We hope that you will find the Foster School a welcoming place where you are challenged to learn and grow as a part of an inclusive and diverse community.
A community where all members feel seen, heard and supported and everyone experiences a sense of belonging. A community that strives to incorporate inclusion, diversity, and equity perspectives into every decision we make.
Foster’s Guiding Principles
DEI is everyone’s work
Listen First
Systemic over episodic change
Progress not perfection
Clubs
DiB hosts proprietary events, such as networking & speaker panels with diverse entrepreneurs and corporate diversity program professionals, as well as raises awareness among the Foster community of existing events and networking opportunities.
WiB’s mission is to nurture the personal and professional development of Foster women MBA students, with a specific focus on growing women into leadership positions and increasing visibility in the community.
The UW Foster MBA Out In Business Club works with allies to promote inclusion and diversity in the Foster program. They also partner with local business and business organizations to offer networking opportunities in the community for our members.
The FVA supports and advocates for Foster MBA students who have served, or are currently serving in the armed forces of their respective countries. It helps veterans translate their unique and extraordinary experiences into meaningful careers.
Partnerships
Management Leadership for Tomorrow equips underrepresented students with the skills, coaching and connections they need to lead organizations and communities worldwide.
The Forté Foundation aims to increase the representation of women in business and transform leadership in every field that business touches.
The Consortium, the nation’s largest diversity network, links top-tier students, MBA programs and corporate partners, providing merit-based scholarships.
Reaching Out MBA is expanding to inspire, connect and educate lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender MBA business students to build a network for future LGBT business leaders of tomorrow.
Access is a free comprehensive admissions resource for underrepresented minorities (URMs) and women interested in applying for an MBA or other business-related graduate programs.
National Association of Women MBAs Seattle is dedicated to propelling women MBA students and professionals into leadership positions in business.
National Black MBA Association Seattle is a group of professionals dedicated to advancing their careers, enriching their personal and professional experience, investing in the leaders of tomorrow, and driving impact in the black community.
Prospanica (Formerly the National Society of Hispanic MBAs) Seattle is dedicated to increasing Hispanic leadership in the Pacific Northwest through graduate management education, professional development, recruiting, and networking.
Veteran’s MBA Conference connects top-ranked universities with employers who value their elite academic credentials, military leadership abilities, and limitless career potential.
FOSTERing MBA Access Event Series
Increasing Opportunities for Underrepresented Communities
FOSTERing MBA Access is a series of events dedicated to increasing awareness and access to MBA-level education in underrepresented communities. The original FOSTERing MBA Access event was started in the spring of 2014 by two full-time MBA student leaders who wanted to do something about the lack of underrepresented groups in the classroom. The initial events featured an evening of honest and open discussion with Foster MBA students and alumni, business leaders and Foster MBA staff/faculty. FOSTERing MBA access is now a two-day event series which includes corporate treks to prominent Seattle companies and features honest and open discussions with Foster MBA alumni, business leaders, Foster MBA Administrators, and current underrepresented Foster MBA students. Attend FOSTERing MBA Access and discover why professionals from underrepresented communities (people of color, LGBTQ, women, and veterans) decided to pursue an MBA and how it has helped enhance their
careers. This event is typically offered in the Fall. Sign up on the Admissions Events page.
CGSM MBA Application Preparation Seminar
The MBA Application Preparation Seminar (MAPS) is intended to provide prospective students interested in The Consortium for Graduate Study in Management with “insider” knowledge in navigating the admissions/application process to be a competitive applicant for The Consortium and its member schools. Each seminar is designed to provide a platform for potential MBA applicants to learn about the Consortium’s member schools, the application process, The Consortium fellowship opportunity and the benefits of The Consortium membership. MAPS offer potential MBA applicants the opportunity to network with admission representatives from member schools and chat with Consortium
alumni and current students about their MBA experiences.
Diversity MBA Admissions Conference
Hosted by the Riordan Programs Alumni Association, the Diversity MBA Admissions Conference is an annual event in Los Angeles that connects talented diverse, underrepresented, and underserved candidates who wish to pursue a degree in business with admissions directors at top-tier business schools. The conference has continually helped connect and place participants with top-tier MBA programs.
Forté Forums
Forté Forums are designed for standout women considering an MBA—whether you’re a high-achiever looking to change careers, a college student planning for the future, or a professional ready to take your career to the next level. They take place from August through October in various cities across the U.S., Canada, and the UK.
Reaching Out MBA: MBA Admissions Fair
The Reaching Out MBA: MBA Admissions Fair is targeted at LGBT individuals considering applying to business school and happens in conjunction with the annual ROMBA Conference which takes place each autumn. Attendees benefit from panels, coffee chats with admissions officers and students, and the LGBT MBA Admissions fair which hosts top-ranked MBA programs.
