BPW Washington Foundation Scholarships

Scholarship Sponsored by Washington State Business and Professional Women's Foundation

Document available for download: full criteria sheet.

Overview
This packet summarizes eligibility and application requirements for the Foundation’s General and Designated Fund scholarships. All applicants must meet the basic eligibility below unless a particular scholarship lists extra conditions.

Basic Eligibility (applies to General & most Designated Fund scholarships)
- Applicant must be a female and a U.S. citizen.
- Comply with any age limits specified for an individual scholarship (if applicable).
- Have been a Washington State resident for at least one year.
- Have been accepted to — or currently enrolled in — an accredited Washington State institution, or be enrolled in an online program that the state recognizes as an approved Washington education provider.
- Show academic ability.
- Demonstrate financial need.
- Provide an official transcript of grades.
- Complete every page of the application and include all required supporting documentation listed on the form.

Application submission
- All materials for an application must be submitted together as a complete packet. If you are applying for more than one scholarship, include any additional items specified under that scholarship’s title.
- Deadline for General and Designated Fund scholarship applications: must be received by May 1, 2026. Mail to the address shown on the application.
- For questions about General and Designated scholarships, contact us (see application for contact details).

Available Scholarships

General Scholarships
- Mature Woman Educational Scholarship — $3,000
For women age 30 or older (must be 30+ by March 15). Intended for retraining or continuing education.

- Single Parent Scholarship — $3,000
For a single woman of any age returning to or continuing education beyond high school. Applicant must have one or more dependent child(ren) under 18 living at home.

- BPW/WA Past President Memorial Scholarship — $3,000
Awarded to a woman age 30 or older (30+ by March 15) in memory of past Washington State BPW presidents.

- Lulu Fairbanks Memorial Scholarship — $3,000
Open to women of any age attending an accredited higher education institution in Washington State. No field of study required. Established in memory of Lulu Fairbanks, the first WA State BPW President.

- Doris Groth Troxel Memorial Scholarship — $2,000
Open to women of any age attending an accredited Washington institution. No program or field of study required. Established to honor Doris Groth Troxel’s commitment to education and the environment.

Designated Fund Scholarships
(These awards are funded by local groups, businesses, or individuals and often include additional specific criteria.)

- SouthWest Seattle BPW (Eileen Henry Memorial Scholarship) — $1,000
For a mature woman residing in South King County who seeks to continue her postsecondary education.

- Margaret Way Scholarship — $1,000
For women (18+) accepted to South Seattle College (first preference). If no eligible South Seattle College student is available, the award may go to a woman enrolled at another accredited Washington State institution.

- Emerald City BPW Foundation Scholarship — $2,000
For women living in the Greater Puget Sound region (King, Kitsap, Pierce, or Snohomish County) who are entering or continuing a course of study at an accredited institution. Candidate should be pursuing a field that advances career goals, demonstrate scholastic ability, and show financial need.

- South Puget Sound BPW Legacy Scholarship — $1,000 (check specific offer/deadline)
For women age 30+ who live in and plan to attend an accredited school in the Greater Puget Sound area. No restriction on major. Not available to military applicants.

- Wenatchee BPW Mature Woman Scholarship — $1,250 (check specific offer/deadline)
For women who are at least 25 at the time of application, are Washington State residents at the time of application, hold a high school diploma or GED, and are enrolled or accepted into postsecondary professional courses or a technical training program.

BPW/WA Member Scholarship (members only)
- Eligibility: Open only to BPW/WA members in good standing.
- Funding: Total available per quarter is $500; that sum will be divided among all approved applicants for that quarter. Awards should not exceed $500 per quarter per applicant.
- Quarterly application deadlines: March 31, June 30, September 30, December 31.

Notes
- Read each scholarship’s individual description for any additional or unique conditions.
- Ensure all requested documentation (transcripts, proof of residency, acceptance/enrollment verification, etc.) is included with your application packet.

For more information, refer to the full criteria document available for download or contact the Foundation using the information on the application form.