Statement from Philanthropy California on the New Apportionment Data and Redistricting

On April 26, 2021, the United States Census Bureau (USCB) released the census apportionment data. This census data is used to allocate seats in the U.S. House of Representatives among states marking the beginning of the next phase of work: redistricting. For the first time in the state’s history, California lost a congressional seat as the state’s population did not grow as quickly as other states. In the upcoming decade, California is projected to have 52 representatives in Congress compared to the 53 we have now. Based on this updated data, new district maps will need to be drawn for congressional seats as well as state Senate and Assembly seats, and municipal offices. It is critically important that Californians weigh in on the state and local redistricting processes that determine how they are represented in the decade ahead.

Here are a few things philanthropy can do:

• Join the Fair Representation Fund to support community participation in California’s redistricting process, particularly among communities who have been historically underrepresented in our democracy. With redistricting getting underway this year, there is still time to invest in community involvement. The pooled fund supports community groups to undertake public outreach and education, materials development and trainings, map-drawing workshops, and coordination and partnership other communities.
• Provide support and resources for community leaders that work with underrepresented communities to get involved in local redistricting efforts.
• Share the work and engagement approaches employed by community leaders so that promising practices can be scaled in communities across California.
• Use your voice to communicate the importance of this work, and why your grantees and the communities they serve should care about redistricting.

For more information, or to get involved in your region, please contact:

Crispin Delgado, Public Policy Director, Northern California Grantmakers | cdelgado@ncg.org

Karla Mercado, Director, Philanthropy California & Public Policy, Southern California Grantmakers | karla@socalgrantmakers.org

Megan Thomas, Interim President, Catalyst of San Diego and Imperial Counties | megan@catalystsd.org