About Chico State Enterprises

What We Do

Chico State Enterprises (formerly CSU, Chico Research Foundation) is the primary administrator for grants, contracts, and certain entrepreneurial programs at Chico State, providing core services such as proposal development, award review and negotiation, project administration, finance and accounting, human resources and payroll, and operational support. Chico State Enterprises (CSE) also provides administrative support for the University Foundation and acts as a fiscal agent for numerous campus programs. In addition, CSE funds and manages various ecological preserves, as well as property acquired for investment purposes or for university programs.

Each year, CSE administers more than 500 projects with annual revenues exceeding $100 million. As a self-financed 501(c)(3) public nonprofit corporation, CSE operates separately from state-side university administration and follows nonprofit corporate law and California State University auxiliary regulations. CSE receives no state appropriations.

Who We Are

CSE employs more than 600 students, nearly 300 faculty and staff, and over 800 additional employees. CSE is governed by a diverse Board of Directors composed of University administrators and faculty, a student representative, and community members. An Executive Director oversees day-to-day operations, leads an administrative team of nearly 80 employees, and ensures compliance with Board directives and applicable University policies.

Why We Do It

CSE plays a critical role in advancing Chico State’s educational mission by empowering and supporting research, creative activity, and community engagement beyond the traditional classroom. 

CSE’s work—and the research it supports—extends far beyond campus:

• It drives discovery and innovation, fostering the ideas and technologies that shape our shared future.
• It enriches education, ensuring that students learn within a dynamic, research-informed curriculum.
• It cultivates excellence, allowing faculty to pursue professional growth and contribute to their fields.
• It prepares students for leadership through hands-on research experiences that strengthen critical thinking, creativity, and collaboration.
• It champions inclusivity by engaging diverse voices and perspectives real-world problem-solving.
• It creates impact by supporting economic, societal, and environmental well-being across the North State and beyond.