John H Scholarship Program

To make a contribution to the John H Scholarship fund, click here: Contribute to the John H Scholarship Fund

Deadline for applications

The deadline for 2026 scholarship applications is 65 days prior to early booking deadline (May 1, 2026). This allows the committee time to render a decision and reply to applicants in a timely manner.

Decisions will be made by the Host Committee by approximately May 15th, 2026 which is 50 days before the Early Registration Deadline. The Host Committee will provide scholarship allocation information to the GSB Treasurer at the same time.

Description and Instructions 

Purpose 

The purpose of the John H. Scholarship Program is to provide financial assistance to GSRs and ISRs who are willing to be of service and to attend the Debtors Anonymous Annual World Service Conference but lack all the necessary funds to do so.

Eligibility 

Delegates applying for a scholarship must have:

  1. One year of not having incurred any new, unsecured debt
  2. A committed record of service at the group or Intergroup level
  3. Actively working the Twelve Steps and Twelve Tools of Debtors Anonymous
  4. Active member of home group
  5. Willingness to fulfill Conference duties and to remain a committee member the entire Conference year
  6. If the GSR/ISR is a returnee to the Conference, it is required that they have attended at least 7 out of 11 of the previous year’s committee’s meetings
  7. The group shall state on the application whether it has received John H.  scholarship funding, and if so, the years if known

Decisions will be made by an ad hoc committee of at least three, and as many as five members, including a delegate from the Host Committee, a delegate from the GSB Conference Support Committee, a delegate from the WSC Conference Committee, and up to two other volunteers, to be chosen by the three designated members, who must be ISRs or GSRs, who need not be members of the GSB or the Conference Committee, at least fifty (50) days before the Early Registration Deadline. The Host Committee shall provide scholarship allocation information to the GSB Treasurer at the same time.

Allocation

One scholarship will be given based on the “Most Need.” This allows some GSRs/ISRs from small groups an opportunity to participate. However,

(a) the group that is represented by the “Most Need” scholarship recipient must have been a registered meeting with the GSO and meeting on a regular basis for at least two years;

(b) the “Most Need” recipient cannot receive this scholarship in two successive years; and

(c) the group should have demonstrated that they have made an attempt to get their GSR/ISR to the Conference, for example, passing a separate basket or fundraisers.

The remainder of the fund will be allocated to those GSRs/ISRs with the “least need” first, in order to get more delegates to the Conference.

The scholarship is awarded to the group, not the individual. This means if an award is granted and then the individual cannot attend the WSC for whatever reason, the group can send another group member (the elected alternate GSR/ISR) instead and the alternate GSR/ISR may use the scholarship funds (as long as the funds are used for the group the scholarship was originally awarded to). If the group cannot send an alternate GSR/ISR, the funds go back into the scholarship fund for the host committee to re-award to a previously denied applicant.

Deadlines 

  1. Scholarship Applications must be received by the General Service Office by  May 1, 2026. This allows the Host Committee time to make funding decisions and advise award recipients in a timely manner.
  2. Funding decisions will be made by an ad hoc committee generated by the Host Committee no later than May 12 2026.
  1. Applicants will be notified by May 15, 2026 by telephone, e-mail, or written correspondence.   

Application Instructions

The Application Form is included in this download: 

John H Information and Application download

or you can apply online via this link:

John H Scholarship Online Application Form

It is recommended that if you use the online form, you fill out a paper version of the spending plan first for yourself, to guide you as a reference.

In the “Personal Information” section, please provide: 

  1. Your name, mailing address, phone number, and e-mail address.
  2. Your group name and group number.

In the “Expense Information” section: 

  1. Registration Fee is pre-entered on the form and includes meals and lodging. Scholarship awards will be based on the early registration amount.
  2. Transportation. Complete amounts for each applicable line item in this section.
  3. Meals (other than meal package included in registration). Complete amounts for each applicable line item in this section, including meals in route to and from conference.
  4. Miscellaneous Expenses. Complete amounts for each applicable line item in this section. 5. Subtotal. Add amounts in Rows (A-E).
  5. Contingency. Multiply Subtotal of Rows (A-E) by 10%.
  6. Total. Add (Subtotal) + (Contingency).
  7. Amount of Group Contribution. Subtract total funds your group can contribute.
  8. Amount of Scholarship needed. Enter amount requested from the scholarship fund.

Submitting the application: 

Email completed application to: office@debtorsanonymous.org Or mail completed application to:

WSC 2026 Host Committee 

C/O: D.A. GSO 

P.O. Box 920888 

Needham, MA 02492 

After the conference: 

If you receive a scholarship award, after  the conference you must:

  1. Complete the “actual” column of the  application form (Column “B”).
  2. Mail the completed form and a check in  the amount of any unused funds to: D.A. GSB

P.O. Box 920888

Needham, MA 02492

Applications must be received by May 1, 2026. 

If you apply for a scholarship, please wait to send in your  conference registration until after you have received

notification regarding the final scholarship decision.

John H. Scholarship Application Form 

Name: Group Name _______________________________  Address: Group #_____________________________ City, State, Zip: _______________________________________________________________________________

E-mail::___________________________________________Phone::____________________________________

☐ I acknowledge that I am eligible to apply for the John H. Fund 

My group has received a John H. Scholarship in the past: ☐ Yes    ☐ No    Year(s) if known: ______

D.A. E-News. Delegates are strongly encouraged to subscribe to D.A.’s eNews announcements by clicking on this link: https://debtorsanonymous.org/enews  If you wish to unsubscribe there is a link at the bottom of each eNews email. Due to various international privacy laws, we cannot enroll on your behalf, you must opt in yourself.

Applications must be received by the General Service Office by May 1, 2026. 

Email completed application to:

office@debtorsanonymous.org

Or mail completed application to:

WSC 2026 Host Committee

C/O: D.A. GSO

P.O. Box 920888

Needham, MA 02492