The association was formed in 1985 as the California State University Emeritus and Retired Faculty Association (CSU-ERFA) in response to threats and attempts to reduce or eliminate CSU retirees rights, privileges and benefits and to support the activities of retired faculty as continuing members of the academic community. In 2018 members of CSU-ERFA voted to amend the organization's constitution to expand membership eligibility to "all" retirees from the California State University System, and to change the name of the organization to reflect the expanded membership eligibility. Currently, CSU-ERFSA has approximately 2,500 members, 300 of whom live outside California. In addition to its efforts to protect retiree benefits, the association provides support to emeritus and retired faculty and staff associations at the individual state university campuses. At present retired faculty associations at 18 of the 23 campuses maintain a formal affiliation with CSU-ERFSA. However, membership in an affiliate is not a condition for membership in the statewide organization.