Expanding Opportunity: Sobrato Philanthropies Invests in San José State University to Advance Educational Equity

San José State University (SJSU), a grantee of Sobrato Philanthropies, is transforming access to higher education through programs that expand opportunity, strengthen belonging, and build career pathways for students across East San José.

Since receiving its first Sobrato Philanthropies grant in 2022, SJSU has leveraged this investment to deepen its work in educational equity—opening doors for students who have long faced financial, geographic, and systemic barriers to college.

“Sobrato’s investment in the Promise Programs is bolstering our internal infrastructure, enabling us to serve more students,” said Sela Gaglia, Executive Director of Corporate and Foundation Relations at SJSU.

At the heart of this work are two complementary initiatives: the Spartan East Side Promise (SESP) and the Guaranteed Pathway. Each serves different student populations but shares the same goal—ensuring that local students not only attend college but thrive once they get there.

“It’s vital that students understand SJSU is within reach,” said Andrew Wright, Senior Associate Vice President for Enrollment Management. “We want them here, and we’ll give them the tools to succeed.”

The Spartan East Side Promise: From High School to Graduation

Sobrato Philanthropies’ investment has helped SJSU strengthen the SESP—a comprehensive pathway for students in the East Side Union High School District. Beginning as early as ninth grade, SESP guides students through every stage of their college journey—from exploration and application to graduation.

Through dual-enrollment courses, students can earn college credit while still in high school. Summer transition programs, peer mentoring, and campus visits build familiarity and confidence long before their first semester.

“We’ve created a comprehensive support program for students from ninth grade through graduation,” Wright explained. “It emphasizes early communication with students and parents about academic requirements, financial literacy, and career preparation.”

Sobrato Philanthropies’ grant funding has enabled SJSU to expand advising capacity, strengthen partnerships with local schools, and hire additional staff dedicated to student success. The enhanced infrastructure makes it possible to provide one-on-one guidance, peer mentoring, and culturally responsive advising to hundreds of students each year.

“Confidence-building is a major part of the work,” Wright said. “For many students, simply being on campus and seeing themselves here is transformative.”

The impact extends beyond the first generation of participants. Many former Promise students now return as mentors, creating a cycle of peer support and inspiration. One alumna, raised in East San José, now visits her former high school as part of SJSU’s Student Outreach and Recruitment’s early engagement strategy. “She tells students, ‘If I did it, so can you,’” Wright shared.

Guaranteed Pathway: Admission with Purpose

The Guaranteed Pathway program extends SJSU’s reach into South County by creating a streamlined route to admission for students in the Morgan Hill and Gilroy Unified School Districts. This program reflects SJSU’s mission-driven commitment to regional access - not a response to enrollment targets.

Each year, SJSU receives more than 52,000 applications, making it one of the most selective campuses in the California State University system. The Guaranteed Pathway program ensures that minimally eligible local students are assured admission—even if their desired major is full. Students can begin in exploratory or alternate majors while receiving guidance to find the academic and career path where they will thrive.

“It’s not about forcing a major,” Wright emphasized. “It’s about guiding students toward where they’ll truly succeed.”

The program reflects SJSU’s belief that every qualified local student deserves a place at their region’s leading public university—and a pathway to meaningful, stable employment after graduation.

Guardian Scholars: Supporting Foster Youth

With philanthropic support, SJSU also advances student equity through the Guardian Scholars Program, which provides financial assistance, mentoring, and a supportive community for students who have experienced foster care or similar circumstances. The program exemplifies how targeted investments can remove hidden barriers and help students persist to graduation.

Career Readiness and Real-World Experience

Access alone isn’t enough—SJSU pairs opportunity with preparation. Through career services and related initiatives, students receive training in financial literacy, résumé writing, interview skills, and professional communication. Through The Closet, they can borrow professional attire for interviews and networking events.

The Adobe Career Hub, funded in part by Adobe and staffed by SJSU alumni from East San José, provides mentorship, internships, and career readiness support from ninth grade through graduation, helping students see college as attainable and careers as achievable.

Investing in Innovation: The SJSU AI Hub

Sobrato’s grant also helped SJSU secure additional investment in future-focused innovation through a university-wide AI initiative spanning nine colleges. Backed by nearly $3 million in gifts and grants from multiple sources and guided by a commitment to ethical learning, the initiative integrates artificial intelligence into teaching, research, and workforce training.

The public-facing AI Center for Civic and Social Good, located in the university library and operated jointly with the City of San José, offers workshops and training on tools like ChatGPT.

“We’re creating spaces where students can experiment, learn, and apply AI responsibly,” said Gaglia. “It’s about making technology a force for social good.”

Building a Culture of Belonging

Nearly 70 percent of SJSU students receive financial aid, and many are the first in their families to attend college. For these students, belonging is foundational to success.

“We are a culturally affirming campus,” Gaglia said. “Students don’t have to leave their identities at the door in order to succeed here.”

Promise, Pathway, and Guardian Scholars programs help students navigate both the explicit and unspoken “rules” of higher education—creating spaces where they can find mentorship, confidence, and community.

The Power of Local Philanthropy

To expand opportunity even further, Sobrato Philanthropies and SJSU have brought together education, nonprofit, and civic partners to align efforts in support of these programs. In 2024, Sobrato Philanthropies convened key stakeholders; funded a consultant to act as a convener for the City of San José’s Children and Youth Master Plan, which named SJSU as a core partner for its “Meaningful and Sustaining Jobs” pillar; and helped deepen collaboration with the Sí Se Puede Collective in Mayfair. In 2025, SJSU and Sobrato co-hosted a convening with core partners to formalize data-sharing and strengthen place-based partnerships, ensuring a unified approach to supporting students and families.

Sobrato Philanthropies’ investment in SJSU exemplifies the transformational impact of local giving. By funding programs that advance equity, inclusion, and economic mobility, Sobrato is helping the university build a model for how higher education and philanthropy can work together to serve community needs.

“Working with the Sobrato family and Sobrato Philanthropies opens doors,” Gaglia said. “Their values and reputation signal that this work is meaningful, strategic, and deeply rooted in partnership and commitment to community.”

Gaglia noted that many people mistakenly view Silicon Valley as uniformly affluent, without recognizing the significant wealth gap that exists within the region. Unlike universities in areas with just a few major employers, SJSU operates in an environment crowded with hundreds of companies, all fielding constant requests for funding. In that context, she emphasized that Sobrato Philanthropies’ choice to invest directly in its own community is particularly meaningful—a story SJSU often shares as an example of genuine, place-based commitment and impact. She added that Sobrato’s rigorous approach to vetting grantees brings an added layer of credibility to every partnership.

What’s Next

Looking ahead, Wright hopes to expand both Promise and Pathway programs, offering both the guarantee of admission and dual enrollment opportunity, reaching more students and deepening their impact across the region.

“Access and equity are our priorities,” he said. “The more we can expand, the better. We want to keep reinvesting in the city of San José—and ensure every student has a path to succeed.”

Through Sobrato Philanthropies’ sustained investment, San José State University continues to prove that when education, philanthropy, and community come together, real change takes root—transforming lives and shaping the future of Silicon Valley.