2025-26 Cookie Program Quick Bites
Reference Guide for Troop Cookie Coordinators (TCCs)
o Complete the required paperwork (available at gsema.org/forsellers):
o 2025-26 Troop Cookie Coordinator (TCC) Volunteer Agreement
o 2025-26 Troop Bank Information Form
o Ensure TCC’s CORI/SORI is valid for the entire cookie program
o 2025-26 Annual Girl Scout Permission Form (all caregivers must complete for their child)
o Review the digital Cookie Book for all program policies and procedures.
o Download the GSEMA Troop Budget Plan, and meet with your troop to distribute materials and set money-earning goals.
o Join an online Prep Talk and/or review training videos.
o Ensure each Girl Scout has cookie-selling materials. Service Unit Cookie Mentors (SUCM) for each town will provide Troop Cookie Coordinators (TCC) with a packet of troop materials. The packet includes a copy of Quick Bites for the TCC, a cookie order card, a rewards insert/ family guide, a money envelope, and a receipt booklet.
NEW THIS YEAR:
o Review the weekly Sunday Cookie emails, and make sure you are opted in for GSEMA emails.
• Girl Scout Cookie Program kicks off on Wednesday, December 3: online and in-person sales begin the same day.
Resources
GSEMA.ORG/FORSELLERS
Visit the GSEMA For Sellers web page for all necessary forms, trainings, and resources like the Cookie Book (an in-depth resource that covers every aspect of the cookie program).
COOKIE EMAILS (EVERY SUNDAY)
For Sellers Web page
Cookie Book
• A refreshed GSUSA Cookie Finder will show booth sales starting December 3, and will include direct-ship-only links for all participating Girl Scout troops on January 6. GSEMA Cookie Connector will be discontinued.
GSEMA CUSTOMER CARE customercare@gsema.org
BAND
• Check out our expanded Chiefs in Training achievement for entrepreneurs who sell 1,750+ packages of Girl Scout Cookies.
Our Sunday cookie emails will keep volunteers updated on the program.
COOKIE CUPBOARD HOTLINE
844-PB-PATTI (727-2884)
SERVICE UNIT COOKIE MENTOR
The Service Unit Cookie Mentor (SUCM) is your local volunteer expert who can assist you throughout the program. If you need an introduction, email customercare@gsema.org.
The product program team will provide real-time updates via BAND regarding weather closures, deadlines, urgent cupboard information, and helpful tips. Volunteers connect with one another to seek support; it is a volunteer-based networking tool that GSEMA does not monitor. Download this free app to your smartphone, then search “GSEMA Product Program” team.
SMART COOKIES HELP Tech support: 800-853-3730 or ABCSmartCookieTech@hearthsidefoods.com Direct Ship inquiries: ABCSmartCookieDirect@hearthsidefoods.com
How Girl Scouts Sell Cookies
Sale Method How Customers Pay How Troop Pays for Cookies
Order Cards and Walkabouts
In-Person
Cookie Booths
Customers can pay with cash or credit card, Venmo, and PayPal via Digital Cookie®
Customers can pay with cash or credit card, Venmo, and PayPal via the Digital Cookie® virtual cookie booth
• Troop deposits cash into the troop bank account, which GSEMA debits on a monthly schedule
• Digital Cookie® automatically credits payments to the troop and will deduct from the total balance
OnlineGirl Delivery
Customers can pay with credit card, Venmo, and PayPal in Digital Cookie®
• Troop deposits cash into the troop bank account, which GSEMA debits on a monthly schedule
• Digital Cookie® automatically credits payments to the troop and will deduct from the total balance
• Digital Cookie® automatically credits credit card payments to the troop and will deduct from the total balance
OnlineDirect Ship
Customer pays with a credit card in Digital Cookie®
• Digital Cookie® automatically credits credit card payments to the troop and will deduct from the total balance
GSEMA will offer $5 shipping* on orders of 9-12 packages three times during the cookie program: December 3-7, January 6-11, and February 20-22.
