Learning to think like an entrepreneur? Developing business smarts? Getting to know customers and building lasting relationships? There’s so much more to that package of Thin Mints®.
Whether they participate in the Girl Scout Cookie Program or the Girl Scout Fall Product Program (or both!), everything they learn prepares them to take on the world. Plus, Girl Scout Cookie proceeds stay in your local community to power amazing year-round experiences that broaden their worlds and spark their sense of wonder.
Girl Scouts as young as five develop five essential skills through the Girl Scout Cookie Program that will help them be successful today and throughout their lives:
But building their business know-how isn’t just tied to the cookies themselves! Girl Scouts at any level can continue honing their entrepreneurial skills by earning the Cookie Business badges, Cookie Entrepreneur Family Pin, and the Financial Literacy badges year over year.
Before your entrepreneur opens shop, be sure to check out these helpful troop leader resources that will empower you to:
What started with Girl Scouts selling home-baked cookies to raise money grew into enlisting professional bakers in 1936 to handle the growing demand—and the rest is history. Explore Girl Scout Cookie History to find out how cookies have helped build generations of female entrepreneurs and leaders who make the world a better place.
After paying for the cost of cookies and materials, Girl Scout Cookie proceeds stay local and help councils provide Girl Scout programs in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM), the outdoors, life skills, entrepreneurship, and more—in camps, through leadership training, and multiple other ways. A portion of the proceeds is directly managed by girls, and it’s up to them to decide how to invest their troop’s share of the earnings.
Cookie Program proceeds make it possible for GSCO to serve girls. 100% of the cookie program proceeds stay in Colorado to provide the Girl Scout Leadership Experience to girls in our communities. Cookie program council proceeds provide membership financial assistance when needed and opportunity grants for girls to attend GSCO events, camps, and council-wide girl programs, as well as funding for events, camps and council-wide programs. The only portion that doesn’t stay in Colorado is what we pay to the bakery to make the cookies.
Troop members share in the proceeds from a successful product program; proceeds aren’t distributed to individual girl members. Girls, however, may be eligible for rewards and credits that they put toward council-sponsored camps, programs, and Girl Scout swag. The council plan for rewards applies equally to all girls participating in the product program activity. Visit the volunteer cookie resources section of our website for more information about individual rewards and troop proceeds locally.
The Girl Scouts Blue Book of Basic Documents specifies that:
“All money and other assets, including property, that are raised, earned, or otherwise received in the name of and for the benefit of Girl Scouting must be held and authorized by a Girl Scout council or Girl Scouts of the USA. Such money and other assets must be used for the purposes of Girl Scouting.”
— “Ownership of Assets,” Girl Scouts Blue Book of Basic Documents
Making s’mores under the stars, creating a lasting impact in your community, or ordering supplies for an eye-opening STEM project—there are limitless ways to put troop proceeds toward dynamic Girl Scout experiences! There are a few things, however, that don’t qualify for “purposes of Girl Scouting,” for instance, using troop proceeds to purchase memberships in or uniforms for another organization. We encourage all councils to remind their volunteers of this policy in order to avoid diversion of Girl Scout funds.
When you are set up for success, you are better able to set up your Girl Scouts for success! That’s why every year, your council provides trainings, guidelines, and procedures for conducting the Girl Scout Cookie Program and Fall Product Program and determines how the proceeds and product rewards system will be managed.
Check the cookie section of our website to find the answers you need as well as local trainings and resources.
Each council also selects the vendors of its choice to provide the products for their product programs. Two commercial bakers are licensed by Girl Scouts of the USA to produce Girl Scout Cookies: Little Brownie Bakers and ABC Bakers. You can also Meet the Cookies and find additional info on cookie varieties, including nutritional details.
Councils also work with vendors to offer magazine subscriptions, nut and candy products, and more for the fall product program. These companies are Ashdon Farms, Trophy Nut, and M2 Media Group.
Girl Scouts of Colorado works with M2 Media Groups and Trophy Nut. M2 provides online tools for girls and adults to use and activities for girls to download. Nut, candy and magazine purchases selection take place online and in-person. Visit the Fall Product Program page to see product information, program guides and additional resources.
You play an exciting role in giving your Girl Scouts opportunities to practice the five essential skills as they learn how to think like entrepreneurs. Some of the things you’ll do include:
Not only can Girl Scouts sell individually, both in-person and using the online tools provided, they can also participate in group booth sales during the Cookie Program. Girl Scouts will always be able to sell cookies to members of their personal network, regardless of where they live. Your local council may have additional guidance and processes to ensure every booth is in a safe and appropriate location.
As your Girl Scouts grow, your role will evolve from a hands-on one to providing oversight and support where needed. No matter their ages, remember that volunteers and parents/caregivers do not sell the product. Your role is to encourage your troop and let their entrepreneurial spirit soar. Learning by doing is exactly how your Girl Scouts develop the business savvy and communication skills that will empower them to reach any goals they set for themselves.
Another critical task for each troop is to establish a clear accounting system for all proceeds and product during the programs. It's up to you to make sure that money is spent wisely, that excellent records are kept (remember to keep copies of all receipts), and that all product is tracked. For older Girl Scouts, your job is to oversee their work as they learn to keep impeccable records. Be sure to attend product program trainings so you are aware of the systems and helpful tools available.
