Scholarship Student Resources

UNC Scholarship Thank You Letter Guidelines and Requirements

Congratulations! You have been offered a scholarship from the University of Northern Colorado. Scholarship support for students like you would not be possible without the incredible generosity and support from our donors.

The Importance of Thanking Our Donors

Nothing means more to donors than hearing from the students whose lives they’ve impacted. Many UNC scholarships honor or memorialize a loved one or are established by passionate families that intend to leave a legacy of philanthropic support that enable students to pursue their education at UNC for generations to come. Not only are thank-you letters a basic courtesy, but they serve as a meaningful expression of gratitude that often further a donor’s relationship with UNC and the students they support.

To ensure that UNC donors are adequately thanked by the recipients of their generosity, we have established guidelines and suggestions to aid you in writing your thank-you letter. Should you submit a thank-you letter that doesn’t meet UNC expectations, your letter will be rejected and you will be asked to complete it again. If your letter is rejected, it will result in delays in your scholarship funds being disbursed.

What to consider as you write your letter:

• Timely communication is important, once you receive your scholarship offer please prioritize submitting a thank you letter in a timely manner
• Most letters are one-page in length
• When addressing your donors be respectful and professional
  • Do not refer to donors as “you guys”, etc.
• Verify that the donor and scholarship names are spelled correctly.
• Remember that your donor did not select you as the recipient, selection is done by a committee at UNC. However, the donor did provide the funds for the scholarship, i.e., “Thank you for making the XYZ Scholarship possible…”
• Do not use dollar amounts in your letter.
  • Consider using phrases or words like; ‘your support' or ‘your generosity’, rather than using the words ‘money’ or ‘funds’.
• If your scholarship has a donor biography, please recognize this in your letter if applicable.
• If writing a letter for the same scholarship received previously, (your scholarship has been renewed), please do not refurbish or use the same letter as in previous year(s).

What to include in your letter:

• Personal background and why you chose to attend UNC
  • Include educational information (year in school, major, etc.)
• Accomplishments; including motivations or obstacles you have overcome throughout your educational journey
• Relevant activities or interests
• Your goals for the future; both immediate and long-term, including your career aspirations
• Express your gratitude and appreciation for the support your donor has provided
  • Be sincere. Briefly tell your scholarship donor why the aid you are receiving is important to you and/or your family.
  • Express gratitude. Use the words ‘thank you’.
• Include a good photo of yourself, if you wish. (Optional).

Before you submit your letter:

• Be accurate. Check your letter for correct spelling and grammar. The literacy demonstrated in your letters is a reflection of all of us.
• Use a Word document to upload your letter, (.doc or .docx). No .jpg or .pdf files.
  • Do not handwrite a letter and upload it.
• Do not date your letter, as it will make a few stops on campus before it reaches the donor.
• Do not insert a photo of your handwritten signature; simply type your name when you close the letter

Sample Scholarship Thank You Letter

(Do not date the letter)

Dear (donor name(s) as noted in your offer letter from OFA),

[Paragraph 1]
Start by thanking the donor(s) for your scholarship. Include the name the scholarship as noted in your offer letter from OFA. Let your donor(s) know how grateful you are to receive their support and how the scholarship is helping you.

[Paragraph 2]
In this paragraph, you could tell the donor(s) about yourself. For example, where you are from, a little about your educational background at UNC (or high school if you are an incoming freshman) and some activities you are currently involved in.

[Paragraph 3]
Next, you could tell the donor why you chose UNC, why you selected your major and what your plans are for the future, both long and short term. For example: employment goals and plans, special opportunities you’ve discovered at UNC and long-range career goals.

[Closing paragraph]
Then thank the donor again, letting them know how much the scholarship is valued.

Sincerely,
Your signature
Your typed/printed name