California State University Foundation
Based in Long Beach, California, the California State University Foundation was established in 1962 as the California State University system’s central foundation and serves the Office of the Chancellor. It supports the CSU’s educational mission and helps facilitate public-to-private and public-to-public partnerships.
Key facts about California State University Foundation
In short: California State University Foundation gave $1.7M across 21 grants in 2025 (avg $83K), mostly in California. 32% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990 filing.
- EIN
- 95-6123757
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990 filing, 2025
- Annual giving (2025)
- $1,735,400
- Grants made (2025)
- 21
- Average grant
- $82,638
- Median grant
- $20,000
- New grantees (estimate)
- 32% first-time grantees (6 of 19, 2025)
- Total assets
- $58,018,753
- Primary geography
- California (98% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
Data from IRS Form 990 filing, 2025; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
Financial Overview
From 2025 IRS Form 990 filing · View filing
Total Assets
$58.0M
+6.0% YoY
Annual Giving
$1.7M
+2.8% YoY
Grant Count
21
-4.5% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$83K
+7.7% YoY
Is California State University Foundation open to new grantees?
32%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 6 of 19 grantees (32%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $44K; repeat grants $113K. How we count
Medians: $20K first-time, $26K repeat.
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2020–2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Mission & Focus Areas
The Foundation’s stated mission is to enhance the educational excellence of the California State University in teaching, learning, community service, and applied research. Its stated purpose also includes promoting the CSU’s national, state, and regional interests.
Its programs include the Linked Learning Initiative, which prepares K–12 educators to support students’ college and career pathways, and support for the CSU Center for Community Engagement, where students apply classroom learning in community settings. The Foundation also offers CSU scholarships; the listed eligibility criteria include financial need, good academic standing, and full-time-equivalent enrollment at a CSU campus.
Among the organizations receiving 2025 grants, Sonoma State University’s Association says its mission is to support the university’s development and its role as an educational and cultural resource. TELACU Education Foundation says it provides services and resources for scholarship and educational enrichment programs. Cal Poly Pomona Philanthropic Foundation says it promotes, secures, and stewards private support for the university. The Museum of Latin American Art describes its purpose as operating a museum and expanding knowledge and appreciation of modern and contemporary Latin American fine art. California LULAC Foundation says it works to empower Latina/os in California through education, leadership development, and civic engagement.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the Foundation reported 21 grants totaling $1,735,400. Grant amounts ranged from $9,500 to $1,033,000, with a median of $20,000. The largest reported grant was $1,033,000 to the Trustees of the CSU for several purposes, including a balance on an ECMC Foundation grant, a wellness clinic at Chico, faculty fellowships, a pregnant and parenting student initiative, teacher preparation, and reimbursement related to the Chancellor’s housing allowance. Other large grants included $119,000 to Cal State LA University Auxiliary Services and $108,000 to CSU Long Beach Research Foundation, both for Mellon ACLS grant transfers to campuses.
Open Grants
4 open opportunities from California State University Foundation
AY 2025-2026 Coale Graduate Scholar Awards (Formerly known as the COAST Graduate Student Research Awards) Grant
California State University Foundation
Amount
US $4,000
Deadline
Rolling / Open
California Senate Fellows Program Grant
California State University Foundation
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Jesse M. Unruh Assembly Fellowship Program Grant
California State University Foundation
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Ready to take the next step with California State University Foundation?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of all 21 itemized 2025 grant dollars.
Cities
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $1.7M (2024) to $4.0M (2020). In 2025 it made 21 grants totaling $1.7M.
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Trustees of the Csu ($1.0M). Together the top 10 received $1.6M.
Grant Size Distribution
95 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 73 grants of 95 (77%).
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Trustees of the Csu Long Beach, CA | $402,000.00 - balance ecmc found grant$160,000.00 - grant wellness clinic chico$150,000.00 - csu faculty fellowship$125,000.00 - csu pregnant and parenting student initiative$100,000.00 - teach prep$96,000.00 - annual reimbursement to csuco by cofdn for chancellor's housing allowance as per bot resolution | $1,033,000 |
| Cal State La University Auxiliary Svc Los Angeles, CA | Mellon Acls Grant Transfer to Campus | $119,000 |
| Csu Long Beach Research Foundation Long Beach, CA | Mellon Acls Grant Transfer to Campus | $108,000 |
| Csu Dominguez Hills Philanthropic Foundation Carson, CA | Mellon Acls Grant Transfer to Campus | $95,000 |
| Csu San Bernardino Philanthropic Foundation San Bernardino, CA | Mellon Acls Grant Transfer to Campus | $84,000 |
| Sonoma State University Rohnert Park, CA | Sonoma State Teacher Training | $50,000 |
| Csu Fullerton Philanthropic Foundation Fullerton, CA | Mellon Acls Grant Transfer to Campus | $46,000 |
| Csu Northridge Northridge, CA | Relui Operating Expenses | $26,400 |
| Csu Los Angeles Los Angeles, CA | Game Show Curriculum-Csula | $20,000 |
| Chicano Latino Youth Leadership Project Sacramento, CA | Sponsorship Leadership Conference | $20,000 |
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants reported |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $58,018,753 | $4,962,254 | $4,860,824 | $1,735,400 |
| 2024 | $54,755,126 | $3,946,366 | $4,871,648 | $1,688,651 |
| 2023 | $52,244,954 | $6,047,467 | $6,105,615 | $3,042,436 |
The filing type is 990T.
