Paragraph 2: Explain Why It Matters

In addition to the explicit thank you, another aspect of the scholarship thank you letter is to explain how these funds will impact your studies and your future: why it matters. To effectively explain, you will need to offer up some details about yourself, including your past, present, and future. Let鈥檚 unpack what might fit into each:

  • Your current situation
    • your declared major and relevant studies
    • what you enjoy in your free time (volunteering, interests, hobbies)
    • whether you belong to any groups or clubs
  • Your goals
    • what you hope you will achieve once completing college
    • where you hope your career path will take you
    • how this scholarship has paved the way or contributed to this future

Remember that you should keep your letter to one page, around 300-500 words total, so you can鈥檛 cover absolutely everything about who you are and what you want to do 鈥� focus on what you need to get your point across, and no more.

Paragraph 3: Close It Out

Your last paragraph should conclude your letter by restating your appreciation for the donor鈥檚 contribution to your future. Here are some sample phrasings you could use:

  • Once again, thank you for your generous donation to my academic success and future career.
  • Thank you, again, for selecting me for the [X] scholarship. I know I will make you proud.
  • I plan to make the most of the opportunities you have granted me through the [X] scholarship. Thank you.

Formatting

Professional letters have very specific guidelines for what to include and how it should look. On this page, we鈥檝e provided a template you can use to build your specific scholarship thank you letter, with some annotations explaining these aspects in more detail. For the three paragraphs, write out what the first page of this handout describes.

[Your Name]
[Your Address]
[Your Contact Info]

[Date 鈥� formatted however it makes sense, but usually Month Day, Year]

Dear [Thank You Letter Recipient(s)],

          Paragraph 1, (who are you? thank your donor): Introduce yourself and your background, such as your hometown and other personal details worth sharing. State the letter鈥檚 purpose, which should mention the scholarship you鈥檝e received and an explicit thank you to your donor(s) for selecting you. 

          Paragraph 2, (what have you done? what do you hope to do?): Talk about your academics, including your major, year, extracurricular involvement, special achievements, and plans for the future or other interests you feel are relevant to share. 

          Paragraph 3, (close it out): Conclude with another 鈥渢hank you鈥� statement. Highlight the scholarship鈥檚 role in your future successes once you receive your degree and begin your career path. 

                                                                                                  [Salutation]

This formatting assumes you are writing a separate document you will then attach in an email (as either a .pdf or a .docx file) to advancement@uis.edu. Make sure to label the file appropriately (for example, 鈥淴 Scholarship Thank You Letter鈥�). Also make sure to write a brief but professional email that outlines the reason for your correspondence, and directs the reader to the attached letter.

Checklist for Your Scholarship Thank You Letter

  • Do you have the formatting properly executed, with addresses, greetings, salutations, etc.?
    • Have you clearly thanked your donor at multiple points within the letter?
    • Have you given a sense of who you are, and what you hope to achieve as a result of these funds?
    • Have you kept it to around one page, the preferred length? Should you find ways to trim, if not?
    • Do you have any mistakes you need to fix in a quick proofreading/editing review?

Adapted from and as well as information from Financial Aid 鈥� check these out for great examples and more information to help you write the best thank you letter you can muster!