanian gets counted."

Self-response is widely recognized as the most effective phase of census data collection because it is cost-efficient and yields more accurate data when households report their own characteristics. When people self-respond to the census – by filling out the census questionnaire themselves on behalf of their household – rather than relying on the Census Bureau to follow up, the data are more accurate, leading to a fairer distribution of resources and representation.

"We're proud to be part of this collaborative effort with William Penn Foundation and The Heinz Endowments to support this important statewide effort and to bring that work home to Montgomery County," said Emma Hertz, President and CEO of HealthSpark Foundation. "Local nonprofits are deeply connected to the communities they serve, and we're grateful for the opportunity to invest in their efforts to make sure every resident is seen, heard, and counted as we prepare for the 2030 Census."

About HealthSpark Foundation
HealthSpark Foundation is a private, independent foundation based in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania. Through its grantmaking, convening, and leadership, HealthSpark backs these essential efforts by prioritizing initiatives that uplift transformative leaders, foster thriving communities, and expand opportunities and justice for all. Guided by its strategic goals – Community Power, Leadership, and Solutions – the foundation pursues its mission to achieve healthy, equitable, and hopeful communities throughout Montgomery County. Learn more at www.healthspark.org.

About The Heinz Endowments
The Heinz Endowments works to grow an exemplary, sustainable Pittsburgh region where everyone prospers and belongs. We invest in organizations working to uplift the region’s visual and performing arts communities; preserve and rebuild trust in democratic institutions; expand economic and social opportunities for youth, young adults and veterans leaving their service; and restore and protect the natural environment on which our health depends. Learn more at www.heinz.org.

About William Penn Foundation
The William Penn Foundation, founded in 1945 by Otto and Phoebe Haas, is committed to expanding access to resources and opportunities that promote a more vital and just city and region for all. We do this through funding programs in the Philadelphia region in arts and culture, children and families, democracy and civic initiatives, environment and public space, and workforce training and services. Learn more at www.williampennfoundation.org.