University Foundation at Sacramento State

The Student Emergency Grant program is an important initiative that was started in early 2014 for students, by students.  The first phase of creating the program was identifying what would help students the most, and how the fund would be different than a regular scholarship in meeting student need.  The decision was made to create a fund that assists students who experience a financial emergency or unanticipated expenses causing short-term financial hardship that requires immediate attention to keep a student in college.  These financial emergencies often relate to housing, transportation, and medical bills.  This fund is designated to assist those who cannot reasonably resolve their financial difficulty through scholarships or other Financial Aid awards. 

The next and ongoing phase has been fundraising to grow the impact and reach of this program.  The Dance Marathon, an annual student-organized event, was created to spread the word about the Student Emergency Grant Fund and to raise funds to benefit it.  Initially, gifts from the Sacramento State Alumni Association, the University Foundation at Sacramento State, organizations, and proceeds from some campus events also helped replenish the funds. 

In 2017, the Student Emergency Grant program transformed.  Through the generous support of President Robert and Jody Nelsen, the Seth Nelsen Student Emergency Grant Endowment was established, providing the program with a reliable source of support.  While the endowment income provides a steady stream of funding, the generous support of individual donors has been instrumental in increasing the number of student emergency grants awarded each year, ensuring that unexpected financial emergencies do not become roadblocks on our students' path to graduation.