What is the Best Format for a Scholarship Thank You Letter?

What is a Thank You Letter for a Scholarship?

Scholarships, even small amounts, help you fund your education, and when a school or organization rewards you with this type of funding, you should always write a letter of appreciation. Your letter needs a professional and formal voice, typed, and written in a business letter format. As well, you will need to include certain elements in your letter. A well-written letter shows respect and confirms your appreciation for the organization’s award. These letter’s show thanks for the financial aid provided to you by scholarship donors or certain organizations.

These letters can be made from high school funding or college scholarship opportunities, and those writing these letters can range from those in high school looking to be future students in college to those college students currently getting a college education. Make sure you reach out to the correct organization names or donor names listed for your specific scholarship awarded for your financial assistance. The purpose of this letter is to thank them for investing in your future, so make sure you have the correct donor information before sending.

Review and double-check your letter for correct donor name spellings, correct organizations listed for that scholarship and to eliminate unnecessary grammatical errors. These letters can act as a follow up with a specific donor or organization after your initial awarding of the scholarship. There are scholarship thank you letter templates and sample scholarship thank you letters, so follow our tips for the best help.

What is the Best Format for a Scholarship Thank You Letter?

Date and Address

At the top left of your page, you will type the date of your letter. Allow two line spaces after the date and then type in the name of the person, company or organization who awarded you the scholarship. On the next line, state the name of the scholarship itself. On the following lines, complete the mailing address.

Place two spaces between the line with the city, state and zip code, and then you will give the salutation. If a person or family donated your scholarship funds, begin with “Dear Mr. Smith” or “Dear Smith Family,” using the family name and a formal address. If an organization or company gave you the award, begin your letter with “Dear” and then the name of the company or organization. This will address the donor like, “Dear Scholarship Donor…”

Opening

In the first paragraph of your letter, begin by offering your appreciation for the scholarship funds or financial support. You should restate the name of the scholarship and the amount awarded to you. This paragraph will often contain only one or two sentences.

Body

A scholarship award shows an investment in your future, and your thank you letter should allow the donor to know more about your future plans. In the second paragraph, state specific goals and tell the donor how the scholarship will help you achieve these goals. While college and certain career activities take on financial burden, be open in your appreciation by explaining what you will be using the scholarship for. You may also choose to tell the donors more about yourself. This may include volunteer projects, internships or other opportunities that relate to your future. Giving the donor an insight into your dedication and drive to learn and succeed shows the value of their investment. Thank them for their generous support in your education, extracurricular activities, and career goals.

Closing

In the final paragraph of your thank you letter, restate your gratitude and express how the funds will help you achieve your goals. This will express the thoughts for the thank you note. Once you complete the letter, place two line spaces and end your letter with a closing such as “sincerely” or “gratefully.” Place four line spaces between this ending and type your full name, and you can add “scholarship recipient” after your name for clarity to the reader. Add a blank line, and type in your address. Once you have completely proofread and edited your thank you letter, print the page and sign in the area just above your contact information.