For those paying attention, the Pathways to Success Scholarship was announced back in May 2021. At that time there were claims of insufficient numbers of real property appraisers, shrinking number on the ASC National Registry, and appraisers aging out. Users, even back then, were increasingly turning to appraisal waivers, AVMs, and bifurcated/hybrid appraisers.
The Pathways to Success was initiated to assist aspiring appraisers, increase the number of credentialed appraisers so users could not play the "shortage" card as an excuse for alternatives, and encourage participation in professional organizations. Progress on the proposal was stalled with the initiation of the investigation of The Appraisal Foundation by the Department of Housing and Urban Development. As has been documented here by many of the real "fans" of the Foundation, an enormous amount of money was spent on lawyers and other costs responding to the HUD investigation. Much could have been directed to the Pathways to Success. Instead it went to lawyers and their firms.
The investigation by HUD was settled in June of last year. HUD stated there were no findings, and The Appraisal Foundation agreed to certain conditions. One of those conditions was to fund the Pathways to Success Scholarship program. The announcements you are seeing now are because the details have been worked out with the organization managing the scholarships, and The Appraisal Foundation has made the first funding installment.