Scholarships

Special District Leadership Foundation

SDLF offers a number of scholarships, designed to help California special district elected/appointed officials and staff participate in the foundation’s programs and other educational offerings.

Application Process
Applications will be reviewed and awarded on a case-by-case basis. After receiving notification of the award from SDLF, scholarship recipients must register and pay for the event. After confirming attendance, SDLF will issue a check for reimbursement to the district.

SDLA Scholarships

New!! General Manager Scholarship

The 2026 New General Manager Scholarship supports recently appointed special district General Managers by providing financial assistance covering the full registration cost to attend the 2026 CSDA General Manager Leadership Summit.

This scholarship is available to General Managers who have been in their role for less than 18 months, offering them an opportunity to build knowledge, strengthen leadership skills, and connect with peers across the special district community.

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SDLA Scholarships

Special District Leadership Academy Scholarship

This scholarship provides support for registration fees to attend the Special District Leadership Academy (SDLA) Conference or the Governance Foundations module. It is open to elected or appointed special district board members seeking to enhance their knowledge and skills in district governance. 

Scholarship in honor of Dr. James Kohnen.

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CSDM Scholarships

Certified Special District Manager Scholarship

This scholarship supports special district general managers and executive staff by covering CSDM-related fees and materials, including registration costs for continuing education focused on special district governance and operations.

Applicants must be actively pursuing their Certified Special District Manager (CSDM) designation to qualify.

Scholarship in honor of John Yeakley.

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Education Allowance Fund

Education Allowance Fund Scholarship

The goal of this fund is to provide special district staff and elected or appointed officials with opportunities to pursue new continuing education offerings that support professional development and deepen engagement with SDLF programs. These programs include the Certified Special District Manager (CSDM), Certificate in Special District Governance, District of Distinction Accreditation, and the District Transparency Certificate of Excellence.


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Emerging Leaders

Special District Emerging Leaders Scholarship 

This scholarship covers registration to the 2026 CSDA General Manager Leadership Summit for individuals currently in a supervisory role or with less than five years of experience as a general manager. This program is made possible through a generous grant from Five Star Bank, supporting the development of emerging leaders in special districts.

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