Golden 1 Credit Union to invest $1 million in Sacramento State over next 4 years
Over the next four years, Golden 1 Credit Union will spend $1 million to support financial well-being and access to basic resources for students at Sacramento State.
This partnership between the California-based credit union and the university will connect incoming students with financial education and on-campus resources from the beginning of their time at Sacramento State, officials said in announcement Monday. The credit union will work with the school’s student affairs division on student engagement initiatives including orientation and move-in week.
In addition, the money will go towards the Basic Needs Resource Center on campus which assists students facing food insecurity, housing instability and other similar challenges.
“Sacramento State values partners like Golden 1 that recognize financial health as a critical part of student well-being and academic success,” Aniesha Mitchell, Sacramento State’s vice president for student affairs, said in a statement. “Through this collaboration, we’re able to enhance our orientation and welcome programs and ensure students have access to resources they need to succeed from the start.”
During on-campus welcome programming for new students in June, July and August, the credit union plans to provide financial education and resources to 9,000 incoming first-year students and 4,000 transfer students. Golden 1 is a sponsor of the university’s student orientation sessions and a partner on its “Arrive to the Hive” events for newly enrolled students.
“By expanding access to financial education, critical resources, and basic needs support, we’re helping students focus on what matters most — succeeding academically and preparing for their future,” Golden 1 senior vice president Erica Taylor said in a statement. “Our partnership with Sacramento State is about removing barriers, opening doors, and creating meaningful pathways to long-term opportunity.”
More than 40% of Sacramento State’s student body qualifies for CalFresh, a federal benefits program that helps low-income households buy nutritious food. With an average of more than 5,000 visits per month at the campus Basic Needs Resource Center, there is a sustained demand for food and basic needs support among the university population of more than 31,000 students, officials said.
With this partnership, Golden 1 seeks to build on its previous support for the center. The credit union delivered a moving truck filled with boxes of essential supplies to the Basic Needs Resource Center before it opened on campus in September 2025. This was followed by an additional shipment of donated items later in the fall. The center provides students with free groceries, clothes, toiletries, parenting supplies and additional emergency resources.
