Scholarship Recipients: How to Thank Your Donor
Congratulations on receiving a CMCI Scholarship!
Scholarships at the College of Media, Communication and Information are funded by generous alumni and donors, who wish to support the educational experiences of students like you. Please send a personal note of thanks to the donors who funded your scholarship. Your words will remind them why they support CMCI and help build their connection to the university.
Below, you'll find a video, timeline and tips to help you through the process. Happy writing!
How to: Write a thank you letter
Helpful tips
Read your scholarship award email.
You'll find the award email under academic works on BuffPortal. It will indicate if a “thank you” letter is required. If so, you must submit a letter in order to receive the scholarship.
Be prepared.
In your award letter, you'll find Information about your donor. Use this information to tailor your letter to your audience. For example, are you writing to parents who created a scholarship in memory of a deceased child or the adult children of a 1940’s alumni?
Look at how the donor's name is formatted and address them accordingly. For example, if the donor’s name is Ms. Jane Day, start your letter with, “Dear Ms. Day.”
Your letter should be at least 250 words and should be double-spaced.
Be professional.
Create a personal letterhead with your name or email. You can use Google Docs for templates.
Make sure to proofread for any grammatical or style errors.
Need help? Download our sample template with suggested content to include.
Be appreciative.
Provide your full name and personal contact information, such as your colorado.edu email address, so that your donor will be able to reach out to you. If you are comfortable sharing your contact information, remember that this is a great way to receive further support, networking opportunities and/or mentorship.
Be open.
Donors give scholarships to support individual students like you. The "thank you" note is an opportunity for the donor to get to know you, the person who benefits directly from their philanthropic support! Please introduce yourself in the note and share information about yourself.
Be timely.
If you accept this scholarship, you are required to submit a thank you letter by May 31. Use the information details provided about your scholarship to write your letter; info such as who to write the letter to and a description of your scholarship can be found when you are in the Buff Portal.
Also, you will be required to attend a scholarship reception, a virtual hourlong ceremony in February where you can connect with other recipients and donors. More details will be sent as we get closer to the event.
General timeline
May
Once you log in to Buff Portal and accept the award, you will be asked to complete any post-acceptance requirements. Submit your letter through the scholarship system in Buff Portal by May 31. If you have any questions, please email Sandra Romero.
August
All accepted scholarships with completed post-acceptance requirements will be disbursed to student bills 10 days before the start of classes in fall and spring, and seven days before the start of summer.