9 Best Scholarship Thank You Letter Examples (Guide + Tips)

A scholarship thank you letter is a formal letter that shows appreciation and acknowledges the generosity of the scholarship donor or sponsor that will provide financial support for your education. It can also be addressed to the committee that selected you for the scholarship.As a student being able to pursue your education with the help of a competitive scholarship can help ease your financial burden.

The scholarship you receive results from the kindness and selflessness of a donor or sponsor. Showing appreciation through a thank you letter is the least you can do. Donors receive nothing for the support they provide, and therefore, a thank you letter can go a long way in making them feel appreciated. Some institutions supported by scholarships require beneficiaries to write a scholarship thank you letter to the donor. However, in most cases, the scholarship recipient decides whether or not to write a thank you letter. To understand why it is crucial to write a scholarship thank you for a letter, you must first understand it.

A scholarship thank you letter plays a vital role in enabling you to show your gratitude for the financial support provided by the donor or sponsor. Through the letter, the donor is reminded of the positive impact that the scholarship will have in your educational and professional life. The letter also helps encourage the donor to stay committed to gifting the same support to other students. You can use the letter to build lasting connections with individuals in the scholarship organization who can help you later on in life.

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You must have a clear understanding of drafting a scholarship thank you letter. Knowing how to outline your heartfelt sentiments of appreciation will ensure your gratitude is appropriately conveyed.

The following is a guide on how you should write a scholarship thank you letter:

Header

The scholarship thank you letter should begin with the date of writing. You should then indicate the donor or organization’s name, the scholarship name, address, city-state, and zip code. The details contained in the header should be indicated on the top left corner of the page to ensure that the letter is in line with the business letter writing format.

Salutation

Secondly, you should indicate a greeting that addresses the donor by their last name. You should ensure that you address the donor using an appropriate title such as Dr, Mr., Ms. or Mrs.  A general greeting should only be used if you are writing to a donor who prefers to remain anonymous. In such an event, you should use a greeting such as ‘Dear Donor’ or ‘Dear Benefactor.’

Introduction

The introduction of the scholarship thank you letter sets the mood of your message. A well-written introduction explains the purpose of the letter. You must consider what to include in your introduction to ensure it communicates effectively.

The following information should be outlined in the introduction:

Express your gratitude

The introduction’s first two lines should explain why you are writing the letter. Therefore, start by expressing your gratitude for being selected as a scholarship recipient. Be genuine with your expression.

The name of the scholarship you’ve received

Indicate the name of the scholarship you have received in your expression of gratitude. A donor may be running more than one scholarship program and may require context as to which one you have received. Therefore, the full name of the program should be mentioned.

Tell the donor about yourself

Next, briefly tell the donor about yourself. You do not need to go into too much detail but instead outline basic background information about yourself, like where you’re from, what level of education you have reached, or what you do. These details provide the donor with insight into who you are.

Body of the Letter

The body of the scholarship thank you letter allows you to expound on why this scholarship is important to you. It also contains more detail about you and your ambitions. Each element of the letter’s body is tailored to give the donor context on why you are so grateful.

The following information should be outlined in the body of a scholarship thank you letter:

The impact of their generosity

Explain what impact the donor’s generosity has had on you. For example, indicate how it has impacted your dreams and ambitions or your family’s. Outlining how you have been impacted shows the donor that the simple act of selecting you already brings positive change in your life.

Show your personality

Show your personality by expressing your excitement over being selected as a beneficiary of the scholarship. It helps share how you feel about winning the scholarship and moving forward. Keep your remarks brief and straight to the point.

How the Scholarship will Help You

You should provide information on how the scholarship has enabled you to further progress your professional and educational ambitions. Be specific; for instance, you can state that it has enabled you to study abroad or conduct research. You may also state how it has helped your family with a particular financial burden. When indicating the impact it has had in your professional life, you may explain how the support provided has impacted your career plans, the course you study or hope to study. You may also go further by outlining how the donor’s scholarship has impacted your year.

Your future goals

You should outline future plans and personal goals that have a direct link to the scholarship you have won. For example, you can state what you plan to do once you graduate, how you plan to help your family in the future, or where you want to go after your studies. You may also state your plan to volunteer or pay the generosity by helping someone else. Laying out your goals helps give the donor a glimpse into your aspirations.

Conclusion

Finally, thank the donor once more for emphasising your gratitude. You can also indicate your commitment to do well in your education. In addition, it will show the donor that you are determined to ensure that their investment yield desirable results.

Signature

You can close the letter with words like ‘Sincerely’ or Warm Regards.’ You should then indicate your full name, address, city-state, and zip code. These details, along with your official signature, should be indicated at the bottom left corner to align with the header.

