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Basic Needs Partnerships

The Basic Needs Partnerships Request for Proposals funding requirements are aligned to meet the expectations of Assembly Bill 74 (AB 74), which allows California State University campuses to enhance and develop basic needs partnerships, programs, and services for students in need.

Goals for the funding are to:

  • Address student hunger
  • Leverage more sustainable solutions to address basic needs on campus
  • Raise awareness of services currently offered on campus that address basic needs
  • Develop formal practices and procedures
  • Continue to build strategic partnerships with community/statewide partners and CSU campuses

Get Answers to Your Questions

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been a shift in priorities to continue to support students’ basic needs.  Who can I contact about changes to the original planned expenditures?
The current pandemic is certainly posing a lot of challenges. Campuses were allocated Basic Needs Partnerships (AB-74) funds based on a review of submitted proposals.  If you are considering any changes in your allocation, please contact Henoc Preciado, Interim Project Manager, at [email protected] to discuss your plans. In making changes to the allocation, it is important to still meet the original goals of the awarded funds. Campuses should not use Basic Needs Partnerships funds for any purpose other than what was originally outlined in the approved proposal.

Is it permissible to utilize our Basic Needs Partnerships funds to waive mandatory campus fees (such as the summer Counseling fee) for students who are basic needs insecure and cannot afford to pay a fee?
No. Campuses should not use this funding to waive campus mandatory fees. The Basic Needs Partnerships funds are intended to support partnerships with off-campus entities. These funds are meant to increase the capacity for campuses to enhance current basic needs’ programming, while also emphasizing the importance of external partnerships for student well-being. As such, please invest in partnering with community-based agencies to meet students’ basic needs and/or refer students who cannot pay mandatory fees to on-campus emergency grant aid programs.

What are examples of appropriate external partnerships?
Appropriate external partnerships include those organizations in a campus’ geographic area that assist in addressing student basic needs insecurities. For a list of Continuum of Care (CoC) organizations that are providing support including housing services, please visit the following site: https://www.jbaforyouth.org/coc-roster/.  To locate your nearest food bank, please visit the following site: http://cafoodbanks.org/cafb-member-food-banks.  The California Higher Education Basic Needs Alliance has created a comprehensive resource guide with valuable information. You can access this guide on by visiting the following site: shortu​rl.at/dpuxE.

To submit your grant proposal for the Basic Needs Partnership funding opportunity, please access the link here​. It is highly recommended that you use the word document template​ and use it to create a first draft before finalizing your online submission that does not have a “save” feature.

Funding Requirements

There are six additional components funded Basic Needs Partnership teams must fulfill:

  1. Complete the Reporting Templates

    2. Campus teams must submit reports on the status of their campus activities. The proposed deadlines for each reporting period is as follows:

    • Reporting Deadline 1: January 31, 2020
    • Reporting Deadline 2: August 14, 2020
    • Reporting Deadline 3: June 15, 2021
  2. Attend Professional Development Workshops

    3. We will provide more details via email on the dates and times for each professional development workshop by November 1, 2019.

    • Webinar - November 18, 2019, from 10:30-11:30AM: Phase 3 of the Comprehensive Study of College Student Basic Needs
    • Webinar - February 25, 2020, from 10:00-11:30AM: Rapid Re-Housing Models
    • In-Person Training – March 10, 2020, from 10:00AM-3:00PM: Basic Needs Ambassador Training
    • Webinar - April 6, 2020, from 2:00-3:00PM: Technology to Build Awareness of Basic Needs Services

  3. Hold Regular Taskforce Meetings 
    • Campus teams must hold a minimum of three taskforce meetings per academic year (Fall, Winter, Spring)
      Meeting agendas will be collected | Download Sample Agenda
    • Identify two primary goals for the school year
    • Action plan to meet goals, and, if necessary, create sub-committees
  4. Plan a Campus Awareness Event During Hunger & Homelessness Week 
    • Campus events should take place during Hunger & Homelessness Awareness Week: November 16-24, 2019
    • This annual event is held across the country to raise awareness about hunger and homelessness. Participating groups spend the week holding a series of educational, service, fundraising and advocacy events.
  5. Participate in the Systemwide CalFresh Day on Thursday, February 27, 2020
    • All campuses must participate in CalFresh Day (regardless of participation in Chico’s CFO grant)
    • Objectives: Raise awareness about CalFresh benefits for college students
      1. Information and consultation with students
      2. Application assistance
      3. Education about other resources available to students on campus
      4. Invite media partners
  6. Submit a Profile for the Campus-wide Best Practices Directory 
    • The Best Practices Directory will be a comprehensive listing with a sampling of actions, activities, services and resources related to basic needs in the CSU
    • Highlight current programming and additions related to Basic Needs Partnership funding
    • Template to be provided Spring 2020

     Questions? Please email Araceli Esparza, Student Wellness and Basic Needs Coordinator