How to Write a Scholarship Thank You Letter

Congratulations, you just received a scholarship to attend the college of your dreams. Now it’s time to send a sincere, polished thank you letter for that scholarship. 

There are a few reasons to do this. The first is a no-brainer: Someone just gave you money for college – a thank you is very much in order. But beyond simple etiquette, remember that some organizations allow students to reapply for the same scholarship each year. A strong scholarship thank you letter can help donors remember you.

Sending a scholarship thank you letter also encourages donors to continue their generosity, which helps future college students. Think of it as good karma.

What a good scholarship thank you letter looks like.

A good letter communicates your gratitude and reassures donors that they made the right decision. Here are some tips for writing an effective scholarship thank you letter:

• Send a physical letter, not an email. If you received your scholarship from a committee or large organization, type out your letter in business format. But if the scholarship came from a private donor or someone you or your parents know personally, you may want to send a card with a handwritten note.

• Be formal, but also sincere. Explain why the scholarship is important to you and describe how your education will enable you to serve others in your community.

• Be clear and concise. Give specific examples of what this scholarship helps you to achieve, or mention a few highlights of your first semester (if you’ve already begun college). At the same time, keep the letter on a single page.

• Proofread carefully. Like your application letter, the scholarship thank you letter should be free of spelling and grammatical errors.

Sending your scholarship thank you letter.

Write and send the thank you letter for the scholarship soon after learning that you are selected for the award. And remember, letters like this aren’t just appropriate when you get a scholarship. Thank you notes should go to anyone who helped you secure a scholarship or get into college – including teachers who wrote you a letter of recommendation or your high school guidance counselor. 

A prompt, well-written thank you letter helps you finish your scholarship application process in style. But if you’re still searching for the right scholarship, you can increase your chances of success by avoiding these seven big mistakes.