Applications for the SEIU 509 2026 Scholarship Program are now open! Please take a look at the guidelines below for more information. The deadline to submit an application is Friday, April 10, 2026.
About the SEIU 509 Scholarship Program
The SEIU 509 Scholarship Program funds annual educational scholarship awards for 509 union members from the Private Human Services, Elder Services, Family Child Care, and Higher Education chapters, and their eligible dependents.
**Public Sector members are awarded scholarships separately from the SEIU 509 Commonwealth Fund. Please follow the link for more details if you are a state worker and would like to apply!
Scholarships are applied to tuition only, and must be used within the 2026-2027 academic year (Summer or Fall of 2026 or Spring of 2027). Dependents are defined as children of members, or children under direct care of the member–such as a grandchild or foster child. If you are applying on behalf of yourself & dependent(s), please submit all names on the same application.
Scholarships range from $1,000 to $1,500. Some awards honor a member’s activism and a demonstrated commitment to the union’s growth over the last calendar year. Others are assigned to a specific sector, or officers or stewards. From this pool of qualified applicants, winners are drawn at random.
More Information on Scholarship Program Guidelines
- The application deadline is April 10, 2026 at 5 PM.
- The applicant must be a current dues-paying member of the Private Sector, Elder Services, Family Childcare, or Higher Ed Chapter. The member must be considered a “member in good standing” as defined in the SEIU 509 Constitution.
- Members can also apply for a dependent, which are defined as: children of the member or children under direct care of the member, such as a grandchild or foster child.
- Members must be enrolled in an undergraduate, graduate, or PhD program (higher education, not primary or secondary education).
- Dependents of members can be high school seniors or currently enrolled in undergraduate studies at an accredited educational institution.
- ONCE WINNERS ARE CHOSEN, ENROLLMENT VERIFICATION IS REQUIRED–if enrollment cannot be confirmed by May 4, 2026, the award will go to the runner-up.
- Scholarship winners will be announced on Friday, May 22, 2026.
- The awards will only be paid to the educational institution with proof of enrollment.
- No member or dependent may be awarded more than one SEIU 509 scholarship per academic year. If a member or dependent has won an SEIU 509 scholarship in a previous year, they are still eligible to apply and win this year.
- Winners for all awards will be selected at random from a pool of qualified applicants.
For more information about the SEIU 509 Scholarship Program, please contact Jenny Bauer at JBauer@seiu509.org.
