Guidelines for Writing Thank-You Letters

Thank-You Letter Guidelines and Tips

Thank-you letters are a requirement for receiving and accepting most scholarships at Middlesex College. A thank-you letter should be sincere, expressing appreciation without excessive flattery. The tone should be pleasing. Donors appreciate receiving a thank-you letter and your thank-you letter will assist in persuading a donor to renew their contribution to a scholarship. As a guide to help you write your thank-you letter, we have provided you with some tips on what to include in your letter. While we would like you to follow these guidelines, they are not restrictions on how to write your letter.

Things to be included in your letter

• Educational Background (your year in school and major)
• Positive experiences you have had while at Middlesex College.
• Accomplishments/Achievements (obstacles you have overcome to attend college)
• Extracurricular Activities (stories about a relevant extracurricular or community service project that impacted your life)
• Goals and Aspirations (your future plans-both immediate and long term; include career you wish to pursue)
• Mention your appreciation for the scholarship that you received, and your plans for utilizing the funds. (“Thank you for making this scholarship possible” or “Your scholarship makes it possible for me to concentrate more fully on my courses.”) Remember your scholarship is issued as a tuition credit so emphasize your appreciation for this.
• Please note that the donor did not select you as the recipient, but provided the funds for the scholarship, i.e. “Thanks for making the {name of scholarship} possible…”

Tips on writing your letter

• Be genuine.
• Check all spelling and grammar after you have completed your letter.

Please DO NOT put a date on your letters!