CALIFORNIA STATE SUMMER SCHOOL ARTS FOUNDATION

What CALIFORNIA STATE SUMMER SCHOOL ARTS FOUNDATION does

The California State Summer School Arts Foundation (CSSSA Foundation) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1986 under tax identification number 95-4111128 to raise private-sector funds in support of the California State Summer School for the Arts (CSSSA), a state agency created by the California Legislature that held its first session in 1987. The Foundation's primary beneficiaries are approximately 500 California high school students (rising 9th graders through graduating 12th graders) and 20 out-of-state students selected annually through a merit-based admissions process to attend a four-week residential summer program held on the Cal Poly Pomona campus across eight disciplines: Animation, Architecture + Environmental Design, Dance, Film, Music, Theater, Visual Arts, and Writing.

The Foundation operates an interconnected program portfolio organized around four focus areas: Support for CSSSA Programs (approximately $220,000 in annual need-based tuition scholarships, visiting artist residencies, and technology/equipment), Outreach and Diversity Initiatives, Advancement for CSSSA Graduates (13 college partnerships offering $10,000-$68,000+ tuition discounts, an alumni network, and a virtual programs offering delivered via video conferencing and digital collaboration tools), and Sustainability (named and unrestricted endowment funds). Since 1987, the Foundation has distributed over $5 million in scholarships, including 21 annual Herb Alpert Emerging Young Artists Scholarships ($2,500 to a four-year $40,000 renewable award) and dedicated performing-arts scholarships (Mel Swope $10,000, Cal Pritner $10,000). The technology footprint is limited to operational and programmatic tools — Squarespace-hosted websites, video conferencing, and digital collaboration — rather than proprietary intellectual property.

The Foundation's revenue model is a 501(c)(3) donation-and-grant structure. Revenue streams comprise individual donations (small gifts to major contributions), foundation and corporate grants/sponsorships (Herb Alpert Foundation as transformational partner; Draper Foundation; Sony Pictures Entertainment; Pixar; Netflix; Los Angeles County Department of Arts and Culture; California Film Commission), and named endowment funds (Chuck Lorre Family Foundation, John and Beverly Stauffer Foundation, The Tisch Foundation, CBS Corporation, The Frederick R. Weisman Charitable Foundation). The Foundation maintains IRS Form 990 transparency (FY23, FY24, FY25 publicly displayed) and a Candid (Guidestar) transparency seal. CSSSA tuition is substantially subsidized by the State of California for residents; the Foundation's scholarships ensure no qualified student is denied access due to financial need. Distribution is direct-to-student through the merit-based application portal (csssa.ca.gov / csssa.embark.com), supplemented by outreach to underrepresented schools and alumni-driven referrals across California.

Name

CALIFORNIA STATE SUMMER SCHOOL ARTS FOUNDATION

Legal name

California State Summer School Arts Foundation

Website

https://csssaf.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1986

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The California State Summer School Arts Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that raises private-sector funds for the California State Summer School for the Arts, an annual four-week residential pre-college training program serving roughly 500 California and 20 out-of-state high school students across eight arts disciplines.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Pre-College Arts Education

NAICS

Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321), Grantmaking Foundations (813211), Educational Support Services (61171)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Education Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Scholarship & Fellowship Foundations and Trusts (EDADAHAC), After-School, Tutoring & Academic Enrichment Nonprofits (BPAGADAC), Arts, Culture & Humanities Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAJ)

Keywords

• Arts education
• Pre-college arts training
• Arts scholarships
• Nonprofit arts foundation
• Arts outreach

Headquarters

HQ city

Los Angeles

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: The Foundation raises funds from individual donors — ranging from small gifts to major contributions — to support CSSSA tuition scholarships, guest artists, equipment, college access programs, and general operations. Donations are tax-deductible under Section 501(c)(3).
2. Foundation & Corporate Grants/Sponsorships: Major funders including the Herb Alpert Foundation, Draper Foundation, Sony Pictures Entertainment, Pixar, Netflix, Los Angeles County Department of Arts and Culture, and others provide programmatic and financial support for scholarships, visiting artists, film equipment, outreach, and diversity initiatives.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

The CSSSA Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that raises private-sector funds to support the California State Summer School for the Arts (CSSSA). It administers tuition scholarships (approximately $220,000 annually; over $5 million since 1987), the Herb Alpert Emerging Young Artists Scholarships, visiting-artist and equipment support, college-partnership tuition discounts with 13 institutions, virtual arts programs, alumni network services, and outreach initiatives to underrepresented California communities.

Product overview

The CSSSA Foundation (CSSSAF) operates as a nonprofit organization created in 1986 alongside CSSSA (California State Summer School for the Arts) to raise private sector funding. CSSSA Foundation supports a portfolio of interconnected programs organized around four focus areas: Support for CSSSA Programs (tuition scholarships, visiting artists, technology/equipment), Outreach and Diversity Initiatives, Advancement for CSSSA Graduates (college partnerships, alumni network), and Sustainability (endowments). Key products include the CSSSA Tuition Scholarships providing approximately $220,000 annually, the Herb Alpert Emerging Young Artists Scholarships, the CSSSA Alumni Network with its Web Gallery, Virtual Programs, and various memorial funds (John Robinson Fund, Rob Jaffe Memorial Fund). The Foundation partners with 13 colleges and universities for tuition discounts and manages scholarship programs totaling $5 million distributed since 1987.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• CSSSA Tuition Scholarships

Quantifiable outcome

• Over $5 million in scholarships distributed since 1987; approximately $220,000 annually
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and secondary.