Student Membership for Foster MBA students in these and many other professional organizations may be sponsored by MBA Career Management.
Forté
Forté is a non-profit consortium of leading companies and top business schools working together to launch women into fulfilling, significant careers through access to business education, opportunities, and a community of successful women. As a Forté Foundation member school, Foster offers Forté Fellowships and exclusive access to the full range of Forté resources.
National Association of Women MBAs Seattle
The National Association of Women MBAs is dedicated to propelling women MBA students and professionals into leadership positions in business.
National Black MBA Association Seattle
The Seattle Black MBA Chapter are a group of professionals dedicated to advancing their careers, enriching their personal and professional experience, investing in the leaders of tomorrow, and driving impact in the black community.
Prospanica Seattle (Formerly the National Society of Hispanic MBAs)
NSHMBA Seattle is dedicated to increasing Hispanic leadership in the Pacific Northwest through graduate management education, professional development, recruiting, and networking.
Reaching Out MBA
Reaching Out MBA is expanding to inspire, connect and educate lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender MBA business students to build a network for future LGBT business leaders of tomorrow.
The University of Washington Foster School of Business (UW Foster) has compiled these external resources with the intention of making information available to assist in financing the MBA. The following organizations do not have any formal agreements with, nor are they formally endorsed by UW Foster. The information on these pages is the responsibility of the listed organizations and may change at any time.
Accounting and Financial Women’s Alliance – Seattle
The Accounting & Financial Women’s Alliance aims to enable women in all accounting and related fields to achieve their full personal, professional, and economic potential and to contribute to the future development of the profession. Scholarships are open to both undergraduate and graduate students.
African American Heritage Endowed MBA Fellowship
This fund awards an annual fellowship to an African American student at the Foster School of Business. The recipient partners with the Consulting and Business Development Center to provide consulting to an African American owned business in the Seattle area.
American Association of University Women
The American Association of University Women (AAUW) is the nation’s leading voice promoting equity and education for women and girls. Since its founding in 1881, AAUW members have examined and taken positions on the fundamental issues of the day — educational, social, economic, and political.
American Indian Education Fund
The AIEF provides graduate scholarships to American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian students pursuing a graduate degree. All American Indian/Alaska Native students who are enrolled in their tribe or have a parent who is enrolled are eligible.
American Indian Endowed Scholarship Program
The American Indian Endowed Scholarship program helps financially needy students, with close ties to a Native American community, pursue undergraduate and graduate studies.
Asian Pacific Fund
The Asian Pacific Fund coordinates the Hsiao Memorial Social Sciences Scholarship which can support graduate students pursuing a graduate degree in economics/social sciences.
Association on American Indian Affairs (AAIA)
The Association on American Indian Affairs provides scholarships to graduate Native American students who are members/citizens of a tribal nation, regardless of whether their nation is recognized by the federal government.
Association of Women in International Trade
WIIT’s mission is to offer a broad range of programs pertaining to both policy and technical aspects of trade, encouraging employment (particularly of women) in international trade, and promoting common cause and social activities among individuals employed in international trade.
The Ernest I.J. Aguilar Endowed MBA Fellowship
Named after the founder of the Washington State Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, this fellowship was established as a partnership between the Latino community and the University of Washington. Recipients of this fellowship are required to spend 100 hours working with a Latino business owner from an under-served community in Eastern Washington.
Office of Graduate Student Equity and Excellence (GSEE)
As a unit of the UW Graduate School, the Office of Graduate Student Equity and Excellence (GSEE) is committed to serving the needs of students of color and students from other underrepresented groups, while simultaneously fostering an educational and social environment in which all students can learn and develop through experiences rich in cultural, ethnic, and racial diversity. GSEE offers funding through fellowships and awards.
Hispanic Scholarship Fund
As the nation’s largest provider of college financial aid to Latino students, the Hispanic Scholarship Fund offers a diverse range of scholarship programs.
The Lagrant Foundation
TLF provides scholarships, career development workshops, professional development, mentors and internships to African American/Black, American Indian/Native American, Asian American/Pacific Islander and Hispanic/Latino undergraduate and graduate students in the advertising, marketing and public relations fields.
The Judith M. Runstad Wells Fargo Washington Women’s Roundtable Scholarship
This scholarship is awarded to one woman each year who is aiming to advance their career in technology, innovation, business, engineering, health, and/or real estate. You must be entering into or currently enrolled in an eligible graduate-level or continuing education program at the University of Washington and show a commitment to the community. The scholarship is awarded in the amount of $4,000-$6,500.
