The award you have received is made possible by the generosity of someone who believes in the power of education—and you. Many of our donors are IU alumni or friends of the College who give back to help students like you succeed. In some cases, your award may have been established in memory of someone special, and your letter will be shared with their loved ones.
This is your opportunity to express your gratitude.
Your thank-you letter will be personally shared with the donor or their family as a meaningful reminder of the impact their gift is making. Notes like yours help keep their connection to IU strong and inspire continued support for future students.
We ask that you take a few minutes to write a sincere and personal letter of thanks. Your words matter more than you might imagine.
Contact your department or the IU Bloomington Office of Student Financial Assistance
Here is a step-by-step guide to help you write a meaningful thank-you letter that introduces you to your donor and shows them the impact of their generosity.
Introductory Paragraph: Start with a sincere thank you. Mention the name of your award, if you know it, and express appreciation for the support you've received.
Example: “I am honored to be a recipient of the College of Arts and Sciences Award.”
Example: “Thank you for supporting my education through the College of Arts and Sciences Award in English.”
If you did not receive a named award, you can thank the donor for their support of student awards in general.
Example: “As a recipient of this award, I’m writing to thank you for supporting my education.”
Second Paragraph: Share a little about yourself and what you're doing. You might include:
This is your chance to help the donor get to know you.
Conclusion: Wrap up by connecting the dots between your current experiences, your goals, and how the award is helping you along the way. End with one more thank you to emphasize how much the support means to you.
Be authentic. Your voice matters.
Be specific. Share real details and experiences.
If you experience any technical difficulties, please email Gillian Johnston at gijohnst@iu.edu.
Also, make sure to save your square image as a JPG, JPEG, or PNG file.
This is an example of what a completed letter will look like. Once you have submitted your letter information via the form, the Office of Advancement will coordinate the formatting and mailing of the letter for your donor/s.
