Graduate Student Programs

Board Fellows Program

The Board Fellows Program places Foster MBA and Evans MPA students as non-voting board members of local nonprofit organizations. With 75+ graduate students and over 2.5 million people impacted annually, this is one of the largest Board Fellows Programs in the country and serves nonprofits throughout Washington.

What to Expect

Students develop board leadership skills through three channels:

Board Service
Students attend regularly scheduled meetings of the board (generally monthly) from September to May and actively participate in one board committee. Students are non-voting board members but are encouraged to participate in discussions and share their unique knowledge and perspectives.

Board Project
Each board will be assigned two student board fellows, and together, the students will complete a board-level project for their nonprofit. Students work with their board mentor to identify a project important to the board of directors, use the fellows’ skills, and further the work of a board committee or the board.

Board Leadership Class Webinars
The Board Leadership Class Webinar assists the student in maximizing their learning by matching best-practice frameworks they apply through their board service. Among topics covered are:

• The fundamental responsibilities of board members
• The challenges faced by board members during these present times
• The ways boards shape the organization’s strategic direction
• The ways that board members can strengthen their organization’s financial management and stability
• The strengths and limitations of various board governance structures

Why be a Board Fellow?

Seeing your knowledge in action is one of the most important and rewarding experiences you can have as a student. No matter where you are in your educational career, the Board Fellows Program is a great way to use your business education to make a meaningful impact in our local communities. Here are some of the things you can look forward to during the program:

• Develop a solid foundation in board governance and professional consulting practices through board projects with nonprofits
• Build effective and creative skills for community leadership through board service and committee participation
• Make an impact that will be felt way beyond the time you serve on the nonprofit board through the work you do and the people you meet
• Earn credit to fulfill MBA/MPA electives
• Projects can be used for practical experience credits upon approval

Application Timeline and Notification Dates

The Foster Board Fellows Program offers one per year—each fall.

DATE	EVENT	AUDIENCES
Sept 26, 2025	Board Fellows Application Opens	Board Fellows candidates
Oct 31, 2025	Interview/Matching Day	Board Fellows candidates & nonprofits
Nov 5, 2025	Nonprofits select students for interviews	Nonprofits
Nov 7– Nov 11, 2025	Students notified if selected for interviews	Board Fellows candidates & Nonprofits
Nov 13, 2025	Interview schedule is available	Board Fellows candidates & Nonprofits
Nov 14, 2025	Deadline for rankings from nonprofits and students	Nonprofits & Board Fellows candidates
Nov 18, 2025	Matches announced to nonprofits and students	Nonprofits & Board Fellows candidates
Nov 21, 2025	Deadline for Board Fellows to accept offers	Board Fellows candidates
Dec 5, 2025	Program Kick-Off Event (In-Person Event)	Board Fellows candidates & Nonprofits

Eligibility

The Board Fellows Program is available to students completing their second or third year of studying, including full-time MBA, evening MBA, hybrid MBA, TMMBA, and MPA.

The application opens September, 26, 2025.

Application Requirements

• Complete an online application
• Complete a short essay question
• Resume

Matching Process

 

Questions?

CONTACT
Amadou Loum | [email protected]

The Power of Access: Impact Lending to Underserved Communities (FIN 579)

Do you want to gain valuable career skills?  Expand your professional network through a unique opportunity for firsthand experience in financial consulting! Apply to our MBA Lending Course this winter, The Power of Access: Impact Lending to Underserved Communities (FIN 579 E/F)!

Class Purpose: Engage our MBA students in working with underserved businesses to gain access to loans. Teams of students will perform financial assessments, risk analyses, and forecasts and create loan packages for these businesses to submit to The Commerce Bank of Washington for approval. In addition to helping businesses secure debt financing, MBA students will learn how systemic bias can play into the gaps in access to capital.

What You’ll Learn:

• Conduct comprehensive financial assessments.
• Perform risk analyses and financial forecasts.
• Create a tailored loan document for underserved businesses.
• Collaborate with business owners to project their financing needs.
• Understand and address systemic biases in access to capital.
• Expand your professional network within the industry.

Course Highlights:

• Gain hands-on experience in financial consulting.
• Work in teams to develop a unique loan document.
• Submit loan document to The Commerce Bank for approval.
• Collaborate with BIPOC businesses to bridge the gap in access to capital.
• NO FINAL TEST

Course Details:

• Class Title: The Power of Access: Impact Lending to Underserved Communities (FIN 579 E/F)
• Duration: Winter Quarter
• Instructor: Michelle Purnell-Hepburn
• Credits: 4 (Practical Experience Credit) 

Contact

Amadou Loum | [email protected]

MGMT 504: Ethical leadership

• Examines the ethical aspects of conducting business. Topics include ethical decision-making, the ethical aspects of leadership and culture, stakeholder management, corporate social responsibility, sustainability, and corporate governance.
• Fall Quarter
• For 2^nd year MBA Full-time students
• Students work in a team project to support a business in the Ascend National Cohort.

Contact
Prof. Elizabeth Umphress | [email protected]

This fund awards an annual scholarship to MBA students at the Foster School of Business with a vision for developing African American-owned businesses. It is open to all Full-time and Evening students. The scholarship recipient(s) will work with the Consulting and Business Development Center to provide consulting assistance to support the growth of African American-owned businesses in Washington. Recipients are selected based on academic merit, essay response, and financial need, as demonstrated by the FAFSA.

Named after the founder of the Washington State Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, this scholarship was established as a partnership between the Latino community and the University of Washington. Open to all Full-time and Evening MBA students who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents, this scholarship is committed to supporting students with a vision for developing Latino-owned businesses. Scholarship recipients will work with the Consulting and Business Development Center to provide consulting assistance to support the growth of Latino-owned businesses in Washington. Recipients are selected based on academic merit, essay response, and financial need, as demonstrated by the FAFSA.