Sample Letter 1 - Annual Fund

Dear Donor Friend,

I am writing to thank you for your generous gift the Divinity Annual Fund.  Without your gift and the gifts of others, I would not be at Duke.

As a student at Furman College, I began to sense a call toward pastoral ministry.  I was active in my church and in a campus ministry when my sense of calling grew stronger.  As I considered my future, several professors recommended I visit Duke and encouraged me to read books by current Divinity professors.  Following my admittance and visit in the spring, I was completely sold on Duke, but the financial considerations were daunting.  I knew I could not take on great debt to attend seminary.

Because of my grants from the Annual Fund, I was able to say yes to enrolling at Duke.  While I was offered more financial aid at other seminaries, I am confident that the formation and preparation I am receiving at Duke is truly a long term investment, not just in my life but in the life of the church.

Thank you for your wonderful generosity.

Sincerely,

Kelly Student

Sample Letter 2 - Annual Fund

Dear Donor Friend,

I am a second year Divinity student from Virginia and I am writing to thank you for your gift to the Divinity Annual Fund.  I am the first generation in my family to attend college and never in my wildest dreams did I expect to come to Duke.  But when I was discerning my call into ministry, my home church pastor suggested I consider Duke.  She encouraged me to think bigger and to trust that if I was supposed to be at Duke, then God would provide the means.

To make a long story short, I was accepted at Duke and offered enough financial aid to make it possible for me to attend.  I can’t believe that I get to study under professors like Dr. Ellen Davis in Old Testament and Dr. Warren Smith in Church History.  They are so amazing! 

What is also amazing is that a complete stranger like you would care enough about the future of the church that you would give generously so that somebody like me can attend Duke.  I am humbled by your generosity and will be forever grateful for your wider vision.

Sincerely,

Joe Student

Sample Letter 3 - Endowed Funds

Dear Dr. and Mrs. Abernathy,

My name is Susan Student, and I am a student at Duke Divinity School. I am writing to express my deepest gratitude for your establishment of the Abernathy Endowed Scholarship Fund. As a recipient of this scholarship, I have felt your generosity in the most tangible way. Without this scholarship I very likely would not have been able to come to Duke to study and follow my call.  I grew up in Charlotte, NC and worshiped at Trinity church.  My undergraduate studies were at State College where I majored in religion and psychology. 

I am entering into my second year at the Divinity School in the Master of Divinity program, and already I can see how God is using my time here to prepare and equip me.  Last summer I served in a Field Education placement in a rural Methodist church in Townville, NC. My sense of call was confirmed as I visited families, took a group of youth to a church camp, and even preached a couple of sermons. The pastor at Wesley Methodist Church helped me with many practical areas of ministry, and is a wonderful mentor.  The faculty at Duke Divinity School has challenged me to think hard about scripture, about our faith, and about the Church.  I am thankful (most of the time) that they do not accept quick answers and they push me to think more deeply.  Finally, as I look back over the past year, I can see God’s spirit forming my character and my relationships.  I have worked harder than I ever expected, but I am amazed at all that I have experienced in just over a year. 

Again, please accept my sincerest thanks for establishing this scholarship. I can honestly say the Abernathy Endowed Scholarship Fund dramatically impacted my life, and I know it will continue to impact the lives of future students at Duke Divinity School.

Your sister in Christ,
Susan Student