Financial Women of San Francisco (FWSF) today announced eight scholarships for undergraduate and graduate women studying in the Bay Area. FWSF provides $10,000 scholarships to undergraduate students and $15,000 to graduate students studying finance or related fields. To qualify, women must demonstrate a commitment to pursuing careers connected to the financial services industry, among other criteria. FWSF pairs each student with a designated mentor to help support them in this endeavor.
Launched in 1985, the FWSF scholarship program has provided more than $3.5 million in scholarships to more than 365 women. The program’s alumnae have indeed launched successful careers within financial services. Former recipients include Jessica Jackley, co-founder of world-renowned microlending philanthropy Kiva; Hanna Leen, founder of community lender TMC Community Capital; as well as numerous founders, product managers, and leaders in the Bay Area and beyond.
This year’s undergraduate recipients include:
- Arianna Costello, a Finance major at the University of San Francisco, where she serves as President of Women in Finance and student lead of the AI Research and Policy Lab.
- Jasira Gay, an Accounting student at Saint Mary’s College, an Honors Peer Mentor who is incredibly active on campus via the Black Student Union, the Student Accounting Society, and the Data Science Club.
- Naledi Mackenzie, a Business Administration student at the University of San Francisco. She was named one of 10 Black Scholars, serves as Treasurer of the National Society of Black Engineers, and VP of Communications for the Black Business Association.
This year’s graduate recipients include:
- Abbeir Jaber, an MBA student at UC Berkeley’s Haas School of Business who also serves as Manager of Global Business Operations for the distinguished nonprofit Room to Read.
- Alyssa Karbel, who came to study General Management at Stanford’s Graduate School of Business after starting her career in investing at Goldman Sachs and Wellington Management. She also mentors women via Invest in Girls.
- Tam Nguyen, who is working toward her Master of Science in Accounting at California State University while also working as an Accounting Advisory Apprentice at BPM LLP. She’s an active member of the honors fraternity Beta Alpha Psi.
- Aeli Sherpa, who studied science in her undergraduate work before returning to school to get a Master’s in Accounting at Saint Mary’s College. Originally from Nepal, she is Vice President of the Global Student Network and serves as a peer mentor to international students.
- Maribel Wenzinger, an MBA student at Santa Clara University’s Leavey School of Business, who serves as Co-President of the Graduate Finance Association and as a Student Ambassador to the broader community.
These accomplished women will be paired with successful female mentors working in financial services, including founders and senior leaders at well-known Bay Area companies like Salesforce and AssetMark as they work toward their goals.
FWSF’s 2026 President, Karen Crowley, who chaired the Scholarship Committee in 2025, said of the program: “This is personal to me. I know firsthand how transformative access, encouragement, and community can be in opening doors we couldn’t reach alone.”
Previous recipients agree that the scholarship program is about more than financial support. Leen, who received a graduate scholarship in 2017, said, “This group opened a new world for me. Through my mentor, I made a connection that allowed me to launch TMC Community Capital. Today, we have deployed $24 million to 2,100 underestimated entrepreneurs across California.”
Leen’s story isn’t an isolated case. Each year, the FWSF scholarship committee aims to recognize scholars from diverse backgrounds studying a range of topics across the Bay Area. Crowley explains, “Our scholars have navigated financial pressures and environments where opportunities weren’t always visible or accessible. Through financial support and mentorship, FWSF helps bridge their path into their professional futures.”
ABOUT FINANCIAL WOMEN OF SAN FRANCISCO
Founded in 1956, Financial Women of San Francisco is celebrating 70 years of helping to advance women in finance and financial services throughout the Bay Area. Members hold positions of influence within the financial services sector and work in senior financial roles across companies, government agencies, and the nonprofit sector. FWSF membership spans CEOs, CFOs, corporate treasurers, CPAs, attorneys, commercial and private bankers, investment advisors, fund managers, securities analysts, administrators, financial planners, consultants, recruiters, and marketers. Find out more by visiting FinancialWomenSF.org.
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