• ArtCenter College of DesigncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerArtCenter College of Design in Pasadena, CA offers a minimum $15,000 tuition discount per year (renewable up to $60,000 over four years) to an exceptional CSSSA alum who applies and is accepted. This is an exclusive partnership benefit for CSSSA alumni.
• California Institute of the Arts (CalArts)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCalArts partners with CSSSA Foundation and Herb Alpert Foundation to support CSSSA alumni who enroll at CalArts. Herb Alpert EYA Scholars qualify for a CalArts matching tuition discount over four years, and all CSSSA alumni who enroll receive a one-time $2,500 non-renewable award.
• California College of the Arts (CCA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCCA offers $13,000 per year ($52,000 over four years) merit tuition discounts to CSSSA Animation, Visual Arts, Film, and Creative Writing alumni. Also offers three $2,500 Pre-College tuition discounts per year to CSSSA alumni entering junior year of high school.
• School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSAIC offers a minimum $19,000 merit tuition discount per year (total $68,000+) to admitted students who completed CSSSA, including a $2,000 competitive excellence scholarship and an additional merit scholarship of at least $17,000.
• Laguna College of Art + Design (LCAD)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLCAD offers a Merit Tuition Discount ranging from $26,000 to $40,000 over four years to CSSSA alumni who are admitted and enroll. LCAD also provides a one-time $2,500 award to CSSSA alumni who are accepted and enroll.
• Otis College of Art and DesigncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOtis College of Art and Design in Los Angeles offers a $10,000 annual merit tuition discount (up to $40,000 over four years) to select CSSSA Visual Arts, Animation, and Film alumni who are admitted and enroll.
• Bennington CollegesecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerBennington College in Vermont offers a $10,000 renewable tuition discount to an exceptional CSSSA alum who is accepted, in addition to any other merit or need-based grants or scholarships.
• Pacific Northwest College of Art at Willamette University (PNCA)secondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerPNCA in Portland, OR offers a minimum $11,000 annual merit tuition discount (totaling $44,000 over four years) to select CSSSA alumni accepted and enrolled in Visual Arts, Design Arts, Media Arts, or Liberal Arts.
• University of RedlandssecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniversity of Redlands in California offers a minimum $10,000 tuition discount to any CSSSA alumni who has been admitted and applied for financial aid, renewable for three additional years.
• Mills College at Northeastern UniversitysecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerMills College offers all CSSSA students that are accepted and enroll a minimum $6,000 Eucalyptus Scholarship, renewable for the remaining three years of their undergraduate studies. Admitted students are also considered for all merit scholarships above the guaranteed minimum.
• Illinois State UniversitysecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerIllinois State University's Department of Dance and Theatre agrees to offer at least one in-state tuition award to a CSSSA alumni who is accepted and enrolled. Students must have at least a 3.2 GPA and 26 ACT or equivalent. Students are also eligible for additional CSSSA Foundation scholarships.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Idyllwild Arts Academy: Residential pre-college arts program and high school serving talented teens across multiple disciplines. Comparable to CSSSA in structure (residential, multi-discipline, merit-based admission) and target audience.
• National YoungArts Foundation: Identifies and supports exceptional young artists ages 15-18 through scholarships, mentorship, and a national network. Directly comparable to CSSSA Foundation in mission: pre-professional arts training, scholarship administration, and alumni development for teen artists.
• Interlochen Center for the Arts: Premier pre-college arts training program offering summer camps and an arts academy across music, dance, theatre, visual arts, film, and creative writing. Direct peer offering immersive residential arts training for high school students nationwide.
• Scholastic Art & Writing Awards: National recognition and scholarship program for talented teen artists and writers. Comparable in identifying and rewarding exceptional pre-college artists through merit-based awards and scholarship pathways.

Broad incumbents

• Lincoln Center Education: Education arm of Lincoln Center running pre-professional youth arts programs across multiple disciplines. Comparable in mission to cultivate emerging artists through training, mentorship, and performance opportunities.
• California Arts Council: California state agency funding arts education and nonprofit arts organizations. Comparable as a California-public-sector arts funding counterpart and potential funder/partner for CSSSA Foundation programs.
• Jack Kent Cooke Foundation: Large education grantmaking foundation providing scholarships to high-achieving students with financial need. Comparable in its education grantmaking role and scholarship lifecycle, though broader than arts-specific.
• Carnegie Hall: Major performing arts institution with extensive youth education and artist-development programs. Comparable as a prestigious arts institution running national young-artist development pathways adjacent to CSSSA's mission.

Regional players

• National Arts Club: Nonprofit membership organization supporting emerging artists through exhibitions, scholarships, and programming. Comparable in mission to nurture and elevate young artists, though operating as a membership club rather than a state residential program.

Others

• Herb Alpert Foundation: Major arts-focused grantmaking foundation and CSSSA's transformational funder. Included as an ecosystem peer representing the category of arts grantmaking foundations that partner with or fund pre-college arts programs.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@CSSSACSSSAFoundation
• Facebookfacebook.com/CSSSAFoundation
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/17912769
• Instagraminstagram.com/csssa_alum

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about CALIFORNIA STATE SUMMER SCHOOL ARTS FOUNDATION