The Education Foundation of the Florida Federation of Business & Professional Women’s Clubs, Inc. (BPW/FL Education Foundation) was organized in 1965 as a 501(c)(3) organization with the mission to facilitate the pursuit of higher education for Florida women.

Over the next 27 years, the Foundation established scholarship houses for deserving female students at FSU (Tallahassee), UCF (Orlando), and FAU (Boca Raton).

In 2013, when it became clear that the plan for a St. Petersburg College brick-and-mortar scholarship house was not an option, a housing scholarship fund for worthy women was established in its place (St. Petersburg).  

In January 2017, the Z. Ray Ross Business and Professional Women’s Clubs/FL Nursing Housing Scholarship was created in partnership with the Florida Nurses Association supporting women nursing students at the University of North Florida (UNF), (Jacksonville).

In 2017 Past State President Jacqueline Fleener bequeathed a sizeable sum to BPW/FL, with the stipulation that it be used for educational purposes. Although several educational programs for BPW/FL membership resulted from the utilization of the Jackie Fleener Fund, it was the will of BPW/FL members that the fund focus on Florida’s worthy women students.

At the 2023 State Conference, the BPW/FL membership voted to research renewed campus housing opportunities. A proposal presented at the 2024 State Conference was approved, and a tranche of funds were set aside for its initiation.

In October 2024 our Education Foundation partnered with Palm Beach State College Foundation in a pilot program to offer grants to women enrolled in State College Certificate Programs. This pilot granted a total of $15,000 to three women, over two terms each.