Troops flex their financial muscles in two distinct ways:
The Girl Scout Cookie Program and the Fall Product Program organized by the council. All youth members are eligible to participate in two council-sponsored product program activities each year with volunteer supervision—the Girl Scout Cookie Program and the Fall Product Program. Please remember, volunteers and Girl Scout council staff don’t sell cookies and other products—Girl Scouts do.
Group money-earning activities organized by the troop (not by the council) that are planned and carried out by Girl Scouts (in partnership with volunteers) and that earn money for the group. Troop Money Earning Activity Request Form must be submitted at least four weeks prior to a planned event.
Participation Guidance
Girls’ participation in both council-sponsored product program activities and group money-earning projects is based on the following:
Written permission of each girl’s parent or guardian.
An understanding of (and ability to explain clearly to others) why the money is needed.
An understanding that money earning should not exceed what the group needs to support its program activities.
Observance of local ordinances related to involvement of children in money-earning activities as well as health and safety laws.
Vigilance in protecting the personal safety of each girl.
Eligibility
- Each girl must be a registered member of Girl Scouts of the USA.
- Troop must participate in Fall Product and Girl Scout Cookie Programs. New troops forming after a council-sponsored product sale, must agree to participate in the following sale.
- Troop must be in good standing with the council – no council-owed debt, co-leader agreement on file, Volunteer Essentials training completed, and previous year’s financial reports on file (for returning troops).
Additional Guidelines
Keep these specific guidelines—some of which are required by the Internal Revenue Service—in mind to ensure that sales are conducted with legal and financial integrity.
- All rewards earned by girls through the product program activities must support Girl Scout program experiences (such as camp, travel, and program events, but not scholarships or financial credits toward outside organizations).
- Rewards are based on sales ranges set by councils and may not be based on a dollar-per-dollar calculation.
- Troops are encouraged to participate in council product programs as their primary money-earning activity; any group money earning shouldn’t compete with the Girl Scout Cookie Program or the Fall Product Program.
- Girl Scouts discourages the use of games of chance. Any activity which could be considered a game of chance (raffles, contests, bingo) must be approved by the local Girl Scout council and be conducted in compliance with all local and state laws.
- Girl Scouts’ Blue Book policy forbids girls from the direct solicitation of cash. Girls can collect partial payment toward the purchase of a package of Girl Scout Cookies and other Girl Scout–authorized products through participation in council-approved product program donation programs.
- Girl Scouts forbids product demonstration parties where the use of the Girl Scout trademark increases revenue for another business, such as in-home product parties. Any business using the Girl Scout trademark or other Girl Scout intellectual property must seek authorization from GSUSA.
- Group money-earning activities need to be suited to the ages and abilities of the participants and consistent with the principles of the Girl Scout Leadership Experience.
- Money earned is for Girl Scout activities and is not to be retained by individuals. Girl Scouts can, however, be awarded incentives and/or may earn credits from their Girl Scout product programs. Funds acquired through group money-earning projects must be reported and accounted for by the group according to council procedures.
Sample Money-Earning Activities
Collections/Drives
Food/Meal Events
Lunch box auction (prepared lunch or meal auctioned off)
Themed meals, like a high tea or a build-your-own-taco bar, related to activities girls are planning; for instance, if girls are earning money for travel, they could tie the meal to their destination
Service(s)
Service-a-thon (people sponsor a girl doing service and funds go to support a trip or other activity)
Babysitting for holiday (New Year’s Eve) or council events
Raking leaves, weeding, cutting grass, shoveling snow, walking pets
Cooking class or other specialty class
The Girl Scout Cookie Program and the Fall Product Program are designed to unleash the entrepreneurial potential in Girl Scouts. From there, your troop may decide to earn additional funds on its own. Troop Money Earning Activity Request Form must be submitted at least four weeks prior to a troop planned event.
Activities that are NOT allowed for girls:
- Internet sales; Go-Fund Me pages; “crowd sourcing”
- Solicitation of cash donations without a service or product being sold
- Raffles; drawings, games of chance (including Bunco), or auctions
- Sale of commercial products (i.e. Chick-fil-a calendars, Krispy Kreme doughnuts, Avon, Pampered Chef)
- Raising money for another organization (girls may choose to give a portion of their troop funds to another organization, but they cannot directly raise funds)
- “Girl Scout Night” at local business where a percentage of sales from food or tickets is donated (i.e. Chick-fil-a or sports venue fundraiser where percentage of all sales is given to troop and girls have not offered a service.)
Individual girls can participate in money earning activities to fund Girl Scout Bronze, Silver and Gold Award projects, to attend council-sponsored trips, summer camp and events, or participate in GSUSA Destinations. If a girl changes troops, earned funds transfer with the girl, but does not go to the girl if she leaves Girl Scouts.
Community Service Grants
Girls and troops may apply for grants that support community service work, such as Youth Service America, The Awesome Foundation, Karma for Cara Foundation, and KidsGardening. For assistance or tax documentation, contact the GSHS fund development department.
West TN Kick-Start Funds
Troops living in designated counties of west Tennessee may apply for a West TN Girl Scout Mini-Grant offered by the West TN Community Action Cabinet through the West Tennessee Healthcare Foundation. Troops must reside in the following TN counties: Benton, Carroll, Chester, Crockett, Decatur, Dyer, Gibson, Hardeman, Hardin, Haywood, Henderson, Henry, Lake, Lauderdale, Madison, McNairy, Obion, and Weakley. Click Here to view requirements and additional information.
Money Earning by Service Units
Service units may hold money-earning activities for service unit projects and events. It is recommended girls outside the service unit and non-Girl Scouts be invited to participate. Adults involved in planning and hosting a money-earning activity must be registered members of GSUSA and have position agreement, appropriate trainings, and background checks required for their volunteer position. Money Earning Activity Request Form must be submitted at least four weeks prior to a planned event.
Money-earning activities may include:
- Badge or Journey workshop
- Camporee (all camporee approvals, trainings and policies must be obtained prior to requesting approval for money-earning activity)
- “Girl Scout Night” at local business where a percentage of sales from food or tickets is donated and girls have provided a service (cleaning tables, serving customers, etc.)
- Silent auction (for adults only)
- Scholarship Social
- “Lock In”
Money Earning by Adults
Adults may ask for donations of cash, gift cards or supplies from companies that do not exceed a value of $100. Any request over $100 must first be approved by GSHS Fund Development department. Cash gifts over $250, must be made payable to Girl Scouts Heart of the South with a note that the money is designated to the troop or service unit. A check for the full amount will be issued back to the troop or service unit from the council. A Gift Acceptance Form must be completed and submitted to GSHS fund development department at info@girlscoutshs.org.
Adults requesting funds or items must be registered with GSUSA and may not represent the council when making a request - only ask on behalf of the troop or service unit. If the company requests documentation, such as 501(c)(3) or verification of involvement with GSHS, contact the GSHS fund development department at info@girlscoutshs.org.
An adult can choose to host a product demonstration party (Pampered Chef, Premier, Avon) or Bunco tournament and make a donation to a troop or service unit, but the event cannot be marketed as a fundraiser for Girl Scouts and girls cannot be involved.
Some companies make charitable donations to organizations where their employees volunteer their time (Kohl’s, Bank of America, Nike, Verizon, Allstate, etc) and/or match cash donations (First Tennessee, GAP, CarMax, Choice Hotels, etc.). Contact the GSHS fund development department at info@girlscoutshs.org if your company requires verification or to discuss how your company’s donation should be designated. Donor designated funds contributed through a United Way campaign will be honored.
