Scholarships

Dr. James Kohnen, Special District Leadership Academy, Scholarship

This scholarship is for registration fees for the Special District Leadership Academy Conference or Governance Foundations module and is open to elected/appointed special district board members from districts with budgets of less than $8 million. Returning attendees of the Special District Leadership Academy (must have previously completed all four modules of the SDLA) - district budget must be under $4 million.

A rolling deadline is the 15th of each month and award notification will be made by the 30th of each month as funds are available.

Dr. Kohnen spent much of his life in public service and always promoted the importance of education. He served on the boards of Alameda County Mosquito Abatement District, Dublin San Ramon Services District, Alameda County Water Conservation and Flood Control District and the California Special Districts Association. While serving on the CSDA Board, he chaired the professional development committee and also served on the SDLF Board of Directors.

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John Yeakley, Certified Special District Manager, Scholarship

This scholarship is for registration fees for continuing education related to special district governance and operations for general managers and executive staff of districts with budgets of less than $8 million. Applicants must be currently pursuing their Certified Special District Manager(CSDM) designation. ​

A rolling deadline is the 15th of each month and award notification will be made by the 30th of each month as funds are available.

John Yeakley served as general manager of Bear Valley Community Services District for almost 20 years and as a highly valued member of the Special District Risk Management Authority Board of Directors. He was one of the first individuals to earn the Certified Special District Manager designation through SDLF in 2001 and the Certificate in Special District Governance from SDLF in 2004.

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Education Allowance Fund Scholarship

The goal of this fund is to provide special district staff and elected/appointed officials an opportunity to access new continuing education opportunities that promote professional development and encourage further involvement in SDLF’s programs (Certified Special District Manager, Certificate in Special District Governance, District of Distinction Accreditation and District Transparency Certificate of Excellence).
Districts with budgets of less than $8 million can qualify.

A rolling deadline is the 15th of each month and award notification will be made by the 30th of each month as funds are available.

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Special District Website Scholarship

The goal of this fund is to provide scholarships to cover the cost of a special district website for 15 months and increase transparency and accountability among some of California’s smallest special districts.

​A rolling deadline is the 15th of each month and award notification will be made by the 30th of each month as funds are available.




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Special District Emerging Leaders Scholarship

This scholarship covers the registration fees ($625) to 2020 General Manager Leadership Summit for sixteen (16) special district staff - in a supervisor position or higher – but not yet a general manager. The 2020 General Manager Leadership Summit will be held June 28-30 in Olympic Valley (Lake Tahoe), CA

A generous grant from Five Star Bank makes this program possible.




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