Troop Finances
Your Girl Scout troop will plan and finance its own activities, and you’ll coach your girls as they earn and manage troop funds. Troop activities are powered by proceeds earned through council-sponsored product program activities (such as the Girl Scout Cookie Program), group money-earning activities (council approved, of course), and any dues your troop may charge.
Remember that all funds collected, raised, earned, or otherwise received in the name of and for the benefit of Girl Scouting belong to the troop and must be used for the purposes of Girl Scouting. Funds are administered through the troop and do not belong to individuals.
You’ll need a safe place to deposit your troop dues, product program proceeds, and other funds. If you’re a new leader of an existing troop, you may inherit a checking account, but with a new troop, you’ll want to open a new bank account.
Please read Financial Policy 3 in Volunteer Policies for procedures on setting up an account, and general guidelines for the account. To help new troops get started, GSNI-M is providing $25 to new troops for the purposes of opening a bank account. All new troops must speak with a Troop Support Specialist beforehand to get the correct paperwork. Submit a Bank Information and Agreement within a week of opening the account.
Please also read Financial Policy 3 for more information on GSNI-M preferred banks. To request paperwork to switch banks for an existing troop, please contact the Answer Center (800-283-4812 x2 or frontdesk@gsnim.org) to get the correct paperwork. Groups are not required to submit bank statements for months where they were banking with a GSNI-M preferred bank.
Furthermore, volunteers are required to maintain accurate and current financial records for the group. Each group must submit the Group Financial Record annually along with the monthly bank statements. This can be either submitted via the Finances Tab on the Volunteer Toolkit or hard copy. If submitting hard copies, turn them in with the Annual Financial Report. Read and become very familiar with Financial Policy 4 in Volunteer Policies, so you understand exactly what is expected and how to submit the paperwork.
Here are a few helpful tips you can take to the bank:
Follow your council’s financial policies and procedures for setting up an account. Most council-sponsored product program activities have specific banking and tracking procedures.
Troops flex their financial muscles in two distinct ways:
The Girl Scout Cookie Program and other product sales of Girl Scouts (authorized product sales such as calendars, magazines, or nuts and candy) organized by your 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 one other council-authorized 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.
Girl Scout participation in both council-sponsored product program activities and group money-earning projects is based on the following:
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.
Collections/Drives
Food/Meal Events
Service(s)
The Girl Scout Cookie Program and other council-sponsored product programs are designed to unleash Girl Scouts’ entrepreneurial potential. From there, your troop may decide to earn additional funds on its own.
As a volunteer, you have the opportunity to facilitate girl-led financial planning, which may include the following steps for your troop:
Remember: It’s great for Girl Scouts to have opportunities like the Girl Scout Cookie Program to earn funds that help them fulfill their goals. As a volunteer, try to help them balance the money earning they do with opportunities to enjoy other activities that have less emphasis on earning and spending money. Take Action projects, for example, may not always require them to spend a lot of money!
As with other Girl Scout activities, girls build their financial and sales savvy as they get older. Every girl will be different, but here you’ll find some examples of the abilities and opportunities for progression of girls at each grade level.
| Girl Scout Daisies |
| The group volunteer handles money, keeps financial records, and does all group budgeting. |
| Parents/guardians may decide they will contribute to the cost of activities. |
| Girls can participate in Girl Scout cookie activities and other council-sponsored product sales. |
| Daisies are always paired with a volunteer when selling anything. Girls do the asking and deliver the product, but volunteers handle the money and keep the girls secure. |
| Girls should be given the opportunity to practice identifying money and counting back change with an adult during each transaction. |
| Girl Scout Brownies |
| The group volunteer handles money, keeps financial records, and shares some of the group-budgeting responsibilities. |
| Girls discuss the cost of activities (supplies, fees, transportation, rentals, and so on) with guidance from their volunteer(s). |
| Girls set goals for and participate in council-sponsored product sales. |
| Girls may decide to pay dues to contribute to the cost of activities. |
| Girl Scout Juniors |
| The group volunteer retains overall responsibility for long-term budgeting and record-keeping, but shares or delegates all other financial responsibilities. |
| Girls set goals for and participate in council-sponsored product sales. |
| Girls decide on group dues, if any. Dues are collected by girls and recorded by a group treasurer (selected by the girls). |
| Girls budget for the short-term needs of the group, on the basis of plans and income from the group dues. |
| Girls budget for more long-term activities, such as overnight trips, group camping, and special events. |
| Girls budget for Take Action projects, including the Girl Scout Bronze Award, if they are pursuing it. |
| Girl Scout Cadettes, Seniors, and Ambassadors |
| Girls estimate costs based on plans. |
| Girls determine the amount of group dues (if any) and the scope of money-earning projects. |
| Girls set goals for and participate in council-sponsored product sales. |
| Girls carry out budgeting, planning, and group money-earning projects. |
| Girls budget for extended travel, Take Action projects, and leadership projects. |
| Girls may be involved in seeking donations for Take Action projects, with council approval. |
| Girls keep their own financial records and give reports to parents and group volunteers. |
| Girls budget for Take Action projects, including the Girl Scout Silver or Gold Awards, if they are pursuing them. |
Girl Scout Daisies |
The group volunteer handles money, keeps financial records, and does all group budgeting.
