Please take the time to thank the benefactor who made your scholarship possible. He or she will appreciate hearing from you, knowing a little bit about you, and having a sense of how much the scholarship meant to you and your family.
Here are a few well-chosen tips for composition:
- Please don't date your letter. We send the letters at various times of the year.
- Include the benefactor's name in the salutation. If you don't know his or her name, please contact us to request it.
- Mention the name of the scholarship in the body of your letter in case your benefactor has established more than one fund.
- Make the letter personal.
- Let your benefactor know a little bit about you: your major, where you're from, your interests, and the career you plan to pursue.
- Express your gratitude. Talk about what the scholarship means to you and what impact it will have on your future plans.
- Tell your benefactor why you chose Ithaca College. Share what you enjoy about attending IC.
- Be clear, concise, and gracious.
- Proofread and use a spell-checker.
- A handwritten letter can be more personal, but please make sure your handwriting is legible.
- You may want to consider drafting your letter on scrap paper before transcribing it onto an appropriate note card or letter paper.
You may type your letter and submit it to us electronically at kblum@ithaca.edu. However, if you print it yourself, please be sure to use good copy or bond paper.
When you're finished writing, please email or mail your letter to us, and we'll make sure it gets to your benefactor.