Washington CPA Foundation Awards $50,000 in Grants to Strengthen the Accounting Pipeline

by Monette Anderson, CAE

The Washington CPA Foundation continues its mission to strengthen and expand the accounting profession by investing in programs that inspire and support the next generation of CPAs. This year, the Foundation awarded $50,000 in grants to six organizations and programs working to increase awareness of the accounting profession, expand access to career pathways, and provide meaningful professional development opportunities for students across Washington. 

These grants support initiatives that connect students with the profession earlier, provide mentorship and career exploration opportunities, and help remove barriers that can prevent students from pursuing accounting careers. 

Congratulations to this year’s grantees: 

• Accounting Career Awareness Program (ACAP) 
  ACAP is a nationally recognized program focused on introducing high school students from underrepresented backgrounds to careers in accounting and finance. Grant funds will support ACAP’s signature Residency Week, an immersive summer program that brings students to a university campus for a week of career exploration, networking, and hands-on learning about the profession. Funding will also support improved participant tracking and data collection to better understand long-term outcomes.
• Degrees of Change 
  Degrees of Change prepares diverse, homegrown leaders to succeed in college and their careers while strengthening their communities. Grant funds will support accounting-focused internship placements and professional development programming, helping students gain meaningful work experience and exposure to the profession while connecting them with employers throughout the region.
• Tacoma Community College (TCC) 
  TCC serves a diverse student population preparing for careers in accounting and business. Grant funding will support a CPA panel event and dedicated tutoring resources, giving students direct access to practicing CPAs while also strengthening academic support that helps students succeed in foundational accounting courses.
• Pacific Lutheran University (PLU) Accounting Society 
  The PLU Accounting Society provides opportunities for students to connect with professionals and explore careers in accounting. Grant funds will support professional development workshops and programming, helping students build career readiness skills and deepen their understanding of the accounting profession.
• Washington State University (WSU) Vancouver Beta Alpha Psi (BAP) 
  WSU Vancouver’s Beta Alpha Psi chapter plays an important role in preparing students for professional careers in accounting and finance. Grant funds will support the Essential Skills Professional Programming Series, a weekly guest speaker program where accounting professionals share insights about career pathways, industry expectations, and professional development.
• Washington Business Week (WBW) 
  WBW provides experiential business education programs for high school students across the state. Grant funding will provide scholarships for students to attend the organization’s Summer Intensive program, where students participate in hands-on business simulations and gain exposure to careers in fields including accounting and finance. 

Through programs like these, the Washington CPA Foundation continues to invest in initiatives that expand awareness of the profession, create meaningful entry points for students, and build a stronger and more diverse pipeline of future CPAs. 

For more information about the Washington CPA Foundation and its work supporting the future of the profession, visit wscpa.org/foundation.