01/17/2023
FACTS ABOUT GS COOKIE MONEY
From GSUSA...
When you buy cookies from a Girl Scout, you are investing in so much more than a box of treats—you are investing in a girl’s future and the future leadership of our country. Through the Girl Scout Cookie Program, girls learn five essential life skills: goal setting, decision-making, money management, people skills, and business ethics.
One hundred percent of the net proceeds from Girl Scout Cookie sales are reinvested back into the originating council to fund activities and Girl Scouts’ Take Action projects, which positively impact their communities. Each council determines its own revenue structure depending on its cookie cost, local retail price, and the amount that is shared with participating troops and groups. On average, Girl Scout council net revenue is approximately 65–75 percent of the local retail price; the amount shared with participating Girl Scout troops, referred to as troop proceeds, is approximately 10–20 percent of the local retail price.
Cookie program revenue is a critical source of funding for local Girl Scout councils and is often what makes it possible to reach girls in hard-to-serve areas and maintain camps and properties.
Additionally, Girl Scout troops must pool their proceeds to pay for program supplies, activities, and group travel. Girl Scouts may not earn proceeds as individuals. However, Girl Scout councils offer a wide variety of recognition items, program- and store-related credits, and travel experiences that girls are eligible to earn individually based on their sales. All troop proceeds and other rewards earned through participation in the Girl Scout Cookie Program must be used to enhance each girl’s Girl Scout experience.
Girl Scouts of the USA is paid a royalty by its licensed bakers for use of Girl Scout trademarks based on gross annual sales. Girl Scout councils do not provide any portion of their cookie revenue to Girl Scouts of the USA and no other revenue from cookie sales goes to Girl Scouts of the USA.
Girl Scouts of the USA provides contractual services and approves all program, marketing, and sales materials developed by the bakers. GSUSA also provides coordination and training for national media activities, safety standards for girls and volunteers, a world-renowned girl leadership program, and full support during cookie season.
One hundred percent of the net proceeds from Girl Scout Cookie sales are reinvested back into the originating council to fund activities and Girl Scouts’ Take Action projects, which positively impact their communities. Girl Scout troops set goals on how to spend their proceeds on program-related activities, such as paying their own way to a community event or museum or funding other program outings. Girl Scout troops may also choose to use proceeds to purchase materials for a Take Action or service project to benefit the community.