The Girl Scout Cookie Program and the Fall Product Program can be exhilarating and busy times during the troop year, but you’re never alone in your efforts! You can reach out to your service unit cookie program manager (SUCM) or the servie unit fallproduct manager (SUFPM) when you’re feeling stuck, or you can build a cookie team to provide the support your troop's needs.
Safety is the top priority while participating in the Girl Scout Cookie Program and FallProduct Programs. Volunteers, families, and Girl Scouts should be familiar with and practice the safety guidelines outlined in local program resources as well as those available in the troop leader resources section of girlscout.org and in Safety Activity Checkpoints.
Selling Cookies Online
Before Girl Scouts open their online storefront, they should partner with their troop leader and their families to learn how to safely run their online business.
We know Girl Scouts and their troops are creative, and the Girl Scout Cookie Program provides the perfect opportunity to highlight this creativity Troops and Girl Scouts cannot use GSUSA’s intellectual property (Buy Thin Mints Now or Buy Girl Scout Cookies) as part of a vanity URL..A few more online safety practices to keep in mind:
Additionally, families, Girl Scouts, and volunteers should contact and collaborate with their council and GSUSA in advance of any national news media opportunities tied to their online marketing and sales efforts.
The Buddy System
Remember to incorporate the buddy system at all times when Girl Scouts engage in Product Programs. Girl Scouts should not sell or deliver cookies or other product alone.
Adults should provide supervision and guidance for all program levels, and must accompany Daisies, Brownies, and Juniors when they are selling, taking orders, and delivering products. Adults oversee Cadettes, Seniors, and Ambassadors and must be aware of how, when, and where they are when selling products. In addition, an adult must be readily available to them when they are participating in product programs. This can be accomplished by an adult being present with them or by having an adult and Girl Scouts exchange telephone numbers.
Cookie booths—that is, cookie pop-up shops in areas with lots of foot traffic—are a fun way for Girl Scouts to connect with their community and practice their sales pitch with new customers. Booth locations must be approved by councils, facilitated within council jurisdiction, and participants must follow all council guidelines regarding setting up, running, and taking down a booth. Cookie Booths are only permitted within the state of Colorado.
Girl Scouts of Colorado offers Council Sponsored booth sites and GSCO encourages Girl Scouts to use their creative, entrepreneurial spirit by holding “My Sales” booth sites at unique community locations and area small businesses. Detailed information about both Council Sponsored and My Sales booths can be found in the cookie product program guides. You can also connect with your service unit cookie manager with questions, or contact GSCO customer care to speak with a product program specialist or email inquiry@gscolorado.org.
Create a great cookie booth experience for your Girl Scouts by:
Encourage your Girl Scouts to unleash their creativity—and work on their advertising skills—to make colorful signs and booth decorations that potential customers can’t resist! Remind them to be polite and to have their sales pitch ready for interested customers.
And keep in mind:
For more tips to make your booth a success, check out our Cookie Booth Essentials. For additional information about setting up a booth and safety and security suggestions, consult your council guidelines.
Do you have other concerns about booths, media, or safety? For emergency situations call 9-1-1 and notify council by calling the emergency hotline at 303-607-4818. For non emergency situations or to report an incident related to cookie sales, contact your volunteer support specialist, product program specialist or contact GSCO customer care at 877-404-5708 or email inquiry@gscolorado.org.
Cookies also help Girl Scouts make a big impact in their community! Encourage your troop members to share about the Cookie Donation programs with customers. It’s a great way for customers to give back to their community, too! Encourage your troop members to share about the Cookie Donation program with customers. It’s a great way for customers to give back to their community, too!
With cookie donations, remember that:
GSCO has two cookie donation programs – Hometown Heroes and Gifts of Caring - where customers can purchase cookies that will be donated to an organization or group by the troop or by GSCO. Cookie donations are not only a great talking point for girls to share with their customers—they’re also a thoughtful way to show girls how cookies can help them give back. It gives girls an opportunity to learn about and practice philanthropy and community service through the Girl Scout Cookie Program.
With the Hometown Heroes (HTH) Program customers who do not want to buy cookies for themselves may want to purchase HTH packages to give to others while supporting Girl Scouts at the same time. Girls/troops choose a group or organization to receive these donated cookies. Recipients can be “heroes” in the community such as various nonprofit organizations, like food banks and shelters or they may be firefighters, police officers, or local military groups. Troops should contact the selected organizations or group to get their approval prior to collecting HTH cookie donations.
With the Gift of Caring donation option, customers can purchase virtual packages of cookies which GSCO will deliver to the military, both local and overseas, and to nonprofit organizations on behalf of Girl Scouts. Girls collect the money for these donated packages, but do not physically take possession of the cookies.
Girl Scout Cookies are well loved and for good reason—it has always been the practice of Girl Scout councils and the bakers to guarantee customer satisfaction with their delicious cookies. If a customer is not satisfied with the quality of their cookies for some reason, they can contact the baker via the phone number printed on the side of the cookie package. Troops should notify their council if they are aware of any customer dissatisfaction.
Focusing on entrepreneurial outcomes has always been the emphasis of the Girl Scout Cookie Program. The cookie program has never been about and does not focus on individual sales results.
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