| Metric | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $58,018,753 | $54,755,126 | $52,244,954 |
| Revenue | $4,962,254 | $3,946,366 | $6,047,467 |
| Expenses | $4,860,824 | $4,871,648 | $6,105,615 |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | $1,982,588 | $1,759,426 | $1,547,060 |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | — |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2025
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Kristin Crellin as chair; Gillian A. Wright as vice chair through April 15, 2025; Ronald Fong as secretary; and Michael A. Lucki as treasurer. Listed directors are John H. Augustine, Ronald R. Barhorst, Mildred Garcia (Chancellor—ex officio), Kimberley Goode, Michael Lizarraga, and Lorene Miller.
California State University Foundation is led by Greg Saks, President & CEO since 2025 (on filings since 2024); none of the 22 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Greg Saks
President & CEO
President → President & CEO, 2025
On filings since 2024
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Steve Relyea
President
Ex-Officio & Chancellor - → President, 2024
On filings since 2022
No compensation reported
Kristin Crellin
Chair
Secretary → Chair, 2023
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Ali C. Razi
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Gaddi H. Vasquez
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Henry T. Perea
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Michael Lizarraga
Director
Vice Chair → Director, 2023
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Ronald R. Barhorst
Director
Chair → Director, 2023
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Scott Wells
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Kimberley Goode
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Lorene Miller
Director
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
John H. Augustine
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Steven R. Stuck
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Aaron Moss
Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Mark W. Taylor
Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Aaron J. Moore
Chief Financial Officer
On filings since 2020
18 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Gillian A. Wright
Vice Chair
Director → Vice Chair, 2023
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Michael A. Lucki
Treasurer
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Ronald Fong
Secretary
Director → Secretary, 2023
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Wendy Chavira Garcia
Vice President, COO & Assistant Secretary
Assistant Secretary & V.p. → Vice President, 2023
Vice President → Vice President, COO & Assistant Secretary, 2025
On filings since 2020
18 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Melissa Watkins
Chief Administrative Officer
Chief Administrator Officer → Chief Administrative Officer, 2025
On filings since 2024
6 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Mildred Garcia
Chancellor-Ex Officio
On filings since 2024
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (14)
- Former: Keri Askew Bailey (2020–2024) — Director
- Former: Lori A. Redfearn (2020–2024) — President
- Former: Jolene Koester (2022–2024) — Chancellor-Ex Officio
- Former: George M. Marcus (2020–2023) — Director
- Former: Peter Brightbill (2020–2023) — Director
- Former: Shari M. Slate (2020–2023) — Director
- Former: Fred Ruiz (2021–2023) — Director
- Former: Joseph I. Castro (2021–2022) — Ex-Officio & Chancellor
- Former: Larry Salinas (2021–2022) — President
- Former: Garrett P. Ashley (2020–2021) — President
- Former: Hector V. Barreto (2020–2021) — Director
- Former: Jacqueline Trapp (2020–2021) — Director
- Former: Timothy P. White (2020–2021) — Ex-Officio & Chancellor
- Former: Donna Uchida (2020) — Director
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Contact
Mailing address: 401 Golden Shore, Long Beach, CA 90802
Phone: (562) 951-4810
Website: https://calstate.edu
Frequently asked questions about California State University Foundation
How much does California State University Foundation give each year?
California State University Foundation gave $1.7M across 21 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990 filing. In 2024 it gave $1.7M across 22 grants.
What is California State University Foundation's typical grant size?
California State University Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $20,000, and its average grant was $82,638, across 21 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990 filing. Organizations receiving their first grant from California State University Foundation that year got $44K on average.
Where does California State University Foundation give grants?
California State University Foundation gives mostly in California: 98% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990 filing went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Long Beach, CA (3 grants), Los Angeles, CA (2 grants), Fullerton, CA (2 grants) and Northridge, CA (2 grants).
Does California State University Foundation give general operating support?
Occasionally: 5% of California State University Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (1 of 21) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990 filing. Recurring purposes include "Mellon Acls Grant Transfer to Campus" (5 grants).
Who are California State University Foundation's largest grantees?
California State University Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Trustees of the Csu ($1,033,000), Cal State La University Auxiliary Svc ($119,000) and Csu Long Beach Research Foundation ($108,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990 filing. Together they received 73% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is California State University Foundation?
California State University Foundation reported $58.0M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990 filing. Its revenue that year was $5.0M.
What does California State University Foundation fund?
The Foundation’s stated mission is to enhance the educational excellence of the California State University in teaching, learning, community service, and applied research. Its stated purpose also includes promoting the CSU’s national, state, and regional interests. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from California State University Foundation?
In 2025, the Foundation reported 21 grants totaling $1,735,400. Grant amounts ranged from $9,500 to $1,033,000, with a median of $20,000.
What is California State University Foundation's EIN?
California State University Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 95-6123757. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Here's the math on researching California State University Foundation by hand.
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