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Associated Students of California State University Chico

EIN 94-1254630 · Chico, CA

Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceGood80 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE PURPOSE OF THE ASSOCIATED STUDENTS IS TO ENRICH THE QUALITY OF CAMPUS LIFE AT CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY, CHICO AND TO COMPLEMENT THE EDUCATIONAL MISSION OF THE UNIVERSITY PROVIDING FULL ACTUALIZATION OF THE UNIVERSITY EXPERIENCE THROUGH STUDENT GOVERNANCE, BELL MEMORIAL UNION FACILITIES, A BROAD SPECTRUM OF PROGRAMS, SERVICES AND INTEGRAL CAMPUS COMMERCIAL ENTERPRISES.

Income
$20.4 million
Spending
$19.0 million
Spent on programs
88%
Reserves
16.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 54%
Employees
823
Volunteers
641
Highest pay
$387,802, executive director

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 94% of charities in its peer group (education, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 16.6 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 9% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 7% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 11% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    88% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Good: 80 out of 100. Higher than 11% of charities in its peer group (education, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    5 of 25

    0 of 9 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    7 of 7

    Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Impact evidence

Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.

Programs described in its return (4)
  1. $8.1 million spent. WILDCAT RECREATION CENTER PROVIDES RECREATIONAL FACILITIES TO THE STUDENTS OF CSU, CHICO INCLUDING WEIGHTS, FITNESS AREAS, OUTDOOR POOL, PATIO, THREE GYM COURTS, INDOOR TRACK, MULTI-ACTIVITY COURT, ROCK-CLIMBING WALL, MULTI-PURPOSE STUDIOS FOR DANCE, AEROBICS, YOGA & PILATES, MIXED MARTIAL ARTS AND MORE. LOUNGE AREAS, LARGE SCREEN TELEVISIONS, AND WIRELESS ACCESS CONTRIBUTE TO THE SOCIAL ENVIRONMENT OF THE CENTER. BELL MEMORIAL UNION (BMU) - PROVIDES A STUDENT UNION FACILITY FOR THE STUDENTS OF CSU, CHICO THAT HOUSES THE STUDENT STORE, DINING SERVICES LOCATIONS, WILDCAT LEADERSHIP CENTER, WELLNESS CENTER, SUSTAINABILITY PROGRAM, LOUNGES, MEETING ROOMS AND THE AUDITORIUM. STUDENT PROGRAMMING PROVIDED INCLUDES: CONCERTS, LECTURES, FILMS, MUSIC FESTIVALS, COMEDY SHOWS AND OTHER NOVELTY ACTS.CONFERENCE SERVICES - COORDINATES EVENTS IN A VARIETY OF SPACES INCLUDING MEETING ROOMS, THE AUDITORIUM, THE THIRD-FLOOR PATIO, AND THE ART GALLERY. THE FACILITIES ARE AVAILABLE FOR USE BY STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS AND THE CAMPUS COMMUNITY. EVENTS HELD IN THE BMU INCLUDE BANQUETS, CONCERTS, RECEPTIONS, CONFERENCES, LECTURES AND JOB FAIRS.
  2. $6.2 million spent. WILDCAT STORE - PROVIDES MERCHANDISE AND SERVICES FOR THE CAMPUS OF CSU, CHICO. THE MERCHANDISE SELECTION RANGES FROM CHICO STATE IMPRINTED CLOTHING, INSTRUCTIONAL TEXTS, GIFTS, AND SUPPLIES TO EDUCATIONALLY PRICED COMPUTER HARDWARE AND SOFTWARE. THE WILDCAT STORE PROVIDES A VARIETY OF PROGRAMS TO MAKE TEXTBOOKS MORE ECONOMICAL FOR STUDENTS IN SUPPORT OF THE UNIVERSITY'S ACADEMIC MISSION. DINING SERVICES - OPERATES ALL DINING FACILITIES ON THE CSU, CHICO CAMPUS INCLUDING THE RESIDENTIAL DINING, CONVENIENCE STORES, SPECIALTY COFFEE SHOPS AND THE MAIN RETAIL DINING FACILITY ON CAMPUS. DINING SERVICES ALSO PROVIDES CATERING SERVICES FOR A HOST OF CAMPUS EVENTS, IN ADDITION TO CONCESSIONS FOR THE UNIVERSITY ATHLETIC DEPARTMENT.
