A gift freely offered to a service unit or troop is quite different from a gift that is solicited. Troop adults can solicit contributions for their troop within the scope of sponsorship, but need River Valleys’ approval from Fund Development prior to solicitation. At no time are girls allowed to be involved in direct solicitation of cash.

Community organizations, businesses, religious organizations and individuals may be sponsors and provide such things as group meeting places, volunteers, activity materials and loaned equipment. For more information on working with a sponsor, contact River Valleys’ Fund Development department by email. They can provide guidance on the availability of sponsors, recruiting responsibility and council policies that must be followed. River Valleys has many relationships with organizations and may know of reasons not to collaborate with other organizations.

Girl Scouts of the USA and Girl Scouts River Valleys have policies about contacting corporations or foundations, because council staff solicit them for council-wide program support. Service units and troop adults may contact individually owned local businesses, such as hardware or gift shops to get in-kind donations like art supplies, snack items, books and other troop supplies.

Service units and troops may accept unsolicited donations from community and civic organizations. It’s important to complete the Troop Sponsorship + Services + In-Kind Donation form and submit it to River Valleys who will acknowledge the contribution and distribute it to the right place. Any monetary donation of more than $250 or which needs a receipt must be sent to the St. Paul service center. If the donation is intended for the troop, a check will be sent to the troop after River Valleys has received it from the donor and processed it.

For questions or information about working with a sponsor, please contact the Individual Giving or Corporate/Foundation Giving officers in Fund Development.

GSUSA also established a donation account that will be distributed to the highest-priority recovery needs specified by the councils. To donate directly to councils or to the general recovery fund, visit donate.girlscouts.org.

GSUSA notes that while material donations and troop offers of assistance are appreciated, the councils are not currently able process and organize them. Financial assistance is the most direct way to support the councils and girls.

Most Girl Scout program and activity plans can and should be supported through troop dues and participation in the Cookie Program Activity and Fall Product Program Activity. However, if a troop goal for a specific program or activity cannot be met, girls can participate in money-earning projects.

Here are just a few friendly reminders that should be followed when it comes to money-earning: 

• Don’t forget to submit an approval form 30 days prior to the start of your money-earning project.
• If your project will earn less than $100, no approval is required.
• Wondering if your service unit can help your troop with a project? A service unit cannot host or conduct money-earning projects, but they are welcome to help support and assist troops with planning. All proceeds from money-earning activities must go back to individual troops.
• Wondering if your Girl Scouts can raise money for other charities or for a good cause? Troops cannot raise money for another organization or charity, but they may choose to donate a portion of what they earn to a charity of their choice.
• Troops cannot take orders for, sell or endorse a commercial product or business of any kind. However, they can sell wholesale, non-branded or homemade items.

In order to protect the safety of girls, River Valleys’ tax exempt status and our GSUSA charter, all troops must follow federal, state and organizational money-earning policies. For a complete list of guidelines, visit Volunteer Essentials: Managing Group Finances. For additional information about money earning, check out the Money Earning page.

And don’t forget, you can always contact money-earning liaison, Rachel Hoben, at 800-845-0787 with your questions.

To help you, here is a spaghetti dinner money-earning example from the Kenyon Service Unit troops. Participants were Brownies to Ambassadors.

Money-earning tips

A service unit cannot host or conduct money-earning (ME) projects but can assist troops in developing and implementing projects. All proceeds must go back to troops.

When dealing with food for a ME project, you must contact the State Health Department to inquire whether or not you will need a food license prior to approval.

Spaghetti Dinner Insights

Was your project successful?

Yes. It was a great success. We served 140 people and the girls did a great job serving, assisting, cleaning and thanking everyone.

Did you meet your fundraising goal?

Just barely. We didn’t raise our prices, even though we knew the cost of food would be more. Each troop made about $100.

Would you do the same event again or change it in anyway?

We will do it again next year. It is a great way for the girls to be seen in the community. Not sure we would change anything, maybe plan sooner to have more time to advertise.
Thank you to all who have been sending in pictures from their money-earning projects. I am going to give you one more helpful reminder—Cookie Sales are just around the corner and ME projects cannot be held during the fall product sales or cookie sales. Please continue to turn in your approval forms 30 days in advance.

