One hundred percent of the money that a
council and its troops raise through the Girl Scout Cookie Program stays with
that council and its troops. Again, let there be no question: all of the
revenue from cookie activities—every penny after paying the baker—stays with
the Girl Scout council. 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. Girl Scout councils do not provide any portion of their
cookie revenue to Girl Scouts of the USA.
The Girl Scout Cookie Program is an important
program for girls. Through this program,
girls not only learn goal setting, but decision making, money management,
people skills, and business ethics—aspects essential to leadership, to success,
and to life. Girl Scouts selling Girl
Scout Cookies set their own money-earning goals for the season. They may decide
to donate troop proceeds to a local animal hospital or use their hard-earned
money to help fund a back-to-nature wilderness adventure. Whatever the specific
goals and outcomes, we assure you that selling cookies does great things for
girls…
Should people be concerned about where the money goes?
As we’ve made clear, absolutely not! Girl
Scout cookie sales fund the amazing work that Girl Scouts do to improve
communities nationwide—including yours. Through Girl Scouting, including our
beloved Girl Scout Cookie Program, girls discover the fun and friendship that
life holds, developing to their full potential and gaining values that will
guide their actions along the way.
More background: in the United States, Girl
Scouts serves 3 million members as part of a worldwide girl-serving family consisting
of 10 million girls and adults in 145 countries. More than 59 million American
women were Girl Scouts as girls, and through our 100-year-plus history, our mission
has remained constant: to build girls of courage, confidence, and character,
who make the world a better place.
Psst, here’s a tip: if you want to know more
about where the money goes, ask a Girl Scout! She would probably love to give
you the full scoop.
Why do some people voice concern about Girl Scout
Cookies?
In short, it’s because they’ve been fed false
information about the Girl Scout Cookie Program, which frankly is nothing new. As
such a large organization, Girl Scouts is occasionally a target for outside
entities with clear agendas. A fundamental piece you should know is that Girl
Scouts does not advocate one way or another with regard to what we perceive as
private issues best handled by families. Personal matters are just that—personal
and private—and should be addressed accordingly.
And hey, let’s let the girls have fun! We ask
that adults keep adult conversations to themselves. Approaching girls with
salacious materials at a cookie sale is not acceptable.
Should I buy Girl Scout Cookies?
For all the great reasons above, we certainly
think so! Following a diet that looks less than favorably on sweet treats? You
should know that Girl Scouts have the option of participating in a
council-approved "Gift of Caring" or "Cookie Share" program
that allows them to collect cookie box donations for military personnel serving
overseas. Ask us more about it!
To drive our point home: when a Girl Scout
sells you cookies, she's building a lifetime of skills and confidence. Through
Girl Scouting and the Girl Scout Cookie Program, girls learn they can be and do
anything they set their minds to. And why wouldn’t you want to be a part of
that?