Writing a Thank You Letter to a Scholarship Donor
It Is Important to Thank Your Donor!
Our scholarship donors are generous people who have a desire to help MSU students succeed in their educational pursuits. They always enjoy receiving thank you letters from the recipients of their scholarship, and it lets them know that their generosity is appreciated. Thank you letters remind them of why they gave in the first place and often encourage continuing gifts for future students.
Tips for Creating a Well-Written Letter
- Write clearly and concisely. You want the letter to feel warm and personal, yet professional. Tell the donor about yourself. It’s perfectly acceptable to mention your family and hobbies, but put the main focus on your education: why you are pursuing your degree and what your plans are after graduation. Our donors want to know your story, where you came from and where you are going, and how they are helping you on your journey.
- Express enthusiasm. Be sincere in expressing your appreciation to the donor. Donors want to know that their gifts are being put to good use and that they are appreciated. They want to help students succeed. Tell your donor what their scholarship means to you personally.
- Send your letter typewritten in business format and use quality paper. In this case, handwritten notes are not acceptable. You want to present a professional, business-like image to the donor. Writing the donor a typed business letter confirms that their scholarship was important enough to you that you took the time to present yourself in a professional manner. Remember to both sign and type your name at the bottom of the letter.
- Proofread your letter carefully and ensure it is free of grammatical and spelling errors. Remember you are representing not only yourself, but also MSU. You can always email your letter to us at avest@mountainstate.edu before you submit the final copy to our office. We will be happy to proofread your letter for you.
Remember to submit your letter to the Advancement office at MSU, not to the donor directly. Letters must be received in our office before the scholarship funds can be applied to your account. We will then forward your letter to the donor. Scholarship recipients are not to contact the donors directly. All communications must come through the MSU Advancement office.
Sample Scholarship Thank You Letters
The sample letters (PDF - linked below) are provided to help you compose your own thank you letter in the proper format. Please do not copy the letters exactly, but instead use them as a guideline for what your letter should include. Letters received that are obviously copied from the samples below will be returned for editing before the scholarship funds can be applied to your account.
