SDFM National Scholarship Program
Scholarship Sponsored by Society of Defense Financial Management
Introduction
The Society of Defense Financial Management (SDFM) annually honors exceptional contributions by its chapters, individual members, and the broader defense financial management community through a comprehensive awards program. The program includes individual and team achievement awards, scholarships, professional development grants, an essay contest, chapter recognition, and several other awards focused on individual accomplishment.
How to submit
- To nominate, use the SDFM member login on the left or create a new account here.
- Once your account is active you can begin a nomination or application, save drafts as you assemble materials, and submit your entry any time prior to the applicable deadline.
- Review the program rules before accessing the submission form.
- New to nominating? See How to Write Winning Nominations.
Chapter Awards (deadline April 10, 2026)
The chapter awards submission portal is open through April 10, 2026. Review the Rules for Chapter Competition and complete the annual submission form HERE to enter the categories described below.
- Community Service Award: Recognizes chapters that mobilize members to volunteer within their local communities. All chapters may apply; they must meet a minimum total service-hours requirement and submit a summary log of volunteer activities.
- Chapter Communications Program: Honors up to eight chapters that consistently share chapter news and the benefits of SDFM membership. To compete, chapters must publish a substantive newsletter, maintain a chapter website, and secure publicity in external media beyond the chapter. Awards are given by chapter size. Submissions must include the online form, a sample newsletter upload, and a link to the chapter website.
- Five-Star Chapter Program: Sets expectations for a well-rounded professional chapter that supports SDFM’s mission. To qualify, a chapter must achieve minimum points across meetings, communications, and administration, and provide quarterly materials through the online portal.
- Membership Growth Awards: Presented to chapters with the highest absolute and percentage net membership increases during the competition year. All chapters are considered automatically based on membership figures in the national database; no separate submission is required.
- Neil R. Ginnetti Professional Development Award: Awarded to up to one chapter that demonstrates exceptional and innovative contributions to professional development for chapter members and to Command training needs. The successful program should be applicable and transferable to other SDFM chapters.
Note: The annual Chapter Program reporting form covers all chapter award competition areas, including overall recognition. The completed online form and supporting documentation must be submitted by April 10 via the link above. Also note that certain administrative items are due at other times throughout the year.
National President’s Award
The ASMC National President’s Award recognizes individuals within the defense financial management community who have shown outstanding leadership and made significant contributions to the field.
Achievement Awards
Achievement awards are given each year to individuals and teams nominated for exceptional accomplishments in the various functional areas of comptrollership. Nomination deadline: January 31. Winners will be announced in mid‑March 2025.