A crime was committed, the victim's family received contributions to a reward fund that they would like to redirect to a scholarship fund, is a letter to the donors requesting permission to redirect adequate?
If the reward fund was a charitable entity, your state's Secretary of State will be able to tell you what state law permits and requires.
Otherwise, consult the fund's organizing document.
If no organizing document exists, then the "contributions" were likely simply gifts to the family, and they may do with them as they will. The donors are entitled to no deduction, regardless of the ultimate disposition of the funds.
