Troop Money Earning

Council wide product sales are about more than making money. There is a program benefit at the core of every product sale in which girls participate. By planning and participating in these activities, girls build real-world skills that benefit their troop, council, and community-but most importantly, themselves. Here are some of the things girls can learn:

Goal setting and planning … by planning troop activities and setting financial goals to fulfill those plans as well as setting personal and troop sales goals to meet the groups needs.
Financial and entrepreneurial skills … setting budgets; meeting goals; totaling orders and tracking funds; exploring new ways to market, sell and distribute the product.
Honesty and integrity … learn Good business practices through using a meaningful set of values, The Girl Scout Promise and Law, to guide their actions.
Communication skills … explore Public Relations through customers contact, communication and service. Girls will also build their own self-reliance and self-confidence with their expanded exposure to the general public.

The Girl Scout Council of the Nation's Capital sponsors three Product Sales a year.

In the fall, troops have the opportunity to earn funds through the sale of our Council's own Calendars.
Starting in January, the world famous Girl Scout Cookie sale begins.
In the spring, troops have the opportunity to be a part of a Council wide service project for our camps by participating in the QSP Sale.

The Girl Scout Cookie Program, the nation's premiere entrepreneurial program for girls, has been teaching young women invaluable finance; marketing; public speaking; customer service; team work and leadership skills since 1917. All of the proceeds, minus the baker's fee, go to local Girl Scouts and their council. A portion of cookie proceeds goes to the troop that did the selling, and girls themselves decide how the money is spent.

General Money Earning Guidelines
To ensure that girls build their new skills safely, Girl Scouts of the USA and local Girl Scout councils have developed money-earning guidelines for girls and adults to follow. The GSUSA publication, Safety-Wise, outlines the standards set for troops, groups, and individuals to begin Council sanctioned Product Sales as well as any money-earning projects. Following is a list of Do's and Don'ts to help you start thinking about future ventures:

Follow Safety-Wise standards and your council guidelines about money-earning.
Make sure activities are age-appropriate and that they follow the goals and principles of Girl Scout program.
Decide as a group how to use money earned by the group-individuals cannot earn money for their individual use.
Make sure an adult is present at all times during money-earning activities outside the meeting place.
Set up a group bank account that is overseen by a leader or a designated adult and follow council guidelines.
Check with your council if you are an individual member and want to apply for financial assistance or sell Girl Scout Cookies® with a group.

Don't

Participate in games of chance, direct solicitation for cash, or product endorsement.
Raise money for another organization or cause (you can donate as a group from your treasury or give service)
Do any money-earning project without approval from your council.
Conduct any sales on the Internet.

Always check the policies in the Blue Book of Basic Documents 2006 and the Program Standards in Safety-Wise as well as council policies and standards while discussing potential projects.

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