Girl Scouts Recognized By Fast Company As One Of The World's Top 10 Most Innovative Companies

Girl Scouts of the USA received honors from Fast Company in its annual ranking of the world's 50 Most Innovative Companies issue. Earning recognition as one of the World's Top 10 Most Innovative Companies of 2015 in Not-For-Profit, the publication called out GSUSA for "showing girls technology is about more than texting" by creating Digital Cookie, a fun and educational digital sales program "run entirely by girls."

This recognition arrives on the heels of the successful Digital Cookie launch, which included a notable, first-time presence at the 2015 International Consumer Electronics Show in January. The groundbreaking new addition to the Girl Scout Cookie Program introduces girls to vital 21st-century lessons about online marketing, app usage, and ecommerce, while creating a fun, safe, and interactive space for girls to sell cookies. Digital Cookie marks the first national digital platform in the history of the iconic cookie program.

"Girl Scouts is the only nonprofit or company focused exclusively on girls to be recognized in Fast Company's 50 Most Innovative Companies 2015 issue, which means we are being celebrated for the values and ideals at the very core of our mission—the idea that girls matter," said Anna Maria Chávez, CEO of GSUSA, while announcing the honor to the field this morning. "By putting girls at the center of everything we do, we are making society take notice of the vital importance of investing in girls. When girls succeed, so does our world. And when girls are given the confidence, tools, and support they need, they can change the world forever, and for the better."

In addition to Digital Cookie, GSUSA has been focused on other ways of using technology as a tool for creating a truly contemporary Girl Scout experience for both girls and the adults and volunteers who serve them. Late last year, GSUSA announced ongoing major investments in new techniques to recruit and train adult volunteers and provide more opportunities for girls to join in the face of a net decline in membership over the 2014 Fiscal Year. For the past three years, Girls Scouts has been focused on technology as a central mission of the organization, recently implementing a Customer Engagement Initiative to transform how to use technology to communicate with girls, adults, and councils, and to more effectively deliver the Girl Scout experience.

"The transformational work Girl Scouts is doing on behalf of girls everywhere is both exciting and inspiring," said Fast Company editor Robert Safian. "I commend the organization for its innovation with Digital Cookie and beyond. Affecting future female generations to become women of courage, confidence, and character is no small feat, but thanks to Girl Scouts, girls are able to have fun, impactful, and cutting-edge experiences every day."

Read more about why Girl Scouts is one of the World's Top 10 Most Innovative Companies of 2015 in Not-For-Profit. To learn more about Girl Scouts, visit www.girlscouts.org.