Donate to AcademySTAY: Safe Housing for Foster Youth in Sacramento
Your gift keeps a young adult housed, enrolled, and building toward a credential.
A student in Sacramento got an A on an important test last week. She studied at her own kitchen table, in her own apartment, for the first time. She's one of 50 students living at AcademySTAY, a nonprofit providing safe, stable housing for young adults ages 18 to 24 transitioning from foster care.
Every student here is enrolled in college or vocational training. That isn't a goal we track. It's a condition of living here.
Your gift provides the housing, the personal guidance, and the stability that makes school possible.
Give Now
Your secure, tax-deductible gift provides housing, personal guidance, and educational support for young adults transitioning from foster care in Sacramento.
Frequency
One time
Monthly
Amount
Toward a student's welcome basket
$25
A week of one-on-one support
$50
Two weeks of one-on-one support
$100
A complete welcome basket
$150
A welcome basket and first week of groceries
$300
Other
0/250
Note or comment (optional)
What Your Gift Provides
$50
A week of one-on-one support for one student
$150
A complete welcome basket
$300
A welcome basket and first week of groceries for one student
$1,500
A full year of on-site therapy for one student
$2,500
A full year of wraparound support for one student
What Your Gift Does
Why Housing Is the Smartest Investment
AcademySTAY runs about $30,540 per student per year, roughly $84 a day. That figure is our total FY2026 operating expense across our 56-student capacity, and it covers furnished housing, utilities, groceries, one-on-one personal guidance, and educational support.
Leaving that same young adult unsheltered costs the public roughly $35,000 a year in emergency services. An emergency shelter bed in Sacramento runs about $95 a day. So the comparison isn't whether to spend the money. It's whether the money buys a crisis or a credential.
For every $1 invested in extended foster care support, the community sees $3.95 in lifetime returns through higher earnings and reduced public costs (Washington State Institute for Public Policy).
You aren't paying for a bed. You're paying for the two years in which someone finishes a degree and never needs the system again.
The Stakes in Sacramento
Roughly 200 young adults age out of foster care each year across the Greater Sacramento region, about 170 of them in Sacramento County alone. Within 18 months, 40 to 50% of California's foster youth experience homelessness. That's 80 to 100 young people a year in our region who did everything asked of them and still hit a wall.
93% of foster youth want to go to college. Fewer than 4% hold a bachelor's degree by age 26. The barrier isn't motivation. You can't study when you don't know where you'll sleep.
When students apply to AcademySTAY, 78% are unstably housed. Since our campus opened in October 2024, we've served 90 students and provided over 19,000 safe nights of housing. Of the students who've moved on, 64% left for their own place, reunified with family, or reached another positive outcome.
About AcademySTAY
AcademySTAY is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit providing safe, stable housing for young adults ages 18 to 24 transitioning from foster care in the Greater Sacramento region. Founded in March 2023, we opened our campus in October 2024: 32 units in Sacramento, with 28 two-bedroom residential apartments and four dedicated to student services, a food pantry, and a clothes closet. Capacity is 56 students.
AcademySTAY pairs stable housing with a post-secondary enrollment requirement. Every student is pursuing a college degree, a trade certification, or a vocational credential. Housing is the foundation. Education is the standard.
Students receive one-on-one personal guidance, financial literacy training, career readiness support, on-site mental health care, and peer mentorship. The program was built with young adults transitioning from foster care, not just for them.
Other Ways to Support AcademySTAY
Give through your Donor-Advised Fund (DAF): AcademySTAY’s EIN is 92-3060150. Recommend a grant from your DAF to support foster youth housing in Sacramento.
Make a planned gift: Include AcademySTAY in your will or estate plan to create a lasting legacy for young adults transitioning from foster care.
Give through your employer: Many companies match employee donations. Check with your HR department to double your impact.
Shop our wish list: Students need laptops, school supplies, kitchen essentials, and professional clothing. Visit our wish list to send items directly to campus.
Amazon Shop Now ->
Frequently Asked Questions
We know you may have questions before making a gift. Here are some of the most common ones we hear from donors:
Is AcademySTAY a 501(c)(3) nonprofit?
Yes. AcademySTAY is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Our EIN is 92-3060150. All donations are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law. We hold a Platinum Seal of Transparency from Candid (formerly GuideStar), the highest level of nonprofit transparency.
How much does it cost to house a student at AcademySTAY?
AcademySTAY's total cost is about $30,540 per student per year, roughly $84 a day, based on our FY2026 operating budget and 56-student capacity. That covers furnished housing, utilities, groceries, one-on-one personal guidance, and educational support. By comparison, leaving a young adult unsheltered costs the public roughly $35,000 a year, and an emergency shelter bed in Sacramento runs about $95 a day.
Do AcademySTAY students pay rent?
Some students qualify for a Sacramento Housing and Redevelopment Agency (SHRA) voucher, and we help every student check eligibility at intake. Students who aren't eligible for a voucher pay $700 per month, well below Sacramento market rent. Either way, housing comes paired with personal guidance, financial literacy training, and career support.
What happens when students are ready to transition out?
Students don't leave without a plan. Before any move, we work through step-down planning that covers permanent housing, stable income, and a long-term support network. Of students who've exited, 64% moved to their own residence, reunified with family, or reached another positive outcome.
How many students does AcademySTAY serve?
Our campus has grown to 50 students, across 28 two-bedroom apartments on a 32-unit campus in Sacramento. Since opening in October 2024, we've served 90 students and provided over 19,000 safe nights of housing. Campus capacity is 56.
Is AcademySTAY rated by Charity Navigator?
Charity Navigator requires at least two years of financial history before assigning a rating. Since AcademySTAY opened in late 2024, the organization will be eligible soon. In the meantime, AcademySTAY holds a Platinum Seal of Transparency from Candid (formerly GuideStar), the highest level of nonprofit transparency available.
Where is AcademySTAY located?
AcademySTAY's campus is in Sacramento, California. We serve young adults from across the six-county Greater Sacramento region: Sacramento, Placer, El Dorado, Yolo, Sutter, and Yuba. We accept students from anywhere.
Still have questions? Contact us to connect directly with our team, or come see the impact of your support in person.