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The GAIN Fund

Increasing Student Equity and Access to Career Opportunities

Too often, Sacramento State students— who are 46% Pell Grant-eligible and 30% first-generation—are confronted with a difficult choice: keep a steady frontline job needed for essential living expenses or take a temporary, unpaid, career-building internship.

The Gaining Access to Internships (GAIN) Fund was established to increase equity and access to career opportunities by eradicating students' agonizing choice between paying bills today and securing their professional futures. Students who obtain unpaid academic internships to fulfill degree requirements or get opportunities to gain real-world experience in the their fields of interest could apply for up to $1,500 per semester. To ensure support is available for every student in need, support from private, alumni, foundation, and corporate donors is vital.

We invite you to help students gain access to internships by making a donation to The GAIN Fund online. Or make a check payable to The University Foundation at Sacramento State, indicate GAIN Fund on the memo line, and mail to Development Office, Sacramento State, 6000 J St. MS 6030, Sacramento, CA 95819.

Although many organizations are adapting to remote internships under COVID-19, hiring freezes and slashed budgets have diminished resources to pay students. Now more than ever, your gift can ensure Sacramento State students have equal access to experiences that position them to be the next generation of government, nonprofit, and industry leaders that advance our region, our state, and our world!

For more information, contact Career Center at careercenter@csus.edu

The GAIN Fund online