Scholarship Application Requirements and Form

The 2022-2023 Scholarship application is closed.

No late applications will be accepted. There will be no exceptions.

Please read through this entire page carefully as there are vital instructions posted here and eligibility requirements may have changed.

Application Information

There is a single application for the SAG-AFTRA Scholarship Program with four (4) tiers of applications:

John L. Dales Standard Application

For members and dependents of members

John L. Dales Transitional Application

For members only

George Heller Memorial Standard Application

For members and dependents of members

George Heller Memorial Transitional Application

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.

Application and Instructions

The deadline for submitting the complete application with the latest Federal Tax Return:

12:00 PM (PST) on May 31.

To start a new application, use the button below.

Eligibility Information

John L. Dales Standard Scholarship Eligibility

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.

John L. Dales Transitional Scholarship Eligibility

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.

George Heller Memorial Standard Scholarship Eligibility

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.

George Heller Memorial Transitional Scholarship Eligibility

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.

Scholarship Recipients

  • 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.

Application Requirements

John L. Dales Scholarship and George Heller Memorial Scholarship documentation requirements:

1. Transcripts: High School, College, University

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.

2. SAT or ACT scores

3. Two (2) letters of recommendation (dated for the current school year).

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.

4. Essay: 350 to 750 words.

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. 

5. Complete Most Recent Federal Tax Return for applicant, parents, spouse, including Schedules A, B, & D. Federal Tax Return ONLY.

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.