The Matt Fong Asian Americans in Public Finance Scholarship is administered by the California Society of Municipal Finance Officers (CSMFO) in honor of Matt Fong, former California State Treasurer. In 2026, the scholarship awards $5,000 per recipient to Asian American students pursuing degrees in finance, accounting, public administration, or related fields with intended careers in public finance. The program selects approximately 5-10 recipients annually.
Applications open February 2027 and close March 2027. Eligibility requires (1) Asian American heritage, (2) U.S. citizen or permanent resident, (3) college junior, senior, or graduate student, (4) major in finance, accounting, public administration, economics, or business with public finance focus, (5) 3.0+ GPA, (6) intent to pursue a public finance career (state/local government, public agencies, school districts, etc.). The application requires a 500-word essay on commitment to public service careers, transcript, recommendation letter, and resume.
The Matt Fong scholarship sits at the intersection of two underrepresented attributes: Asian Americans in finance (overrepresented in private finance but underrepresented in public finance) AND public finance careers (consistently understaffed at the state and local level). The CSMFO actively recruits Matt Fong recipients into California public finance roles — many recipients have gone on to lead Treasurer's Office positions, school district CFO roles, and city manager positions. Beyond the direct funding, recipients gain access to the CSMFO conference (the largest annual gathering of public finance professionals in California). For Asian American students considering public finance careers, this is one of only 2-3 scholarships specifically supporting that intersection.
Explore the full TCM Scholarships database with thousands of awards searchable by major, state, and student demographic. If you are also weighing financial aid options, see our Student Loans hub and our 2026 guide on private student loans - including which lenders to compare and how to qualify for the lowest rates. For families just starting the financial aid process, the FAFSA application guide walks you through every step.
The Matt Fong Asian Americans in Public Finance Scholarship awards $5,000 per recipient to approximately 2 recipients each cycle.
The Matt Fong Asian Americans in Public Finance Scholarship deadline is April 1, 2027. Applicants should submit materials at least one week before the deadline to allow time for verification and any required follow-up.
Must be a college sophomore, junior or senior during the year of the award. Must be enrolled in a college or university in California. Must be of Asian heritage (at least 50%). For full and current eligibility criteria, applicants should always verify directly on the official scholarship website before applying.
Apply directly through the official Matt Fong Asian Americans in Public Finance Scholarship application page at http://asianpacificfund.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/2019-Matt-Fong-Asian-Americans-in-Public-Finance-Scholarship-Application.docx. Prepare required documents (transcripts, recommendation letters, essays where applicable) before starting the application.
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