Thank-You Letter For A Scholarship (With Examples)

Receiving a scholarship is an incredible accomplishment that can ease the financial burden of education.

While you should be excited and proud of this achievement on your behalf, you should remember to write a well-crafted thank-you letter to your scholarship donor.

In this article we will go over how to write a scholarship thank-you letter, provide examples of sample letters, and give tips to make it the best letter.

Key Takeaways:

• College can be very expensive but reviving a scholarship can help lessen that burden so make sure to apply for as many as you can.

• While it’s not required to send a thank-you to your donor, it shows a lot about your character and shows how you value this opportunity.

• When writing your letter make sure to show your gratitude and go into detail of your goals for the future.

The Importance of Thanking Your Donor

There’s no doubt about it. If you’ve been awarded a scholarship, you’ve earned it. With that being said, it’s still imperative to thank your scholarship donor for their contribution to your future.

Despite all the balancing that comes with beginning a college education and financing the endeavor, you should find time in between to write a thank-you letter to people and organizations who have contributed through scholarships. While writing a letter of thanks to a donor for their scholarship offer won’t often be required of you, the gesture says a lot about your character and demonstrates how much you value the opportunity.

A thank-you letter for a scholarship can make your donor confident that they picked the right person to receive it. It’s critical for them to know that their donation has gone to a good cause and someone who appreciates it.

How to Write a Well-Written Thank-You Letter for a Scholarship

Once the excitement of receiving a scholarship has worn off, you should get to work writing a well-written thank-you letter and send it out as soon as possible.

Consider the following steps to creating an appreciative and professional thank-you letter for a scholarship.

1. Use proper formatting. You should be aware of the format, whether you’re sending a thank-you email or writing a hand-written letter. Do some research into a typical professional format for whichever way you choose to deliver your correspondence, and tailor your own thank-you letter to meet this standard.

2. Use the correct salutation and date. Opening with a professional salutation is an introduction that welcomes the reader. You want your donor to see you in a positive light from the very beginning.

   If you’re very familiar with the donor, you can use “Dear First Name.” In the case of a more distant relationship, stick to using “Mr./Mrs./Ms. Last Name.” When you don’t have a specific person you’ve communicated with, such as when a financial aid institution awards the scholarship, you can thank the university or organization.

   You should also include the date on your thank-you letter, even via email, to give the reader some time reference.

3. Mention the scholarship title and be straightforward with your gratitude. In the first paragraph of your thank-you letter, you should mention the title of the scholarship you’ve received, followed up with your immediate gratitude. Most scholarships have a name, and it’s best to include it early on in your email. If for nothing else, to get your reader on the same page.

   You should be forthcoming with your appreciation early on in the letter. Don’t hesitate. By the second sentence, you should express gratitude.

4. Go into detail. Your donor has become well acquainted with who you are by the time they choose you to receive a scholarship. Use the second paragraph of their letter to deepen this connection and let them know what their money is going towards.

   Details can Involve:

   • A description of your past

   • The things that motivate you

   • Your goals for the future

   • Specifics about what the scholarship will help you do

   It’s okay to get a little personal in a thank-you letter for a scholarship. They’re helping you with an intimate matter. Just make sure to use a concise delivery of these relevant details.

5. Thank them again. You’ve touched on all the specifics of where you are and where this scholarship will help you go. Now, close your letter by thanking them one more time. While you want to avoid coming on too strong, the donor should be aware of the effect that they’ve had on your life by choosing you for this scholarship.

   The final thing they read in your letter should be one last sincere thank you for the scholarship.

6. Use an appropriate closer and include your contact info. Finish off your letter with a professional closer. Using “Sincerely” is a pretty safe bet, followed by your signature or full name. You should also include your general contact info after your signature, such as your phone number, email, or website.

Examples of Thank-You Letters for Scholarships

Tips for Writing a Thank-You Letter for a Scholarship

1. Be honest. You probably landed this scholarship because you communicated your financial need and aspirations honestly. You should continue this tone in your thank-you letter. When you give details about how much their contribution means to you, dig deep and come up with some sincere emotion. Authenticity will be received well by your donor.

2. Be concise. Your application was the time to go into page after page details about yourself. Now that you’ve been offered the scholarship position, make sure that your thank-you letter is much briefer. While you want to convey your appreciation and future plans accurately, you should do this in the shortest way possible. Keep it to the necessary information only.

3. Be appreciative. While it comes with the territory that a thank-you letter involves appreciation, this is especially important when writing one for a scholarship. Being awarded a scholarship is a wonderful gift. Whether it’s coming from an organization or an individual, offering a scholarship to someone says that they believe in your potential and want to help foster your success.

   You shouldn’t take this lightly. Make sure that your donor knows how much you appreciate the gift of your scholarship.

4. Write it from scratch. While consulting samples from the internet can help you understand the format of a thank-you letter for a scholarship, you should always write yours from scratch. A reader will be able to tell if you’re just filling in the blanks of a script, and it can be discouraging.

   You want your scholarship donor to feel appreciated and acknowledged. The best way to do that by personalizing their thank-you letter.

5. Proofread before sending. It’s always a good idea to double check your work for any spelling or grammar errors before sending a thank you letter. Proof read the letter before sending it and make sure all the information is correct, especially the spelling of the name of the person you’re sending it to.

Thank-You Letter for a Scholarship FAQ

• How long should a thank you letter for a scholarship be?

  The length of a scholarship letter should be two to three paragraphs. These paragraphs should be a few sentences each. While there is no right or wrong length, you should not be sending just a sentence or two. You also don’t want to send a letter that is multiple pages.

• How do you end a thank you letter?

  Using “Sincerely” is a pretty safe bet. You can also use “best regards”, “gratefully”, or “kind thanks” to end your letter. You will want to keep the ending professional.

• How do you respond to a scholarship offer?

  The best way to respond to a scholarship offer is to send a letter. This would be in the form of a thank you letter. When writing this letter you should address it to the scholarship donor, include the name of the scholarship, and show your gratitude for the offer.

Author

Sky Ariella

Sky Ariella is a professional freelance writer, originally from New York. She has been featured on websites and online magazines covering topics in career, travel, and lifestyle. She received her BA in psychology from Hunter College.