Writing a thank-you letter for a scholarship is similar to writing one in any other situation—like thanking a hiring manager for an interview or a distant relative for a thoughtful gift. There are some extra things to consider though—read on to discover how to express gratitude for a scholarship.
Table of Contents:
1. How to Write a Thank-You Letter for a Scholarship
General Guidelines
Although there is no one-size-fits-all-solution for your scholarship thank-you note, it should adhere to the following guidelines
Your thank-you letter should:
- Be sent within 1 week of accepting your scholarship offer
- Be handwritten or typed, but shouldn’t exceed one page in length
- Include the organization’s name and address as well as a formal salutation such as Dear, [Sponsorship Donor or Organization’s Name] at the beginning of the letter
- Be well written and free of spelling and grammatical errors
Scholarship Thank-You Letter Format
Use our thank-you letter format, separated into individual paragraphs, to help you structure the perfect thank-you letter today!
1st Paragraph—Use this section to establish that the purpose of the letter is to thank the donor or organization for their generous contribution. Include information about who you are, what scholarship you’ve received, and what educational institution you are or will be attending.
2nd Paragraph—This section is used provide general information about your academic and extracurricular pursuits such as your year of study, grade point average (GPA), graduation date, sports, clubs you are a member of, and your intended future job title and industry.
3rd Paragraph—This optional section can be used to provide your scholarship donor with more personalized information about your unique academic pursuits, volunteer experience, research, internships, financial situation, extracurricular activities, future plans, and passions.
4th Paragraph—Close the letter by restating your thanks and gratitude for the donor’s contribution to your future.
2. Scholarship Thank-You Letter Templates
We’ve made it easy for you to express your gratitude with the following free downloadable MS Word scholarship thank-you letter samples. Just select the appropriate thank-you letter template based on the type of scholarship you’ve received, customize it with your personal information, and drop it in the mail!
College Scholarship Thank-You Letter
Without the financial aid provided by a scholarship, you may have been unable to attend college, been forced to incur massive amounts of student debt, or had to take on a job to make ends meet. Therefore, if you’ve recently received a scholarship, you’re likely searching for a way to say thank you to the organization or individual responsible for alleviating your financial burden. A college scholarship thank-you letter is the perfect opportunity to express your gratitude.
Your letter should include the following information:
- The name of the university, college, or institution you’re attending, your year of study, and your educational track
- Provide detailed information about your academic pursuits as well as your extracurricular interests such as your Grade Point Average (GPA), sports you play, and clubs you’re involved in
- State your proposed graduation date and the job title you intend to pursue after graduation
- Elaborate on how your future career path will allow you to contribute to a community of interest after graduation
Click Here to Download This MS Word Letter
College Scholarship Thank-You Letter (Text Format)
College Scholarship Thank-You Letter
[Your Name]
[1234 Street Address]
[City, State, Zip]
_______________________________________________________________________
[Today’s Date]
[Organization Name]
[1234 Street Address]
[City, State, Zip]
Dear [Scholarship Donor or Organization’s Name],
I am honored to be the recipient of the [Scholarship Name] of [Scholarship Amount]. Your generous contribution has allowed me to pursue my [Undergraduate/Master’s/Ph.D.] degree at [University / College / Institution].
I am currently enrolled in the [Degree or Program] with a focus on [Minor or Specialization]. I consistently maintain a Grade Point Average (GPA) of [GPA] and actively participate in [Extracurricular Activity] in my spare time. I plan on graduating in [Month] of [Year], at which time I will pursue a career in the [Industry] as a [Job Title]. I will use the knowledge, skills, and expertise I gain during my time at [University / College / Institution] to contribute to the [Industry] community after graduation.
[Optional Section]: Use this section to provide your scholarship donor with more personalized information about your unique academic pursuits, volunteer experience, research, internships, financial situation, extracurricular activities, future plans, and passions.
The [Name of Scholarship] has paid for my [Type of Expense] expense, allowing me to focus on my academic pursuits. Without your donation, I wouldn’t be able to achieve the grades necessary to fulfil my professional ambition of becoming a [Job Title]. Thank you for your continued support and investment in my future.
Sincerely,
[Your Name]
High School Scholarship Thank-You Letter
Receiving a scholarship for your high school education means that you’ve been awarded the opportunity to attend a private institution. Private institutions offer distinguished education and extracurricular programs which will have a positive impact on your college application and future career prospects.
With a high school scholarship thank-you letter, you can express gratitude to the donor(s) whose generous contribution allowed you to attend a private school, and the explain the impact it will have on your future.
We recommend including the following items:
- Begin by focusing on what you’ve accomplished during your time at high school such as your notable academic achievements and extracurricular activities.
- Detail your plans for after graduation such the college you hope to attend and the degree program and career you intend on pursuing.
- Tie it all together by highlighting how your time at high school has contributed to your development and allowed you to create a solid foundation to build your future on.
Click Here to Download This MS Word Letter
High School Scholarship Thank-You Letter (Text Format)
High School Scholarship Thank-You Letter
[Your Name]
[1234 Street Address]
[City, State, Zip]
_______________________________________________________________________
[Today’s Date]
[Organization Name]
[1234 Street Address]
[City, State, Zip]
Dear [Scholarship Donor or Organization’s Name],
I am honored to have been selected as the recipient of the [Scholarship Name] of [Scholarship Amount] for the [Year] period. Thanks to your generous contribution, I have been able to receive an outstanding education and participate in stimulating extracurricular activities at [High School]. Attending [High School] has played an integral role in molding my personal character and establishing an impressive portfolio to support my college applications.