Military MBA Scholarships
Military MBA is an education network for military officers and NCOs who are interested in obtaining and applying their MBA graduate degrees for career advancement.
National Center for American Indian Enterprise Development Scholarship Program
The NCAIED is a scholarship program for Native American students majoring in Business.
National Black MBA Association Graduate Scholarship
The National Black MBA Association (NBMBAA) offers scholarships to academically excellent African-American graduate students who are exceptional leaders. This organization supports scholars who are seeking a professional path that includes working in business, public, private, and non-profit sectors. NBMBAA is committed to enriching personal and professional experiences, investing in the leaders of tomorrow, and driving impact in local communities.
National Society of Hispanic MBAs Scholarship Program
The mission of NSHMBA is to increase the number of Hispanics graduating from master’s business degree programs through scholarships, professional development, and mentorship.
The Point Foundation
Point Foundation empowers promising LGBTQ students to achieve their full academic and leadership potential – despite the obstacles often put before them – to make a significant impact on society.
The Pride Foundation Scholarships
Pride Foundation provides post-secondary educational scholarships to current and future leaders in the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer (LGBTQ), and straight ally community from Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, and Washington.
The Seattle Foundation Scholarships
The Seattle Foundation holds more than 40 scholarship funds for students from a wide variety of backgrounds.
The Tillman Scholarship
The Tillman Scholars program supports our nation’s active-duty service members, veterans and military spouses by investing in their higher education. Since the program’s inception, the Foundation has named over 400 Tillman Scholars at more than 100 institutions nationwide.
The United Negro College Fund
UNCF plays a critical role in enabling more than 60,000 students each year to attend college and get the education they need. UNCF has awarded 10,000 scholarships and internships and funded 400 programs for students from low- and moderate-income families to attend more than 900 colleges and universities across the country.
University of Washington Alumni Association Multicultural Alumni Partnership Scholarship
The University of Washington Alumni Association (UWAA) Multicultural Alumni Partnership (MAP) awards scholarships to deserving University of Washington students who need financial assistance to assist with their progress toward a degree at the UW. Continuing full-time graduate students with at least one quarter of studies can apply for this scholarship. Applicants must have filled out the FAFSA to demonstrate need.
Yellow Ribbon Program
As of Veterans Day 2015, a veteran, their dependent, or the orphan or a veteran who died on active duty will have full tuition and fees paid at any public school in the U.S. using the Post-9/11 GI Bill, regardless of their state residency status. Therefore, the Yellow Ribbon Program is not needed for UW programs.
The Cobell Scholarship
Established as a result of the Cobell v. Salazar settlement, the Cobell Scholarship is a competitive, merit-based scholarship available to individuals who are enrolled members of a federally recognized tribe and intend to enroll in full-time study.
The Patsy Mink Foundation – Education Support Awards
The Foundation offers Education Support Awards meant to assist low-income women with children pursuing degrees; graduate students are eligible to apply.
Catching the Dream
Formerly the Native American Scholarship Fund, Catching the Dream offers scholarships to Native American students who are enrolled members of a U.S. tribe (whether federally recognized, state recognized, or terminated) and are at least ¼ degree Native.
Washington Indian Gaming Association Scholarship Program
The Washington Indian Gaming Association Scholarship Program awards scholarships to members of Washington’s 29 federally recognized tribes and to American Indian/Alaska Native students enrolled in a federally recognized tribe pursuing degrees in Washington State. Graduate students are eligible to apply for this scholarship.
American Indian College Fund
The American Indian College Fund provides scholarships to eligible Native students who are U.S. citizens and members or descendants of a state or federally recognized tribe pursuing full-time degrees, including those at the graduate and professional level.
American Indian Science and Engineering Society Scholarships
The American Indian Science and Engineering Society (AISES) offers scholarships which target Native students pursuing STEM degrees.
- Fostering Diversity: Find information on Foster’s DEI journey — our history, what we are currently doing, and what we are challenging ourselves to achieve in the future.
- The Consulting and Business Development Center is a learning laboratory that gives students real-world consulting experience they can use to jumpstart their careers and grow businesses in underserved communities.
- University of Washington Graduate School Equity & Excellence, the Graduate Opportunities & Minority Achievement Program is dedicated to graduate excellence through diversity.
- UW Office of Minority Affairs and Diversity provides outreach and academic support services for University of Washington students.
- Office of Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action whose mission is to ensure University compliance with the law and spirit of equal opportunity and affirmative action.
- Student Veteran Life: The MBA Foster Veterans Association is a strong partner with this parent organization. Throughout the year, opportunities are sent to the FVA and its members because of our great partnership.
