Donate to the Staff & Faculty Emergency Fund

Flexible donation options are outlined on the University Advancement website and include the following:

• Making a one-time gift or multi-year pledge
• Donating with a check, credit card or payroll deduction

How Donations Help

We have all experienced an emergency expense that can create emotional and financial stress. By making a donation, even a small one, you can help Sacramento State employees who may find themselves in need of support. All donations are tax-deductible. Please consider a donation today.

Who can apply?

To be eligible for assistance, applicants must:

• Be in an active, benefit-eligible, staff, faculty or Management Personnel Plan (MPP) position. **
• Have at least one year of continuous employment at Sacramento State.
• Have an annual base salary that is less than $87,000.
• Only one application per household will be reviewed. If two immediate family members in the same household work for Sacramento State, only one can submit an application for assistance.
• Have experienced within the past six months, a temporary financial hardship, defined as one caused by a time-limited, unforeseen, specific event. This includes, but is not limited to:
  • Death of an immediate family member ***
  • Disaster (fire/flood/earthquake/COVID-19, or other Qualified Disasters per IRS Code Section 139)
  • Serious illness or critical injury

** Applicants must have an appointment with a timebase that would be eligible for benefits if their timebase (exempt or non-exempt) and duration of appointment qualify for standard benefits in the California State University Benefits Eligibility Administrative Guide. Unit 3 includes faculty, lecturers, counselors, librarians and coaches. Unit 11 employees may participate if they are benefits eligible.

*** As defined by the applicable collective bargaining agreement for the staff or faculty member. For non-represented staff, immediate family member includes the following:

• The employee’s spouse or domestic partner
• The employee’s
  • Parents, grandparents, great-grandparents, children, grandchildren, and siblings (may be biological, adopted, foster, or step)

How to apply for assistance

Complete the Staff & Faculty Emergency Fund application if you are in need of temporary emergency assistance.*

Submission via Acrobat Sign is highly preferred to expedite processing and limit mail delivery on campus during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Online Application (Acrobat Sign)

PDF Application

*Given the limited amount of funds, all requests may not be approved even though there may be a clear need for assistance. This fund may be insufficient in the case of widespread disasters, community crisis, or war/terrorism.

Application Instructions

Instructions for completing the application for the Staff & Faculty Emergency Fund can be found here: SFEF Application Instructions

Frequently Asked Questions

What expenses can be covered through the fund and for how much?

Applicants can request funds to be reimbursed for reasonable and necessary expenses that were incurred as a result of the emergency. Examples of expenses, include but are not limited to the following:

• Emergency temporary housing assistance
• Unexpected medical expenses not covered by insurance
• Unplanned critical travel and transportation costs
• Temporary assistance with food insecurity
• Emergency personal or "incidental" expenses, such as clothing, hygiene items, etc.
• Unplanned or additional child and adult care expenses

Applicants can request up to $1000 in financial assistance. Requests cannot be made for anticipated future expenses.

What is the application process?

To apply for funds from the SFEF, applicants must:

• Complete and submit the online Acrobat Sign or paper application. Submission via Acrobat Sign is highly preferred to expedite processing and limit mail delivery on campus during the COVID-19 pandemic. Information provided by applicants will be treated as confidential. Print, complete and mail original paper applications and copies of supporting documentation to:
  
  

  Office of Human Resources
  6000 J Street
  Del Norte Hall, 3001E, Zip 6032
  Sacramento, CA 95819-6032

• Provide as much detail as possible when completing the application and attach supporting documentation for the financial hardship. The type of documents will vary depending on individual circumstances but should confirm that you have a financial hardship AND verify the amount of money you are requesting (e.g.,a utility bill or invoice). Personal information should be redacted or blacked out (e.g. social security numbers, patient IDs, account numbers, etc.) on your supporting documents.

How and when are funds awarded?

The SFEF Committee will review and approve requests from staff and faculty in the order they are received. The SFEF Committee members will not be given the names of the applicants, but rather only the reason(s) for the request and supporting documentation. If additional information is needed to make an award determination, Human Resources will reach out to the applicant and relay information to the SFEF Committee.

Applicants will be notified in writing of the SFEF Committee's decision. In most instances, applicants will be notified within seven working days of receiving all necessary and required information.

Approved funds will be paid by check and mailed to the address included on the application.

Is there an appeal process if my application is denied?

There is not an appeal process for this program. Decisions by the SFEF Committee are final.

Is there a limit on the number of grants someone can receive?

Applicants are limited to one grant in a rolling 24-month period, up to a maximum of $1000. Funds are limited to the amount of money available.

Do I need to repay money received from the fund?

No. Funds are awarded as grants and repayment is not expected.

Are awarded funds treated as taxable income?

In some instances, yes. However, for hardships due to Qualified Disasters such as COVID-19 (per Internal Revenue Service Code Section 139), grants will not be reported as taxable income.

How long will the fund be available?

The fund will be available until contributions are exhausted.

Questions/Contact Information

Please review the Frequently Asked Questions for additional details on eligibility criteria and the application process. Inquiries may also be sent to sfemergencyfund@csus.edu.