*The actual shipping fee has not yet been confirmed by GSUSA and will be updated closer to the program start date.
COOKIE DONATIONS/COOKIE SHARE (CSHARE) ORDERS:
Customers who want to support Girl Scouts but don’t want cookies can buy cookies online to donate to food pantries, military, and first responders.
How Troops Fulfill Orders / Girl Scouts Receive Credit
• Troop places a Planned Order in Smart Cookies and picks up inventory at a cookie cupboard
• Girl Scout returns to the customer to deliver the order
• TCC allocates packages to Girl Scouts in Smart Cookies
CShare Orders: Troop donates physical packages from inventory OR allocates packages to Girl Scouts via Smart Cookies Virtual Cookie Share for GSEMA to donate packages
• Troop places a Planned Order in Smart Cookies and picks up inventory at a cookie cupboard
• Girl Scouts have cookies in hand to sell to customers
• TCC allocates packages to Girl Scouts in Smart Cookies
CShare Orders: Troop donates physical packages from inventory OR allocates packages to Girl Scouts via Smart Cookies Virtual Cookie Share for GSEMA to donate packages
• Girl Scout reports orders (including CShare orders) to the Troop Cookie Coordinator
• Troop places a Planned order in Smart Cookies and picks up inventory at a cookie cupboard
• Girl Scout delivers the order to the customer
• TCC allocates packages to Girl Scouts in Smart Cookies
CShare Orders: Troop donates physical packages from inventory OR allocates packages to Girl Scout via Smart Cookies Virtual Cookie Share for GSEMA to donate packages
• The baker’s warehouse ships the order directly to the customer (customer pays shipping fee)
• Digital Cookie® automatically credits cookie packages to Girl Scouts
CShare Orders: GSEMA buys and donates packages locally
2025-26 Mascot and Theme
SMART COOKIES
abcsmartcookies.com
Smart Cookies is the Girl Scout Cookie Program online portal for volunteers. Volunteers can manage every aspect of their troop’s cookie business from a smartphone, tablet, or computer.
Troop Cookie Coordinators use Smart Cookies to:
• place Planned Orders for troop cookies
• enter cookie booth locations
• allocate packages to Girl Scouts
• submit rewards selections
• manage troop finances
• manage troop inventory
DIGITAL COOKIE®
Troop Cookie Coordinators use Digital Cookie® to:
• accept Venmo, PayPal, and credit card payments at cookie booths
• find/share the Troop Direct Ship link
• review orders
Girl Scouts use Digital Cookie® to:
• create goals
• send ecards with their sales links to family and friends
• accept credit card payments at a troop booth sale
• track progress
• select rewards
• review orders
ORDERING COOKIES FOR TROOP
Reserve cookies through a Smart Cookies Planned Order and pick them up at a Cookie Cupboard. The deadline to enter Planned Orders in Smart Cookies is 10 PM on Sunday. The person listed in the Order Notes field in the Planned Order may pick up cookies during their assigned time block; they must show a photo ID to pick up cookies.
TCCs can place as many orders as necessary throughout the cookie program. Order cookies in case units; there are 12 packages of cookies per case.
Call the Cookie Cupboard hotline at 844-727-2884 to correct or adjust an order.
INVENTORY TRACKING
TCCs need to keep an accurate inventory of cookies on hand and communicate with families throughout the program to avoid excess inventory. Unsold cookies are the troop’s responsibility.
HELPFUL SMART COOKIES REPORTS
Troop Balance Summary
Displays details of all activity for the troop (orders, transfers, troop proceeds, total sales, payments, and the balance owed to GSEMA).
Girl Cookie Totals Summary
Reviews participant package allocation to keep a Girl Scout’s sales record up-to-date in a summarized chart. They will like tracking their progress toward their goals, like 500 Club.
Financial Transaction Summary
Displays all financial transactions associated with the troop.
