Tips on how to write a scholarship thank you letter

Structure of a scholarship thank you letter

Greeting

As with any letter, opening with a kind and courteous “hello” is a must. Words like “Dear NAME,” “Hello NAME,” “Good morning/afternoon NAME,” are all good options that are professional yet warm.

You don’t want to sound too casual, so avoid using phrases like “Hey,” “Hi,” or ‘What’s up,”. Save those for your friends. You should also avoid openings that are cold, like “To Whom It May Concern” or just the donor’s name.

Opening

The first thing you should write after your greeting is a big, sincere thank you to the donor for the scholarship opportunity. Winning a scholarship is a big deal, and the donor will surely value hearing how much you appreciate their role in helping you pay for school.

Be specific about how the scholarship will impact you, too. Is this scholarship making college possible for you? Is this paying for your new computer or school supplies? Will you be able to afford your living expenses with this scholarship? You can even go into detail about the long-term impact of the scholarship. Will this scholarship allow you to have a big impact on your community? The world? Keep all of these in mind as you write your letter.

Body

This is the part of the letter where you can get into specific details and discuss experiences connected to the impact the scholarship may have on your life. Briefly talk about your personal achievements and how the scholarship can help you continue growing and achieving more. Share your goals and how this award can help you accomplish them. This can add a personal touch to your letter and help you stand out as a winner.

Closing

In closing, saying “thank you” once more will emphasize your appreciation for the scholarship. Starting and ending your letter with a thank you is the perfect appreciation sandwich and will feel authentic. Finish with “Regards, YOUR NAME,” “Sincerely, YOUR NAME,” or “Thank you, YOUR NAME.”

Timeliness is key

If there’s one thing you need to know, it’s that being on time is important. The same goes for sending a scholarship thank you letter— make sure you send one promptly after you’ve won. If you wait month to send it, it may have less of an impact on the donor. Try your best to send your letter within two weeks of receiving the scholarship. If you’re sending a physical letter, make sure to consider how long it will take to go through the postal system.

Keep in touch

Don’t let this thank you letter be a one-and-done thing—request to keep the line of communication open with your donor. You can provide updates on how you’ve used your scholarship, what it helped you achieve, and share your ongoing gratitude for it. Talk about your desire to stay in touch and offer your contact information—a phone number and/or professional email address is enough.

The do’s and don’ts of writing a thank you letter

TLDR? Here are a few key things to do and NOT to do in your scholarship thank you letter.

Do’s

• Be genuine: If you’re being fake, it will show (trust me). Be yourself and write in your own voice—the scholarship donor will be able to tell that you’re being true to you. 
• Be specific: Get to the point—use direct, simple language to get your message across. Keep things brief and concise. 
• Include details about the impact of the scholarship: The donor won’t want to read an essay, but sharing some important details of how the scholarship will change your life doesn’t hurt.
• Proofread: There’s nothing worse than spelling someone’s name wrong in an email. Always make sure to check your work over and have someone you trust read it, too. Grammar, punctuation, spelling—all of it needs to look good before you send your letter.

Don’ts

• Don’t use generic content: It can’t be stressed enough—details are essential! Don’t copy and paste a standard thank you letter and assume that it’s enough. Be original. 
• Don’t use clichés: Throwing overused phrases into your letter like “Every cloud has a silver lining” may conjure up more of an eyeroll than appreciation from the scholarship donor, so try to avoid writing them.
• Don’t use abstract formatting and tone: Follow a standard paragraph structure to make sure the scholarship donor doesn’t get confused while reading the letter and use a professional tone. 
• Don’t send a letter over text: While texting may be appropriate with your friends, family, and maybe even your boss, a text shouldn’t be your go-to method of getting your thank you letter across. Opt for either an email or a handwritten letter (using a blue or black ink pen, of course). 
• Don’t send your letter too late: As mentioned above, timeliness is everything. Don’t wait too long to send your letter or it may feel like old news to the scholarship donor.

Ready to write a scholarship thank you letter?

Consider writing a thank you letter to be the final step of your scholarship application process. In short, show the scholarship donor that you’re grateful with a kind, professional, and prompt letter that does the following:

• Showcases your genuine appreciation 
• Demonstrates how you’ll use the scholarship 
• Discusses how the scholarship will help you achieve your goals 
• Keeps the line of communication open with the donor

It also never hurts to keep looking for more scholarships after you write your letter. Pro tip: High schoolers—scholarships aren’t just for college students. You should find and apply for scholarships whether you’re a first-year student in high school or in college. You never know what you may win!

If you’re looking to find scholarships, we’ve got just the thing. Use Scholarship Search by Sallie to quickly find scholarships you qualify for by browsing categories that fit you and apply. No registration required. We also have a guide on how to find scholarships, a one-stop destination for specific types of scholarships, and tips on how to write scholarship essays. Happy scholarship hunting!