How to Turn Scholarship Committee Volunteers into Lifelong Donors (+ Email Template)
Scholarship committee members contribute incredible value to your organization through their time and expertise. These dedicated volunteers review applications, make difficult decisions, and ultimately help transform students' lives through scholarship awards. But what happens after they’re done?
Often, the relationship ends there—a missed opportunity that could instead be converting your most engaged volunteers into long-term donors and advocates.
The Volunteer-to-Donor Pipeline: The Data
While specific statistics vary across the nonprofit sector, research consistently shows that active volunteers are significantly more likely to become donors:
According to Corporation for National and Community Service data, volunteers are twice as likely to donate to charity as non-volunteers.
A Fidelity Charitable study found that 87% of volunteers say there's a relationship between their volunteering and giving.
Numerous sources in the philanthropic and fundraising fields suggest that organizations with structured volunteer stewardship programs report 30-50% higher conversion rates from volunteer to donor.
The correlation is clear: People who invest their time are more inclined to invest their financial resources as well—especially when they feel their contributions are valued.
The Complete Scholarship Reviewer Stewardship Calendar
A successful stewardship strategy engages reviewers before, during, and long after the review process concludes.
Pre-Review Period (4-6 weeks before)
Send personalized invitations framing the opportunity as exclusive
Highlight previous reviewer testimonials
Clearly communicate time commitment and schedule
During Review Period
Send weekly check-ins with encouraging messages
Share brief scholar success stories to maintain motivation
Offer technical support and reassurance
Express trust in their judgment
Post-Review Period (The Critical Phase)
Immediate thank you with preliminary results
Comprehensive impact report within 2-3 weeks
Quarterly updates featuring recipient stories
Holiday/special occasion cards featuring scholars
Annual invitation to special events with scholarship recipients
The Perfect Post-Award Email Template
Below is a customizable template you can use to communicate impact to your scholarship reviewers:
Subject: Your Impact: [Total Amount] in Scholarships Awarded Thanks to You!
Dear [Reviewer Name],
Thanks to your expertise and dedication, we're thrilled to announce that the [Organization] Foundation has awarded $[amount] in scholarships for the [season/year] cycle!
Your Impact by the Numbers:
Scholarships awarded to [Y] deserving students
[X]% of recipients are first-generation college students
[X]% of recipients plan to [relevant stat - transfer to 4-year, enter healthcare field, etc.]
[Any other compelling demographic information]
Behind every number is a story of transformation. Here's a few of our recipients had to say:
"[Compelling student quote that shows emotional impact]" - [Student First Name]
"[Second student quote if available]" - [Student First Name]
The Power of Your Contribution: Your volunteer service directly contributed to making these scholarships possible. You and your fellow reviewers read [X] applications and invested approximately [Y] hours in this process—time that directly translated into life-changing opportunities for these students.
We've attached a photo collage of some of this year's recipients (with their permission), so you can see the faces behind the impact you've helped create.
We deeply value your commitment to our students and hope you'll join us again for our [season] cycle in [month]. Your expertise makes these transformative opportunities possible.
With sincere appreciation,
[Your Name]
[Your Title]
[Organization]
P.S. We'd love to hear about your experience as a reviewer! Please take our brief 2-minute survey [link] or reply to this email with your feedback so that we can ensure a great experience in future cycles.
Beyond the Email: Creative Stewardship Ideas
Take your reviewer appreciation to the next level with these tested strategies:
Personalize by "Love Language"
Quality time: Invite top reviewers to a special event with scholarship recipients.
Words of affirmation: Recognize reviewers in your annual report or newsletter.
Acts of service: Streamline the review process based on their feedback (and let them know you did so).
Gifts: Send small tokens featuring student artwork or thank-you notes.
Offer Access & Opportunity
Invite reviewers to student success events.
Share "insider" program updates before public announcements.
Offer new or additional opportunities to support or connect with scholarship recipients.
Offer new or additional opportunities to volunteer in other ways at your organization.
Facilitate Meaningful Connections
Arrange for reviewers to make congratulatory calls or write congratulatory cards to recipients they selected.
Host reviewers for a “care package” pack-and-mail night for recipients.
Create volunteer reviewer spotlights alongside student spotlights.
From Volunteer to Donor: How to Inspire Financial Support
Once reviewers feel connected to your mission, transitioning them into donors becomes a natural next step. Here’s are ideas on how to guide them toward financial support:
Make the Ask (at the Right Time)
After delivering the impact report, include a soft ask:
"If you’d like to further support our scholars, consider making a gift to expand our scholarship fund."Tie the donation to their existing involvement:
"Many of our reviewers also choose to give because they’ve seen firsthand how life-changing these awards are."
Create a Dedicated Giving Program for Reviewers
A “Reviewer Giving Circle” with small, accessible giving levels
Matching gifts from board members for reviewer donations
Recognition for reviewer-donors in annual reports
Offer a Natural Progression to Deepen Engagement over Time
First-time donors: Instead of immediately asking for a larger commitment, invite them to an event where they can see the scholarship impact firsthand. This builds a stronger emotional connection.
Repeat donors: Once they’ve given multiple times, they might be interested in leadership roles or advisory positions, giving them a sense of influence and deeper involvement.
Major donors: Those who give at a high level could be offered named scholarships, which provides personal recognition and solidifies their long-term support.
Leverage Peer Influence
Feature testimonials from past reviewers who became donors
Encourage a “challenge match” where seasoned reviewers pledge a donation if a certain number of others give
Make Giving Feel Like a Next Step, Not a Transaction
Frame it as a way to continue their impact:
“Your time as a reviewer has been invaluable—if you’d like to help even more students, a small gift of [$X] can…”
Metrics that Matter
Track these metrics to evaluate your reviewer stewardship program:
Reviewer retention rate year-over-year
Percentage of reviewers who become donors
Average donation amount from reviewer-donors vs. non-reviewer donors
Reviewer satisfaction scores from post-cycle surveys
Time to complete reviews (decreases as engagement increases)
Conclusion: Investing in Relationships
The most successful scholarship programs recognize that reviewer stewardship isn't just about saying "thank you"—it's about building meaningful, mutually beneficial relationships that enhance your entire philanthropic ecosystem.
By implementing a comprehensive stewardship strategy, you transform one-time volunteers into lifelong advocates who understand the impact of your work at a deeper level than most donors ever will.
Not sure where your scholarship program needs strengthening? Book a complimentary consultation call with our team. We'll identify your biggest opportunities for improvement, whether in selection, program design, or overall strategy.
