The CSSSA Foundation supports the students of the California State Summer School for the Arts from pre-application, through college, and beyond.

Program Areas and Funding Needs

The Foundation raises a diverse array of private sector funds and ensures that no student is denied access to CSSSA due to financial need. See our program areas and funding needs below or give today to support young artists!

Support CSSSA Students & Programs

Tomorrow’s storytellers and creative leaders get their start at CSSSA. Every year, a new class of students with talent, passion, and point of view are welcomed to this transformative community. It is our core mission to support students—in dance, theater, film, animation, visual arts, writing, and music— and the CSSSA programs that change their lives! The CSSSA Foundation and our generous donors provide hundreds of need-based scholarships to CSSSA students each year. In fact, no student will be denied entry due to financial circumstances. The Foundation also provides for Guest Artist Residencies and high-tech equipment and supplies. Support the heART of CSSSA and donate here!

Outreach & Diversity

CSSSA was founded with a mission to reflect the diversity of the state of California and help bring all voices to the arts and entertainment industries. We continue to strive toward this goal by raising the visibility of CSSSA statewide and engaging in targeted outreach to increase applications and participation from underrepresented populations and geographical areas. We work with community organizations, teachers, and alumni to strengthen CSSSA through diversity. Through this lens, we are evaluating and evolving to better serve our mission and community. To view our 2020 statement on the Black Lives Matter Movement, click here.

Advance CSSSA Graduates

The CSSSA Alumni Network is the hub for 35 years of CSSSA graduates, and it is growing! Every summer, 21 CSSSA students receive a Herb Alpert Award for Emerging Young Artists and receive specialized funding and support to help them to and through their college experience. All CSSSA alumni have access to college resources such as exclusive arts college fairs and tuition discounts with our partner schools. Through virtual programming and alumni networking events, we are building a community of creative support that lasts a lifetime.

CSSSA Sustainability

For 35 years, CSSSA has been developing and nurturing important artistic voices across the performing, visual, and writing arts. It is only thanks to the long-term generosity of donors—from arts patrons to educational foundations to individuals and families—that CSSSA is able to continue evolving, innovating, and thriving.

The CSSSA Foundation continually works to raise a diverse array of private sector funds that will sustain CSSSA and the CSSSA Foundation in perpetuity through our Endowments and our Unrestricted funds, as well as several named funds such as the Rob Jaffe Memorial Fund (supporting Guest Artists), the Cal Pritner Fund (supporting theater), the Mel Swope Fund (supporting performing arts after CSSSA), and the Chris Shahnazarian Fund (supporting scholarships).

Fundraising for Our Students
  As a CSSSA supporter, you will transform the lives of teen artists across California and beyond, enable easier college access, energize arts education and fuel the creative industries. You can make an impact that lasts a lifetime.