California Planning Foundation Scholarship Program

The California Chapter of the American Planning Association (APA California) established the California Planning Foundation (CPF) in 1970 as a nonprofit, charitable corporation with the goal of furthering the professional practice of planning in California. The primary focus is providing scholarships and awards to university students in financial need. The scholarship recipients come from many backgrounds and are selected because they are talented and motivated and have demonstrated academic excellence at university planning programs in California. All members of APA California are automatically members of the CPF. Although APA California members pay annual dues to belong to APA California and the national organization, the American Planning Association, there are no separate dues to belong to CPF.

Each year, CPF invites planning students to compete for a number of scholarships. Scholarships are offered to students enrolled in eligible planning programs in California (both accredited and non-accredited programs). All scholarship application materials are sent directly to eligible programs. Students interested in CPF scholarships should contact their faculty or staff advisors for additional information.

OCAPA Contributions to Bob Goldin and CPF

OCAPA continues to financially support the local Bob Goldin Memorial Student Scholarship Program as well as subsidize student attendance at important planning events and conferences. In 2014, OCAPA awarded approximately $10,000 in scholarships through the Bob Goldin Memorial Student Scholarship Program. That same year, OCAPA held a silent auction at the Awards Ceremony to raise funds for student scholarships. Thanks to the support of numerous generous donors and bidders, the silent auction was a success. At the California APA Conference in Anaheim, OCAPA donated $2,500 to CPF in addition to a $1,000 donation that was set-aside in our annual budget.