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Set goals for money-earning activities. What do girls hope to accomplish through this activity? In addition to earning money, what skills do they hope to build? What leadership opportunities present themselves?

Create a budget. Use a budget worksheet that includes both expenses (the cost of supplies, admission to events, travel, and so on) and available income (the group’s account balance, projected Cookie sale proceeds, and so on).

Determine how much the group needs to earn. Subtract expenses from available income to determine how much money your group needs to earn.

Make a plan. The group can brainstorm and make decisions about its financial plans. Will cookie and other product sales—if approached proactively and energetically—earn enough money to meet the group’s goals? If not, which group money-earning activities might offset the difference in anticipated expense and anticipated income? Will more than one group money-earning activity be necessary to achieve the group’s financial goals? In this planning stage, engage the girls through the Girl Scout processes (girl-led, learning by doing, and cooperative learning) and consider the value of any potential activity. Have them weigh feasibility, implementation, and safety factors.
Write it out. Once the group has decided on its financial plan, describe it in writing. If the plan involves a group money-earning activity, fill out an application for approval from GS-TOP and submit it along with the budget worksheet the girls created.

Remember: It’s great for girls to have opportunities, like the Girl Scout Cookie Sale, to earn funds that help them fulfill their goals as part of the Girl Scout Leadership Experience. As a volunteer, try to help girls 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 girls to spend a lot of money!

Reviewing Financial and Sales Abilities by Grade Level

As with other activities, girls progress in their financial and sales abilities as they get older. This section gives you some examples of the abilities of girls at each grade level.

Girl Scout Daisies

• The group volunteer handles money, keeps financial records, and does all budgeting.

• Parents/guardians may decide they will contribute to the cost of activities.

• Girls can participate in the Girl Scout Cookie sales and other council-sponsored product sales.

• Daisies are always paired with an adult when selling anything. Girls do the asking and deliver the product, but adults handle the money and keep the girls secure.

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).

• Girls set goals for and participate in council-sponsored product sales.

• Girls may decide to pay dues.

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 group volunteers.

• Girls budget for take-action projects, including the Girl Scout Silver or Gold Awards, if they are pursuing them.

One critical task for each group, no matter what grade level, is to keep excellent records and establish a clear accounting system for all money earned and spent. As the group’s volunteer, you’re in charge of making sure money is spent wisely and that excellent records are kept (keeping copies of all receipts in a binder or folder), and tracking all income, too. For older girls, your job is to oversee their work, as they learn to keep impeccable records.