Scholarships

The Renaissance Society is proud to announce the awarding of seven scholarships this year, bringing our total to 135 scholarships and $311,000 in support for Sacramento State students since 1993.

Each year, we collaborate with our recipients to gather bios, photos and sometimes videos to share with our members--always with the students’ consent.

In light of today’s standards for privacy and transparency, we introduced a formal consent form this year, developed in partnership with the Sacramento State Scholarship Team.

Six of our recipients have enthusiastically shared their stories, while the seventh has chosen to remain anonymous.

The Scholarship Committee is honored to work alongside our dedicated members, the Resource Development Committee, and our Sac State partners to provide these scholarships to deserving students. This year, we received 144 applications--a testament to the ongoing need and value of our program.

You can meet the 2025 recipients here.

And watch the students in this YouTube video.

Special Programs

Established in 2019 in conjunction with the College of Social Sciences and Interdisciplinary Studies (SSIS), the Renaissance Special Program Fund expands Renaissance’s educational offerings by supporting joint programs and events with Sacramento State. Contributions to the fund help Renaissance enhance the content and quality of our seminars and sponsor new learning opportunities.

Donate to Scholarships, Special Programs or both

You can use a credit card and can also donate in honor of someone (birthday, anniversary, achievement) or in someone's memory.

You can also donate via mailed check to either program. Make out your check to University Foundation at Sacramento State, putting "Scholarship Fund" or "Special Program Fund" in the Notes. Send the check to The Renaissance Society, CSUS, 6000 J St., Mail Stop 6074, Sacramento, CA 95819-6074.

ASI Food Pantry

Renaissance members have been contributing money and food donations for several years to help support the Food Pantry run by Associated Students Inc. (ASI). This Food Pantry helps out students who are food insecure. These days of high inflation have made eating well even more difficult for many students.

Donations of cash or check are regularly collected in First Friday seminars on campus by passing around envelopes. Members are also encouraged to donate to the Food Pantry online or at its office in the Student Union. In addition, Renaissance members contribute to the annual Thanksgiving special food drive and have four times won the coveted Golden Plate Award.

You can find the main link for the Food Pantry here.

You can find the detailed Donations page here. Note the page has four different tabs for different kinds of donations accepted. The first on the left is basic monetary donations. You can donate there either online or by mailing in or dropping off a check. There is a recurring or scheduled donation option in the credit card section.

The second tab is for food and toiletry items. There is a list of what is needed (and what is NOT needed!) with instructions on how to drop off items. There is also a Donation Guide below for examples of culturally relevant items the Food Bank needs.

The third tab, which is new, is Legacy giving and how to leave money to the Food Pantry in your will.

The fourth tab on the right is an Amazon Wish List of things the Food Pantry would like to get to give to students who need them.

And here's a video about the Food Pantry.

Student Emergency Fund

The Renaissance Board also invites members to help students by making a donation to the Student Emergency Fund, which helps students with immediate financial crises.

Contribute to the Student Emergency Fund

If you go to this site to contribute, look for a box at the end called "In Honor of" and write in Renaissance Society so we can track members' contributions.