California State Student Association
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
CSSA as a student-led organization strives to improve the lives of California State University (CSU) students by advocating for student needs and engaging students in systemwide, state, and federal higher education policy making.
- Income
- $1.8 million
- Spending
- $1.9 million
- Spent on programs
- 63%
- Reserves
- 18.9 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 96%
- Employees
- 0
- Volunteers
- 31
- Highest pay
- $192,877, executive dir.
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
Good: 77 out of 100. Higher than 63% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 18.9 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 9% of what it owns.
Living within its means
4 of 15Spending exceeded income by 7% of income.
Income trend
10 of 15Income fell 4% on the year before.
Spending floor
8 of 1563% of spending went to programs.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 90 out of 100. Higher than 57% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2525 of 25 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
0 of 10Did not give the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports 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 (8)
- $216,168 spent. California Higher Education Student Summit - The California Higher Education Student Summit is the California State Student Association's (CSSA) annual conference that engages 250 students in public higher education policy making. During a two-day conference held at the state capital, students attend various speaker sessions and participate in workshop trainings on leadership, governance, higher education topics, public policy, the legislative process, and advocacy. Students are equipped with the knowledge and tools to communicate their perspective pertaining to higher education issues. Student leave the conference prepared to effectively participate in the policy making process as advocates. Participants are provided the unique opportunity to collaborate and network with their peers to learn about the diverse issues affecting students across the state of California.
- $214,802 spent. California Public Policy Engagement - CSSA maintains ongoing student engagement with public policy advocacy as a crucial aspect of its mission. CSSA provides policy analysis training to students by facilitating engagement with various stakeholders including research institutions, legislators, institutional administrators, and advocacy organizations. Students are provided with legislative analysis, travel to participate in/observe governmental policy processes, and communication materials to advocate student policy positions to policymakers. Students are trained to represent themselves and advocate their perspectives in regular meetings with stakeholders. As a result of their involvement in these activities, students learn how to navigate the policy-making process, how to determine policy priorities, and ultimately how to advocate on behalf of students on relevant student issues.
- $192,381 spent. Student Nonprofit Board Development - CSSA's board is comprised of students from across the California State University (CSU) system. Through monthly conferences of approximately fifty student leaders in roles of directors, officers, and committee members, students are trained on how to effectively carry out the mission of a nonprofit organization. Training is centered on instilling nonprofit principles; duty of care, duty of loyalty, and duty of obedience. Students learn how to determine program priorities, set agendas, parliamentary procedure, budget development, and fiduciary/legal responsibilities for a nonprofit organization. The program adheres to a 1-year cycle with new students installed every fiscal year. Students gain valuable skills and knowledge directly applicable to future professional careers in public policy and nonprofit service after college.
- $164,223 spent. 1. California State University Shared Governance - CSSA maintains a comprehensive program of shared governance for students engagement with the California State University governance structure. CSSA facilitates student participation on various university committees and workgroups and regular engagement between student leaders and the university administration and CSU Board of Trustees. Students participate in university initiatives and directly engage the CSU administration on systemwide student issues. This program results in student-centered decision making by university leaders, ongoing conversations between student and university leaders, and recognition of student-led initiatives by the board of trustees and administrators. Students are provided with travel, staffing, and leadership opportunities to participate in university system policy making. CSSA enhances and creates opportunities for student representation in university decision making processes, including the recommendation of the Student Trustee candidate for the gubernatorial appointment to the CSU Board of Trustees.
- $133,599 spent. 2. ScholarshipsDescription: CSSA awards scholarships to student leaders on the basis of merit for service and leadership. This program provides tuition and cost of attendance assistance to CSU students to ensure they are able to participate in leadership opportunities while succeeding academically.
- $115,216 spent. 3. CSUnity ConferenceDescription: CSUnity is an annual conference that educates 200 students in navigating the California State University System and prepares them to address issues students face on their campuses. During a two-day conference held at a California State University campus, students attend various speaker sessions and participate in workshop trainings on leadership, governance, higher education topics, public policy, and advocacy. Students are equipped with the knowledge and tools to communicate their perspective pertaining to student issues in order to effectively participate in the university policy making process locally at the campus-level. Participants are provided the unique opportunity to collaborate and network with their peers to learn about the various diverse viewpoints of students across the state of California.
- $82,704 spent. 4. Leadership DevelopmentDescription: The student board members, officers, and staff are afforded opportunities to receive professional development through state and national conferences and educational trainings. CSSA provides travel and registration/training fees for conferences pertaining to various topics applicable to higher education including, campus sustainability, university student affairs, student basic needs initiatives, university policy, and student leadership, among others. In addition, student officers are provided with mentorship partners from professional staff in the areas of governance, fiduciary responsibility, policy analysis, and nonprofit governance to train them as professional leaders. Annually, officers and staff participate in retreats to strengthen skills pertaining to leadership, communication, collaboration, efficacy and values.
- $70,430 spent. 5. Student OutreachDescription: Part of CSSA's mission is to reach out to the general CSU student population and inform them of their student rights, opportunities for involvement, and to inform them of pertinent higher education issues. Student outreach is conducted via communication campaigns, public relations efforts, and engagement of the CSSA student board with their respective campus populations. CSSA utilizes various avenues to make information on systemwide and legislative policies accessible and available to students at large.
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
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.
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 October 13, 2026.
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.
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.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since August 1979.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
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 October 21, 2026.
Could it be confused with another charity? Worth knowing.
A much larger organization has a similar name: California Apt Association (Sacramento, CA), EIN 95-2829075. If that is the one you meant, check the EIN before giving.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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.