Foundation Scholarship Thank You Notes

Wake Tech Foundation scholarship donors are community members, businesses and civic organizations that want to make it easier for students to pay for their education at Wake Tech. By writing a thank you note to your scholarship's donor, you are letting them know you appreciate their support. Your note will put a smile on their faces and often helps us encourage them to continue their support for other students in the future.

These are not formal letters. You should be thanking your donor in your own authentic voice using your own words. What you write should be simple, straightforward and come from the heart. Please do not use ChatGPT or other generative AI tools to create a thank you note. We have provided detailed guidance below, and if you need additional assistance, you can reach out to the Tutoring and Learning Center, which can help you polish your letter. Do not use the sample language in your note. 

Don't overthink it! A thank you note should take you 10 to 20 minutes to write. You can share similar information to what you shared in your scholarship essay, but please do not copy your entire essay. A short and sweet note is completely acceptable.

You will write your thank you note inside the scholarship system. If you wish to make use of the spelling or grammar correction features of Word or a similar word-processing program, you can compose your note in that program and copy the text into the scholarship system.

Anatomy of a scholarship thank you note

1. If you wish to address your scholarship's donor by name, you can find it in the scholarship system's Offer Letter tab. While it is nice to include, it is not required for your note. If you would like to include your donor's name, we suggest the format below:
   Example: Dear [your donor's name],
    
2. Thank your donor for offering the scholarship and share the impact the scholarship will have on you.
   Example: "Thank you so much for making this scholarship possible! I was so thrilled to learn I will receive the Wake Tech Employee Student Scholarship for next year. Before receiving this scholarship, I considered cutting back my hours at school, but with this extra funding, I will be able to continue as a full-time student and reach my goals faster."
    
3. Tell your donor a little more about you. We suggest sharing what you're studying or your career plans. You can share similar information shared in your essay if you'd like.
   Example: "With your support, I'll be continuing in the Nursing program. I'm hoping to eventually be an ER nurse, where I can put my quick thinking and dedication to helping people to good use."
    
4. Thank your donor again.
   Example: "I am grateful to have your support for the upcoming school year and it means so much to know someone who has never met me wants me to reach my goals."
    
5. Include a sign off such as "Sincerely," or "With Thanks," followed by your full name.
   Example: Sincerely,
   Full name

Thank you note template

Here is a template with prompts for what you could include in your thank you note. You do not have to answer each of the questions in each section. They are meant to help you brainstorm what you could include. You can choose whichever of the prompts speak to you. The idea is to clearly communicate your thanks while telling your donor a bit about yourself. This template is not the only way to write a thank you note, but if you are struggling to start, it may help.

Dear [donor's name], (optional)

First paragraph – Say thank you to your donor for making the scholarship possible. Include the name of the scholarship. Describe how the scholarship will make a difference for you during the academic year. This should be a minimum of two sentences long.

Second paragraph – Tell the donor about yourself. What are you studying, and why did you choose to study it? What makes you unique? What are your career goals? What challenges do you face? Who inspired you? What do you love about Wake Tech? What are you looking forward to at Wake Tech? This paragraph should be between two and five sentences long.

Third paragraph – Wrap up your letter by restating your appreciation for the scholarship. Use different words than you used in the first paragraph and reiterate what receiving the award means for you. This paragraph should be a minimum of two sentences.

Sincerely,
Your name

If you still need help, the Tutoring and Learning Center can provide assistance with any part of the thank you note writing process. The center has in-person and virtual appointments and takes walk-ins as well.