Washington CPA Foundation: Exciting Changes on the Horizon

by Monette Anderson, CAE

In August, the Washington CPA Foundation Trustees gathered for a productive strategic planning session, focusing on expanding our impact and continuing to support the future of the accounting profession. We're excited to share some significant updates to our scholarship and grant programs aimed at making a difference for students across Washington state.

Expanding Our Grant Program

We’re thrilled to announce that we’ve increased our grant budget by $20,000, bringing the total to $50,000. These grants will fund impactful projects that spread awareness of accounting opportunities and career pathways, particularly for underrepresented students. This initiative aligns with our goal of addressing the accounting pipeline by fostering greater inclusion and diversity within the profession.

New Scholarship Opportunities

As we enter our third year of offering Associate scholarships to first- and second-year accounting students, we are expanding our scholarship offerings in meaningful ways. This year, we are proud to introduce 10 additional $5,000 scholarships, with a focus on students with a 2.5 GPA or higher (previously 3.0), and those from underrepresented backgrounds, including financial need, ethnic diversity, veteran status, and first-generation college students. These scholarships reflect our commitment to supporting students who bring diverse experiences and perspectives to the field.

The Foundation is also excited to announce the Rich Jones International Support Scholarship. With a deep commitment to students, Richard E. (Rich) Jones, CPA, former WSCPA President & CEO and Foundation contributor, has been a passionate advocate for supporting international students, particularly those facing unique obstacles related to their status, such as students from conflict-torn regions where returning to home is unsafe. This scholarship aims to provide additional resources to help students overcome the barriers threatening their ability to complete their education and earn CPA licensure. Through his work as a mentor, Rich has witnessed firsthand the challenges faced by our international student population, reinforcing the urgent need for continued support and assistance in their journeys.

We’re proud of these new initiatives and remain committed to supporting future CPAs and accounting professionals across the state. Stay tuned for more updates on how these changes will shape the future of accounting in Washington!

If you would like to support the Foundation, you can do so at wscpa.org/support.

Monette Anderson, CAE, is Executive Director of the Washington CPA Foundation. You can contact Monette by email.

This article appears in the fall 2024 issue of the Washington CPA magazine. Read more here.