For members and dependents of members

For members only

For members and dependents of members

For members only

How many scholarships can an applicant apply for?

The applicant can only apply for one (1) application. The SAG-AFTRA Foundation staff determine which scholarship application, Dales or Heller, the applicant meets.  

Recipients may receive a total of four (4) John L. Dales Standard Scholarships in a lifetime.

Recipients may receive a total of two (2) John L. Dales Transitional Scholarships in a lifetime.

Recipients may receive a total of one (1) George Heller Memorial Standard or Transitional Scholarships in a lifetime.

To start a new application, use the button below.

Applicants applying for the John L. Dales Standard Scholarship will be selected in accordance with the following criteria:

• Applicant must be a SAG-AFTRA member or dependent of a SAG-AFTRA member.
• Member applicant or member/parent of dependent applying must be paid current with their SAG-AFTRA dues.
• A member under the age of twenty-seven (27) must have been a member of SAG-AFTRA for five (5) years and have a lifetime earnings of $40,000 within SAG-AFTRA jurisdiction.
• The member/parent or guardian whose dependent is applying must have been a member of SAG-AFTRA for ten (10) years and have a lifetime earnings of $225,000 within SAG-AFTRA jurisdiction OR ten (10) pension credit
• Dependents of members, under the age of twenty-seven (27), whose member/parent is on Honorable Withdrawal or Deceased are eligible to apply, providing the member/parent meets the basic eligibility requirements:  ten (10) years SAG-AFTRA membership; $225,000 lifetime earnings OR ten (10) pension credits.
• Dependents of SAG-AFTRA members who turn twenty-seven (27) years of age are not eligible to apply.
• Terminated, Suspended Payment or Fee-Paying-Non-Member are not eligible to apply, nor are their dependents.

Applicants applying for the John L. Dales Transitional Scholarship will be selected in accordance with the following criteria:

• Applicant must have been a member of SAG-AFTRA for ten (10) years and have a lifetime earnings of $225,000 within SAG-AFTRA jurisdiction or ten (10) pension credits.
• Applicant must be paid current with their SAG-AFTRA dues.
• Applicant must be twenty-seven (27) years of age or older.
• Applicants on Honorable Withdrawal are eligible to apply, providing they meet the basic eligibility requirements: ten (10) years membership; $225,000 lifetime earnings OR ten (10) pension credits.
• Terminated, Suspended Payment of Fee-Paying-Non-Member are not eligible to apply.

Applicants applying for the George Heller Memorial Standard Scholarship will be selected in accordance with the following criteria:

• Applicant must be a SAG-AFTRA member or the dependent of a SAG-AFTRA member.
• Member applicant or member/parent of dependent applying must be paid current with their SAG-AFTRA dues.
• A member applicant under the age of twenty-seven (27) must have been a member of SAG-AFTRA for five (5) years and have a lifetime earnings of $10,000 within SAG-AFTRA jurisdiction.
• The member/parent or guardian whose dependent is applying must have been a member of SAG-AFTRA for five (5) years and a lifetime earnings of $50,000 but no more than $225,000 within SAG-AFTRA jurisdiction.
• Dependents of members, under the age of twenty-seven (27), whose member/parent is on Honorable Withdrawal or Deceased are eligible to apply providing the member/parent meets the basic eligibility requirements:  five (5) years SAG-AFTRA membership; $50,000 lifetime earnings.
• Dependents of members, twenty-seven (27) years of age and older, are not eligible to apply.
• Terminated, Suspended Payment or Fee-Paying-Non-Member are not eligible to apply, nor are their dependents.

Applicants applying for he George Heller Memorial Transitional Scholarship will be selected in accordance with the following criteria: 

• Applicant must have been a member of SAG-AFTRA for five (5) years and have a lifetime earnings of $50,000 but no more than $225,000 under SAG-AFTRA jurisdiction.
• Applicant must be paid current with their SAG-AFTRA dues.
• Applicant must be twenty-seven (27) years of age or older.
• Members on Honorable Withdrawal are eligible to apply, providing they meet the basic eligibility requirements:  five (5) years membership; $50,000 lifetime earnings.
• Terminated, Suspended Payment or Fee-Paying-Non-Member are not eligible to apply.

• Awards will be made by check directly to the selected recipients.
• Recipients must be enrolled in an accredited and licensed university, college, junior college, adult specialty school and trade/vocational school and provide documentation of full-time enrollment before the scholarship check can be awarded.
• Recipients must sign the Grant Agreement Form and provide a copy of tuition paid to the institution by September 30 before check can be released.
  

The SAG-AFTRA Foundation Scholarship Committee reviews all completed applications and determines all awards.

SAG-AFTRA Foundation Scholarship Committee members, their families, relatives, SAG-AFTRA Foundation Board members, their families, relatives, and employees of the SAG-AFTRA Foundation are not eligible to apply for either the John L. Dales Scholarship or the George Heller Memorial Scholarship.

Note: If an applicant is a Junior and has previously received a Dales Scholarship, the high school transcript and SAT or ACT scores are not required.

Note: Letters should not come from family members or relatives. New letters are required each year. Letters on letterhead are preferred.

Letters supporting a Transitional application should come from persons in the new field to which the applicant is pursuing.

Prompt:  Write an Essay, of Your Choice, to Help the Committee Know More About You.

Note: No class papers. New Essay required each year. Double-spaced essays preferred. 

If applicant or parent(s) are incorporated, the complete Latest Federal Corporate Tax Return is required, including “S” Corp IRS Form, and the 529 Education Savings Plan, if applicable.  Federal Corporate Tax Return ONLY.