California State University Emeritus & Retired Faculty & Staff Association

 

Our Charitable Foundation

 

CSU-ERFSA (Formerly CSU-ERFA) was established as a not-for-profit California public benefit corporation. Our constitution states that one of the purposes of the Association is to "To serve as an advocate for the interests of retired academic and non- academic employees of the CSU in all matters relating to their general welfare in the CSU." As part of this advocacy, from time-to-time we make endorsements for candidates seeking election to the CalPERS Board and on statewide ballot measures that would affect retirees from the CSU System. Because of this, the Association comes under a different U.S. Internal Revenue Code section than the 501(c)(3) category that covers charitable foundations. This precludes people from making donations to the Association that are tax deductible.

To allow members and the general public to make tax-deductible donations in support of our small-grants program, the CSU-ERFA Charitable Foundation was established to raise money for grants that support the scholarly, research, and artistic activities of all CSU System retirees who are members of CSU-ERFSA. The CSU-ERFA Charitable Foundation is a separate organization with its own officers and executive board. Because of its 501(c)(3) status, donations to the Foundation are tax-deductible in most cases.

(Note: Although the name of our foundation has not changed, all CSU-ERFSA members including retired and emeritus staff and administrators are eligible to apply for grants.)

During each CSU-ERFSA small grants cycle, the Foundation informs the CSU-ERFSA Grant Awards Committee of the approximate amount of funds it expects to have available for that cycle. The Grant Awards Committee evaluates the proposals received; and, makes recommendations for grant awards to the CSU-ERFA Charitable Foundation. Grants are then made from Foundation funds to the awardees.

CSU-ERFSA makes a contribution to the Foundation yearly in memory of each CSU-ERFSA member who has passed away during the previous 12 months.

In addition, we encourage individual members, relatives, and friends to make make contributions to the the CSU-ERFA Foundation to support the Grant Awards Program. The CSU-ERFA Foundation has IRS 501(c)(3) status, so individual contributions generally are tax-deductible (check with your tax advisor.)

[Note: A matching grant provided by a CSU-ERFSA member currently is in effect. All donations received through December 30, 2020 will be matched up to a total of $500.]

Contributions to the Foundation can be made by check, credit card, debit card, or via PayPal. CSU-ERFSA members also can set up a monthly donation through a deduction from their monthly CalPERS annuity payment.

To donate by check or monthly deduction, please download the Foundation donation form here. Return the filled out form to CSU-ERFSA headquarters with your check.

To donate via Credit Card, Debit Card or PayPal click the "donate" button to go to our PayPal donation page. (Note that PayPal deducts a small fee for this service - 2.2% plus 30 cents per transaction.)

Our charitable foundation currently holds a PLATINUM Seal rating from GuideStar. To access our Guidestar.com page, click on the GuideStar seal:

The CSU-ERFA Charitable Foundation also participates in the Amazon Smile program. When you start your Amazon shopping at smile.amazon.com, Amazon will contribute 0.5% of your purchase amount to our foundation. All you have to do is select CSU-ERFA Charitable Foundation as the charity you wish to support.

The CSU-ERFA Foundation By-laws