I am currently enrolled in my [Freshman/Sophomore/Junior/Senior] year and maintain a Grade Point Average (GPA) of [GPA]. In addition to my academic pursuits, I actively participate in [Extracurricular Activity], [Extracurricular Activity], and [Extracurricular Activity]. After graduating from [High School] in [Month] of [Year], I plan on attending [University / College / Institution] in order to obtain a [Degree or Certificate]. Upon completing my post-secondary education, I plan to pursue a career as a [Job Title].
[Optional Section]: Use this section to provide your scholarship donor with more personalized information about your unique academic pursuits, volunteer experience, internships, financial situation, extracurricular activities, future plans, and passions.
The [Name of Scholarship] and opportunity to attend [High School] has helped me create a solid foundation for which to build my future. Thank you again for the generous support.
Sincerely,
[Your Name]
Thank-You Letter to Scholarship Donor
A thank-you note addressed to your scholarship donor allows you to express your gratitude for their contribution firsthand. Your personal account of the positive impact the scholarship has had on your life affirms the value of their donation and encourages their continued support.
Although scholarship donors specify the merits for which they want their scholarship to be awarded to an individual on, they might not play a role in selecting the individual recipient(s). Therefore, we suggest including the following material in your thank-you letter:
- Start your letter by stating your name and the name of the scholarship you received
- List the details of your academic education such as the name of your university, the type of degree you are pursuing (I.e. Undergraduate, Master’s, PH.D.), the name of your degree program, year of study, and your minor or specialization
- Incorporate personal information about your extracurricular activities, organizations you volunteer for, leadership initiatives you take part in, clubs you are a member of etc.
- Use the rest of your letter to explain how your donor’s contribution has impacted your ability to accomplish your future career goals and reach your fullest potential
Click Here to Download This MS Word Letter
Thank-You Letter to Scholarship Donor (Text Format)
Thank-You Letter to Scholarship Donor
[Your Name]
[1234 Street Address]
[City, State, Zip]
_______________________________________________________________________
[Today’s Date]
[Organization Name]
[1234 Street Address]
[City, State, Zip]
Dear [Scholarship Donor],
My name is [Your Name] and I am honored to be one of this year’s recipients of the [Scholarship Name]. I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your generosity in funding the [Name of Scholarship]. Thanks to your donation, I am able to continue my education at the [University / College / Institution].
I am currently in the [Freshman/Sophomore/Junior/Senior] year of my [Degree or Program], with a minor in [Minor or Specialization]. My dedication and passion for [Degree or Program] has allowed me to achieve a Grade Point Average (GPA) of [GPA]. In addition to my academic pursuits, I am actively involved in [Extracurricular Activity], [Extracurricular Activity], and [Extracurricular Activity]. After my scheduled graduation in [Month] of [Year], I plan to pursue a career as a [Job Title] in order to contribute to the [Industry].
[Optional Section]: Use this section to provide your scholarship donor with more personalized information about your unique academic pursuits, volunteer experience, internships, financial situation, extracurricular activities, future plans, and passions.
My educational pursuits would not have been possible without your generous donation to the [Scholarship Name]. Thank you for enabling me to reach my fullest personal and professional potential.
Sincerely,
[Your Name]
Thank-You Letter for Scholarship Sponsors
Scholarship sponsors want to know more about the recipients of their donations than their name, university campus, and bank account details. They want to know how their sponsorship has had a positive impact on your education and how you plan to contribute to the greater community after graduation. Scholarship donors want to be assured that by investing in your continued education, they are investing in a better future for others
An excellent way to forge a connection with your scholarship sponsors is to write them a thank-you note. A well written thank-you note will encourage your sponsors to continue their donation and support of future students. Your letter should include:
- Your name, the name of the scholarship you’ve received, as well as name of the university, college, or institution you are attending
- Details of your academic endeavors such as your level of education, degree type you are pursuing, and your Grade Point Average (GPA)
- Your personal interests and passions as demonstrated by your involvement in extracurricular interests, sporting activities, and volunteer projects
- The job title and industry you plan on entering after graduation
- An explanation of how the expertise and knowledge you’ve gained during your education will allow you to contribute to local communities and global industries after graduation
Click Here to Download This MS Word Letter
Thank-You Letter for Scholarship Sponsor (Text Format)
Thank-You Letter for Scholarship Sponsors
[Your Name]
[1234 Street Address]
[City, State, Zip]
_______________________________________________________________________
[Today’s Date]
[Organization Name]
[1234 Street Address]
[City, State, Zip]
Dear [Scholarship Sponsor],
My name is [Your Name] and I am one of the recipients of the [Year] [Name of Scholarship]. Thanks to your generous sponsorship of the [Name of Scholarship], I am able to pursue my passion for [Program or Degree] at the [University / College / Institution].
I am a [Undergraduate/Master’s/Ph.D.] student entering my [Year] year of the [Degree or Program]. Throughout my degree, I have been able to maintain a Grade Point Average of [GPA] while participating in [Extracurricular Activity] and [Extracurricular Activity]. I look forward to pursuing a career as a [Job Title] upon my graduation in [Month] of [Year]. I am confident that the expertise and knowledge I have gained at [University / College / Institution] will allow me to make a lasting difference to the [Industry] industry.
[Optional Section]: Use this section to provide your scholarship donor with more personalized information about your unique academic pursuits, volunteer experience, internships, financial situation, extracurricular activities, future plans, and passions.
The [Name of Scholarship] paid for my [Type of Expense] expense which alleviated my financial burden and allowed me to focus on my studies. Thank you for your continued sponsorship of the [Name of Scholarship].
Sincerely,
[Your Name]
Again, Congratulations on your recent scholarship! We wish you luck in your continued education and future prospects. And don’t worry, when it comes time to launch your new career, we’ve got you covered with our extensive guide on how to write a resume.