Parents/caregivers may decide they will contribute to the cost of activities.
Daisies can participate in Girl Scout Cookie Program activities and other council-sponsored product programs.
Daisies are always paired with a volunteer when selling anything. They do the asking and deliver the product, but volunteers handle the money and keep them safe.
Daisies should be given the opportunity to practice identifying money and counting back change with an adult during each transaction.
Girl Scout Brownies |
The group volunteer handles money, keeps financial records, and shares some of the group budgeting responsibilities.
Brownies discuss the cost of activities (supplies, fees, transportation, rentals, and so on) with guidance from their volunteer(s).
Brownies set goals for and participate in council-sponsored product programs.
Brownies may decide to pay dues to contribute to the cost of activities.
Girl Scout Juniors |
The group volunteer retains overall responsibility for long-term budgeting and record keeping but shares or delegates all other financial responsibilities.
Juniors set goals for and participate in council-sponsored product programs.
Juniors decide on group dues, if any. Dues are collected by them and recorded by a group treasurer selected by the troop.
Juniors budget for the short-term needs of the group based on their plans and income from the group dues.
Juniors budget for more long-term activities, such as overnight trips, group camping, and special events.
Juniors budget for Take Action projects including the Girl Scout Bronze Award if they are pursuing it.
Girl Scout Cadettes, Seniors, and Ambassadors |
Cadettes, Seniors, and Ambassadors estimate costs based on plans.
They determine the amount of group dues, if any, and the scope of money-earning projects.
Set goals for and participate in council-sponsored product programs.
Carry out budgeting, planning, and group money-earning programs.
Budget for extended travel, Take Action projects, and leadership projects including the Girl Scout Silver or Girl Scout Gold Awards, if they are pursuing them.
May be involved in seeking donations for Take Action projects with council approval.
Keep their own financial records and give reports to parents and group volunteers.
Local sponsors help bring Girl Scout experiences to life! Community partners—like businesses, organizations, and individuals—can support your troop in creative, meaningful, and inclusive ways. Make the most of these connections! Keep in mind that sponsors may be able to offer meeting spaces, volunteer time, activity materials, in-kind donations, and/or equipment.
Don’t forget to celebrate your sponsors for their support! Encourage your Girl Scouts to say thank you with cards or invitations to meetings or ceremonies, or by teaming up on a Take Action project.
Just be sure to check with your council before reaching out to sponsors. The council can guide you with regard to policies, existing partnerships, and best practices.
Here are a few tips for partnering with other organizations:
Don’t fundraise in uniform. Girl Scouts can’t raise money for other organizations while wearing anything that identifies them as Girl Scouts (like uniforms or pins). However, they can support causes through Take Action projects or community service.
Keep it nonpolitical. Girl Scouts should not participate in political campaigns or events in any official capacity. That means no rallies, petitions, or political fundraising while representing Girl Scouts.
Respect religious practices. Girl Scout groups should be respectful when working with religious organizations, but no one should be required to participate in religious observances.
Avoid endorsing commercial products. Girl Scouts and volunteers shouldn’t promote or sell retail products. This policy has been in place since 1939!
When collaborating with any other organization, keep these additional guidelines in mind:
Avoid fundraising for other organizations. Girl Scouts are not allowed to solicit money on behalf of another organization when identifying themselves as Girl Scouts by wearing a uniform, a sash or vest, official pins, and so on. This includes participating in a walkathon or telethon while in uniform. However, you and your group can support another organization through Take Action projects. Girl Scouts as individuals are able to participate in whatever events they choose as long as they are not wearing anything that officially identifies them as Girl Scouts.
Steer clear of political fundraisers. When in an official Girl Scout capacity or in any way identifying yourselves as Girl Scouts, your group may not participate, directly or indirectly, in any political campaign or work on behalf of or in opposition to a candidate for public office. Letter-writing campaigns are not allowed, nor is participating in a political rally, circulating a petition, or carrying a political banner.
Be respectful when collaborating with religious organizations. Girl Scout groups must respect the opinions and practices of religious partners, but no one should be required to take part in any religious observance or practice of the sponsoring group.
Avoid selling or endorsing commercial products. A commercial product is any product sold at a retail location. Since 1939, Girl Scouts and volunteers have not been allowed to endorse, provide a testimonial for, or sell such products.
When a troop disbands, any unused Girl Scout money left in the account becomes the property of the council. Troop funds are not the property of any individual member. Before disbanding, ask your Girl Scouts how they want to pay it forward. They may decide to pay for Girl Scout activities or to donate any unused funds to their service unit or to another troop. Activities can also include purchasing materials to support another organization through Take Action projects.
When closing a troop account, be sure all checks and other debits have cleared the account before you close it. Remember, you may have to close the account in person. Turn remaining funds over to a council staff member.
Unused Girl Scout money left in accounts when groups disband becomes the property of the council. Prior to disbanding, the group may decide to donate any unused funds to their Service Unit, another troop or for girl activities. Girl activities can include purchasing materials to support another organization through take-action projects. When closing a personal account, be sure all checks and other debits have cleared the account before you close it, and realize that you may have to close the account in person. Refer to Financial Policy 6 in Volunteer Policies for more information on disbanding and group accounts.
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