  3. $1.4 million spent. CAMPUS PROGRAMS - PROVIDES CO-CURRICULAR LEARNING ENVIRONMENTS AND EXPERIENCES FOR THE STUDENTS AT CSU, CHICO. THE CHILD DEVELOPMENT LAB IS A PROGRAM FUNDED IN PART BY THE ACTIVITY FEE COMBINED WITH GRANT FUNDING, AS DESCRIBED IN THE SPONSORED PROGRAMS SECTION BELOW.STUDENT PROGRAMMING - STUDENT GENERATED PROGRAMMING TO FACILITATE, MOTIVATE, EDUCATE, AND CELEBRATE THE WIDE SPECTRUM OF CLUBS AND ORGANIZATIONS RECOGNIZED ON THE CSU, CHICO CAMPUS. STUDENTS HAVE THE ABILITY TO APPROACH FUNDING COUNCILS WITH PROPOSALS WHILE RECOGNIZED CAMPUS ORGANIZATIONS ALSO HAVE THE ABILITY TO PARTICIPATE IN THE ANNUAL REVENUE ALLOCATION PROCESS HELD DURING THE CAMPUS ELECTIONS.COMMUNITY PROGRAMS COMMUNITY ACTION VOLUNTEERS IN EDUCATION, A VOLUNTEER ORGANIZATION COORDINATED BY STUDENTS OFFERING BOTH EDUCATIONAL AND VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES TO CSU, CHICO STUDENTS FOCUSING ON KIDS AND/OR ADULT PROGRAMS, WEEKEND IMMERSION PROGRAMS AND SUPPORTS THE SERVICE-LEARNING MISSION OF THE CAMPUS. CONTRACT PROGRAMS - IN ADDITION TO ITS VARIETY OF IN-HOUSE PROGRAMS, THE ASSOCIATED STUDENTS CONTRIBUTES OPERATIONAL FUNDING FOR A COLLECTION OF CAMPUS-BASED ENTITIES THAT PROVIDE SIGNIFICANT PROGRAMS AND SERVICES TO THE STUDENT COMMUNITY. GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS - THE ACTIVITY FEE FUND IS GUIDED AND GOVERNED BY THE EIGHT ELECTED STUDENTS WHO COMPRISE THE GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS COMMITTEE (GAC) AND, AIDED BY STAFF SUPPORT, OVERSEE THE EXTENSIVE NETWORK OF AS COUNCILS AND STUDENT APPOINTMENTS TO INTEGRAL CAMPUS COMMITTEES THAT COLLECTIVELY DEMONSTRATE THE OBJECTIVE OF SHARED GOVERNANCE ON THE CSU, CHICO CAMPUS. THE ELECTED POSITIONS AND THEIR VARIOUS INITIATIVES REPRESENT ACADEMIC AND LEGISLATIVE AFFAIRS, ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS, COMMUNITY AFFAIRS, AND DIVERSITY AFFAIRS.
  4. $1.1 million spent. CHILD DEVELOPMENT LABORATORY (CDL) - THE CDL PROVIDES LOW-COST, HIGH QUALITY CHILDCARE AND DEVELOPMENT SERVICES TO THE CHILDREN OF STUDENTS, THEREBY ENABLING PARENTS TO ATTEND CSU, CHICO. THE CDL SERVES INFANTS FROM EIGHT WEEKS OLD THROUGH PRE-KINDERGARTEN AGED CHILDREN. THE PROGRAM MAINTAINS A PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CHILD DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM AND IS THE OFFICIAL OBSERVATION LAB SITE FOR CSU, CHICO. STUDENTS ARE ABLE TO ENHANCE THEIR EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCE AND KNOWLEDGE THROUGH DIRECT EXPERIENCE, OBSERVATION, TESTING AND RESEARCH.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Legitimacy checks

  1. Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.

    Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  2. Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.

    Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.

    Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated November 6, 2026.

  3. Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.

    On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.

    Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending June 2025.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since August 2014.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  6. Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.

    Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.

    Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated November 4, 2026.

Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.