Founded in 1997, Women in Public Finance or WPF (www.wpfc.com) is a national organization that advances leadership opportunities for women by fostering relationships through networking and providing educational activities and forums for women that work in the municipal (tax-exempt) bond industry.

Our members work for entities which borrow money using municipal bonds comprised of: governmental issuers (including, but not limited to finance directors of states, cities, counties, school districts and special districts) and non-profit issuers (including, but not limited to finance professionals that serve affordable housing, charter and private schools, clean energy, cultural facilities, hospitals and health systems, higher education, senior housing, transportation and utilities).

Our membership also includes the professionals who originate, underwrite and distribute municipal bonds including, but not limited to investment bankers, attorneys, financial advisors, rating agency analysts, trust officers, and municipal market investors.

Now in our 28th year, we continue our commitment to develop a place for women in the public finance industry to find support and camaraderie amongst their peers. In addition to incoming and existing undergraduates with an interest in careers in finance, WPF encourages women in all stages of post-secondary education and continuing education to apply for a scholarship to support their career goals.

What is Public Finance?

In general, “public finance” describes the funding of capital projects undertaken by governments (national, state and local) and non-profit organizations to create facilities and services for the greater good. These projects include police/fire stations, parks, museums, theaters, airports, clean energy, water/sewer infrastructure, hospitals, senior housing, affordable housing, schools (K-12 public and private as well as universities) and more. The money for these projects is raised through the sale of municipal bonds.

Scholarship Program History

In keeping with its tradition of supporting young women in their aspirations of achieving successful careers in the finance industry, Women in Public Finance (National) offers annual scholarships. The scholarships are in addition to scholarships offered by certain state and local chapters of Women in Public Finance including Boston, Chicago, Florida, Indiana, Los Angeles, Texas, and Virginia.

The purpose of the Women in Public Finance Award & Scholarship is to:

Women in Public Finance operates an annual scholarship program. For the 2024 Scholarship Program, there will be five recipients:

• One (1) scholarship of $5,000

• Four (4) scholarships of $2,500

Winners of the chapter level scholarship programs will be automatically entered for consideration of an additional scholarship from Women in Public Finance (National). Prior recipients are eligible to reapply for scholarship consideration.

For 2024, scholarships will be awarded to applicants who meet the following criteria:

1. Identify as a woman;

2. Plan to be enrolled in an institute of higher education for 2024/2025 school year or plan to take an industry specific exam in between fall 2024 and spring/summer of 2025;

3. Have an interest in pursuing a public/municipal finance related career, which may include professionals in accounting, finance, banking, government, non-profit, or law;

4. If applying for a scholarship to support higher education, applicants must demonstrate good academic standing; and

5. All applicants must exhibit leadership skills through extracurricular activities, work experience, volunteer positions, and/or community service.

All applicants must complete and submit the following documents, which comprise one (1) complete scholarship packet. It is preferred that documents be submitted as a single PDF:

• The 2024 Scholarship Application Form

• The Essay Submission (see attached)

• If applying for a scholarship to support higher education, copies of your official academic transcripts that reflect no less than three years of completed course work; however, a longer academic history is welcomed. All transcripts will only be accepted in pdf format. Acceptable transcripts are as follows:

        i. Official Transcripts

        ii. Emailed Transcripts from your institution

• If applying for a scholarship to support an industry specific exam, provide a copy of your resume that details work experience.

All completed scholarship packets are to be sent via e-mail in a single PDF file to [email protected] and must be received no later than 11:59 P.M., Pacific Time, on June 30, 2024.

Please note that incomplete applications or applications submitted in formats other than described above, including multiple documents or files, may not be reviewed. In the event an applicant is not able to submit an application in the format requested, please email [email protected] for assistance.

Women in Public Finance will select scholarship recipients annually based on the qualifications of the candidates as demonstrated by the completed application, official transcripts, and submitted essay.

The scholarship award will be mailed to each scholarship recipient’s institution of enrollment no later than September 1 for the upcoming academic. Before the scholarship award can be sent, each recipient must provide proof of fall/winter semester registration and indicate what items are expected to be purchased with the funds. If applying for an industry related entrance exam, please indicate registration date for exam and confirmation that you have registered.

Award recipients will be invited to attend the 2024 Women in Public Finance Annual Conference, which will be held in the fall of 2024 in San Diego, California at their own expense.

(Note: Attendance at the annual conference is not required to receive the scholarship.)

Scholarship recipients are expected to be notified no later than July 15 and a list of all winners will be posted on the WPF website (http://www.wpfc.com/).

To be considered, the application form must be completed in full. Typed responses are preferred, although neatly handwritten responses will be accepted. Please do not add your name to the application where it is not requested or to any of the essay pages.

All applicants must submit copies of their most recent, official academic transcripts that reflect no less than three years of completed coursework; however, a longer academic history is welcomed. Transcripts will only be accepted in PDF format and the entire scholarship packet (the completed application form, all transcripts, and essay) should be submitted as one (1) PDF document.

An updated scholarship packet can be submitted prior to the stated deadline after initially sending a scholarship packet. However, applicants must also include and resubmit ALL documents that comprise their FULL scholarship packet, since only the last submission will be evaluated.

Please email [email protected] with questions. 

Disclaimer: Applicants are responsible for ensuring that their applications are received by the deadline date. Women in Public Finance will not consider applications that are submitted by means other than electronic submission to [email protected], that are incomplete or that arrive late, regardless of the reason.