Information to Include in a thank you letter for a college scholarship 

• Your name and contact details like mailing address, phone number, and email address  
• Thank the donor and mention the name of the scholarship program, year of study, and university/college/institution.
• Your academic goals and how the grant will help you achieve them
• Your education track by stating your GPA or any noteworthy academic achievements you have had.
• Any extracurricular interests, such as sports and clubs, you participate in 
• Your career plans, how you intend to contribute to society, and how financial aid is important to these plans

Tips for writing an exceptional letter thanking your sponsor for a high school scholarship

• Focus on a few noteworthy academic achievements to illustrate your capability and show you deserve the scholarship. 
• Mention future academic and career goals after high school. You can mention the university you wish to apply to. 
• The letter should also show how high school education and experience have contributed to your personal or academic development. 
• The information provided in the letter should be accurate. Use the full names of schools, programs, locations, etc. 

Details you can include in your letter to a scholarship donor

• Personal information such as your name and address should be included in the letter. Also, specify the donor’s name and address.
• Your academic institution’s name and the course you are undertaking (the program’s name, year of study, and degree level – undergraduate, master’s, or Ph.D.).
• Any academic specialization or minor you are pursuing.
• Extracurricular activities, volunteer work, club memberships, and academic or professional projects you are engaged in should also be specified.
• Details on how the donor’s contribution will affect your academic or career trajectory. You can achieve this by discussing your career goals and their relevance to society. 

What should you include in a letter for a Ph.D. scholarship

• You must provide your contact information for identification purposes.
• Specify the scholarship’s name for which you are thanking the sponsors. 
• Indicate the academic institution you are attending, the degree you will pursue, and your academic performance.
• Share your plans for the future, and how the scholarship will help you achieve them. This can include your academic plans, career aspirations, or personal goals.
• Mention any academic or non-academic accomplishments that may have contributed to you being selected for the scholarship. This can include academic achievements like your GPA, research projects, or academic awards, as well as non-academic achievements like volunteer work, extracurricular activities, or leadership positions.

It would be best to think about a few practices writing your scholarship thank you letter. These practices will help ensure that your letter is compelling. They will also help you maintain the formal nature of the letter.

The tips include the following:

Write clearly and concisely

The scholarship thank you letter should be short and to the point. You must assume that the donor has other important issues to attend to and would appreciate a quick and easy letter to read. A few concise paragraphs are enough to convey your gratitude. Your letter should be at least one page long.

Double-check for typographical and grammatical errors

Proofread the letter to ensure it does not contain any typographical and grammatical errors. Next, you can ask a friend to review the letter and point out any errors it may contain. Then, make the necessary changes before you send your thank you letter.

Express enthusiasm

Express your enthusiasm for winning the scholarship in your letter. It helps maintain a positive tone and enhances the impact of your sentiments on the donor. Use simple, straightforward language when expressing your enthusiasm.

Be sincere

Your scholarship thank you letter should have a sincere tone. The donor will be more receptive to its contents if it is genuine. Therefore, it would be best to be truthful about the details you outline about yourself and your financial needs.

Follow business letter format

Your thank you letter should use the standard business letter format to lay out your gratitude. It includes ensuring that the letter is typewritten. You should use a high-quality resume paper to submit a hard copy of the letter. Use the font type Arial or Times New Roman as it is easy to read and is often recommended for formal documents. You may also use font type 12 or 13 as it is practical and reasonably easy on the eyes.

Let’s take a look on few key takeaways to remember when writing a Scholarship Thank You Letter:

• A scholarship thank you is a formal letter that enables you to share your gratitude for the financial support provided by a donor or sponsor. It acknowledges the donor’s kindness and selflessness for selecting you to receive the scholarship they offer.
• The thank you letter plays an important role in reminding the donor of the impact that the scholarship has on the life of students and encourages them to stay committed to the support provided to students in need of the scholarships offered. It also enables students to build connections with people in the scholarship organization who may help later on in their lives.
• A well-laid scholarship thank you letter contains a header, salutation, and a strong introduction. The body of the letter elaborates on why you are so grateful and how the donor’s generosity has impacted your life. It also provides insight into who you are. Finally, the conclusion reiterates your gratitude and your future goals.
• When writing a scholarship thank you letter, remember to keep the details clear and concise. The letter should also be sincere in expressing your enthusiasm for becoming a recipient of the scholarship. Finally, remember to double-check the letter for typographical and grammatical errors.

About This Article

Authored by:

Megan V.

Award-Winning Resume Writing, Cover Letters, Executive Bios, Public Relations

Megan V. is an acclaimed resume writing professional, celebrated repeatedly as one of the "Top Ten Best Resume Writers in the Bay Area," a title she proudly reclaimed in 2023. Transitioning from her extensive experience owning and steering a public relations agency since 2009, Megan has tailored her writing prowess to cater to individuals seeking standout resumes, compelling cover letters, and detailed executive bios.