This chapter gives you the ins and outs of establishing a troop account, helping girls manage troop’s finances, participating in money-earning activities, staying safe around money-earning activities, and understand how to collaborate with sponsors and causes.
Helping girls decide what they want to do, and coaching them as they earn and manage money to pursue their goals, is an integral part of the Girl Scout Leadership Experience (GSLE). Your Girl Scout troop plans and finances its own activities, with your guidance. At the same time, the girls learn many valuable skills that serve them throughout their lives. Girl Scout troops are funded by a share of money earned through Council-sponsored product sale activities, group money-earning activities, and any dues your troop may charge. The troop treasury belongs to the entire group. The troop should keep enough money in their bank account to cover activities planned during the year. Generally, the troop should spend earned money each year to ensure that the girls that earn the money benefit from it. Dues Regular troop dues can be used for a variety of ongoing expenses, such as site rental fees, supplies, badges and patches. Troops should set the amount of dues based on these estimated costs. Troops may decide to collect dues weekly, monthly or at regular intervals that work for them. Ideally, girls are involved in earning and remembering to bring their dues to meetings. These dues are in addition to the annual membership dues that go solely to GSUSA, the national organization. Product Sales The Girl Scout Cookie and the Fall Product (magazines, nuts and candy) Programs are organized by our Council and open to all Girl Scouts. Girls are encouraged to participate in both Council-sponsored product sale activities each year. These programs not only provide troop funding but are a major funding source for all Council operations. Specific details about these programs are located on page 68. Money-Earning Events When a troop needs to supplement its dues and product sales earnings for a special trip or program, the troop may plan a money-earning event to help with the costs. The event is organized by the troop (not by the Council), approved by the service unit, and planned and carried out by girls (in partnership with adults). See details including the approval process on page 27.
The Troop Money Manager is the volunteer responsible for the troop’s bank account: coordinating deposits, expenditures and financial reporting for and to the troop. This is a wonderful Troop Committee position for a detailed oriented parent with an interest and/or skill in finance. Since the money belongs to the “troop,” it is important that the management of funds is transparent for the girls, parents and volunteers as well as the Council. The Service Unit Money Manager is responsible for providing local training and ongoing support to Troop Money Managers. Any volunteer with an outstanding debt may not be appointed to a Money Manager position.
Chapter 3: Troop Finances page 23