Impact & ROI
From Loss to Legacy Twenty years ago, AcademySTAY founder Jenny Davidson faced an unimaginable heartbreak. Her son, Jordan, was born with a genetic condition he would not survive. In the wake of that loss, Jenny made a vow to make the world a better place for children who get to stay.
After two decades of nonprofit leadership and earning her MBA, Jenny returned to the world of foster care to address a glaring systemic failure: the transition for young adults aging out of the system. AcademySTAY is the fulfillment of that 20-year vow. We are not just a housing provider; we are a systemic disruptor designed to turn a "cliff" into a launchpad.
The Systemic Cliff For most young adults, the transition to independence is a bridge supported by family and social capital. For students in foster care, it is a precipitous cliff. In Sacramento, the state provides $0 in housing support for many who age out, while market rent exceeds $1,600.
This gap creates a survival-mode crisis. Approximately 25% of the unhoused population in Sacramento County possesses a history of foster care. This is an indictment of the system, not the students. While 93% of foster youth report a desire to attend college, fewer than 4% graduate. It is impossible to focus on a degree when you do not have a front door.
The Fiscal Case: Prevention vs. Punishment Investing in AcademySTAY is a high-leverage choice for the Greater Sacramento region. We contrast the cost of systemic failure with the price of potential.
The math of our impact is clear:
AcademySTAY Daily Cost: Under $50 for safe nights of housing and one-on-one support.
Emergency Shelter Daily Cost: Approximately $95.
Incarceration Daily Cost: $364 in California.
For less than $18,250 a year, AcademySTAY provides a student with a private apartment and the stability to graduate. The alternative is a lifetime of reliance on emergency services or the $132,860 annual cost of prison. We choose to invest in the launchpad.
The $500,000 Swing A postsecondary credential is the single greatest predictor of lifetime stability. On average, a degree or certificate boosts lifetime earnings for former foster youth by nearly $500,000. By ensuring our students have safe housing while they study, we are facilitating a half-million-dollar swing in lifetime economic contribution per student.
Expansion for 2026 We are currently operating 32 units in North Sacramento and are on track to serve 58 students by Summer 2026. This expansion allows us to achieve greater economies of scale, further reducing per-student costs while doubling our regional impact.
The Bottom Line AcademySTAY is a high-leverage investment in human potential. We invite you to move your capital from the back end of systemic failure to the front end of student success. Your support provides more than a bed: it provides the stability required for a young adult to become a self-determined member of our community.