Special revenue, combined with voluntary support, presents a complete picture of non-state support provided to the CSU. Special revenue includes income from corporate sponsorships, grants and contracts that are not considered contributions (including government contracts and sponsored research) and distribution from endowments (including scholarship funds, funding for endowed professorships, etc.). The CSU also classifies gift expectancies, including bequest commitments and revocable trusts and pledges, as special revenue. Special revenue also includes property transfers such as the grants of property that established the campuses at Monterey Bay and Channel Islands.

Income from special revenue has more than doubled in the last nine years to reach a total of $738.6 million. Campuses actively seek entrepreneurial partnerships with corporations and government entities that bring revenue into the university and support the academic mission of the CSU. As the 1.5 million addressable alumni of the CSU mature and development programs focus on deferred and planned gifts, trusts, pledges and bequests are expected to increase substantially. In 2001/2002, nearly $135 million in future gifts had been committed to CSU campuses.