HELPFUL DIGITAL COOKIE REPORT
All Order Data
Displays details of every order for every Girl Scout in your troop.
COOKIE CUPBOARD LOCATIONS
We may add additional cupboard locations; see Smart Cookies for details.
• Andover – 143 Abbot Street
• Dorchester – 500 Morton Street
• Foxboro – TBD
• Gloucester – 42 Reynard Street
• Hingham – 26 Burr Road
• Holliston – 1750 Washington Street
• Marlborough – 212 Phelps Street
• Middleboro – 111 E Grove Street
• Rowley – 888 Haverhill Street
• Waltham – 265 Beaver Street
• Wayland – 24 Oxbow Road
• West Dennis – 109 Main Street
For safety reasons, cookies cannot be returned or exchanged. However, you may exchange damaged cookie packages.
GIRL SCOUT ONLINE SELLING
TROOP ONLINE SELLING
Troop Direct Ship links (found in Digital Cookie®) allow customers to buy cookies online from a troop. Troops may promote these links on personal or public webpages but not re-sale sites such as Craigslist, eBay, or Facebook Marketplace. Please first check with your Service Unit Cookie Mentor for schedules and policies.
Additionally, Girl Scout Troop Direct Ship Links are included in the GSUSA Cookie Finder. The Girl Scout Cookie Finder is a webpage that customers visit to find cookies by zip code; it is embedded on GSEMA’s web pages and girlscouts.org. When customers enter their zip code, the Cookie Finder will locate in-person cookie booths within a 25-mile default radius.
Girl Scouts are encouraged to sell to their out-of-town friends and family networks via e-card and private social media and websites. Girl Scouts may also post their sales links on publicfacing social media but need to adhere to GSEMA online safety policies.
The Perks
TROOPS EARN
$1.10 PER PACKAGE SOLD
Cadette, Senior, and Ambassador troops may opt out of the reward program and earn an additional $0.05 per package. Troops opting out of rewards are still eligible for Cookie Credits, the 500 Club rewards, Chiefs In Training, a theme patch, and an Entrepreneur Programs patch (if they participated in the Fall Product Program) once they achieve the required milestone and packages are allocated in Smart Cookies. Opt-out form due March 1, 2026.
COOKIE CREDITS
In addition to reward items, Girl Scouts can earn Cookie Credits once they have sold 100 packages of cookies. They use their credits for GSEMA programs and camp, in GSEMA shops, at camp trading posts, and GSEMA or GSUSA Destinations programs.
500 CLUB
When Girl Scouts sell 500 packages or more of Girl Scout Cookies, they earn a spot in the prestigious 500 Club! Membership perks include an in-person celebration at Canobie Lake Park in May of 2026. The event (date announced in early 2026) includes a ceremony and giveaways.
CHIEFS IN TRAINING CLUB
Girl Scout Entrepreneurs who sell 1,750+ packages of cookies will be welcomed into the Chiefs in Training Club. Chiefs in Training are recognized at GSEMA’s 500 Club event at Canobie Lake Park (Spring 2026), and kick off their leadership role with a day of professional development to prepare them for their new role. Our 2025 Chiefs in Training event featured a celebratory brunch with CEO Monica Roberts, an interactive roundtable with the GSEMA product program team, and a hands-on marketing and media training designed to equip these entrepreneurs with the skills they need to champion Girl Scouts throughout the year.
View a day in the life of a Chief in Training: bit.ly/GSEMAchiefs2025
TROOP TREASURE
Troop leaders can earn the following cumulative Troop Treasure incentives based on the Per Girl Scout Average (PGA) metric:
• 50+ CShare packages sold: All Girl Scouts in troop receive a CShare patch.
• 150+ PGA and Zero Inventory (at the end of the season): Troop coordinators earn the Cookie Program Volunteer T-shirt.
• To calculate the PGA, divide the number of total packages the troop sold by the number of Girl Scouts registered in the troop.