For more information check out money-earning guidelines and stay tuned for more money-earning tips!

Craft + Bake Sale Experience

Was your project successful?

Yes. We, Troop 51282, organized the event, set up a concession stand and also sponsored a food drive. Interacting with troops of all age levels was fun. We learned about planning, budgeting, marketing, selling, making change, dealing with customers and more.

What are you raising money for and did you meet your fundraising goal?

We are planning a trip to Pax Lodge World Centre in London. We will participate in a special program for the 100th year in Girl Scouting. Our goal was to make enough for the next trip payment. We met our goal, with a little extra help from some generous donations. You can learn more about taking a trip with your troop, destinations.

Would you do the same event again, or change it in anyway?

Yes. We want to encourage greater troop participation in our service unit. Currently we’re collecting feedback and asking troops who have hosted similar events how we can inspire more interest. Next year we want troops to submit an application with hopes to qualify as the host troop.

Helpful Money-Earning Tips

• When dealing with food you must contact the State Health Department to determine if a food license is needed prior to approval.
• Money-earning projects cannot be held during the Fall Product Sales and Cookie Sales. Please continue to turn in your money-earning project approval forms 30 days in advance.

Thank you to all troops sending in pictures in coordination with approved money-earning projects. I want to wish everyone a very happy and safe holiday season! Stay tuned for more fun money-earning excursions throughout River Valleys!

For other helpful tips and money-earning guidelines visit the money-earning section.

Lizy, Dana, Katie and Brianna worked with the South St. Paul Special School District #6 and the City of South St. Paul to improve an existing community space. The girls recruited volunteers and raised money from many individuals and local businesses to replace benches, resurface the blacktop, update the gardens and paint a mural that reflects community values. They were able to raise $7,800 to cover the costs of the renovation.

The girls represent Troops 50419 and 51677.

Thank you to the River Valleys troops that shared their recipe for Cookies Now! success during our special contest. Congratulations to our grand prize winner, Troop 43110, earning a free troop camp experience at a River Valleys Camp in 2011. Three troops were also chosen as first-prize winners of special cookie fun items: Troop 13106, Troop 52512, and Troop 50371.

Troop 43110 Recipe for Cookies Now! success:

• 10 happy, energetic 2nd grade Brownies
• 2 cookie-crazy troop leaders
• 20 very supportive parents
• 1 extra-hard working, dedicated cookie mom
• 1 goal of helping kids that aren’t as lucky as us at The Ronald McDonald House.

Directions:

1. Hold family meeting. Get everyone really excited about selling cookies!
2. Distribute initial cookie order. Give each girl at least two cases of the most popular: Thin Mints, Tagalongs and Samoas. Give one case of Trefoils and Do Si Dos. Give 6 boxes of Thank You Berry Munch, Dulce de Leche and Lemon Chalet Cremes. (You can always get more…but you don’t want to get stuck with any.)
3. Sell like crazy for the first two weeks. Then take an inventory of what has been sold and what is still out there. Shuffle less popular varieties between girls instead of ordering more. Continue to get more of the best sellers. Plan to be almost done with door-to-door sales when booths start. Use extra cookies to stock booths.
4. Have parents stay in constant contact with you regarding their cookie inventory. Have them return unopened cases before council buy-back days. Offer to use open cases to stock cookie booths.
5. After the last cookie booth, go door-to-door one last time with a wagon of extras. Ask customers to help your troop sell the last of it’s cookie inventory. Almost everyone is willing to buy one or two more boxes to help you out.
6. Wear cookie costumes…it’s super cute and people can’t resist!
7. Cookie Moms: SET FIRM DEADLINES for cookie returns and turning in money. Have a schedule for trips to cookie cupboards…and stick to it!

Troop 13106 Recipe for Cookies Now! Success:

Our recipe for cookie success began with our enthusiasm for Girl Scout Cookies Now! We were contagious! This year our recipe for cookie success was; one part cookies, one part preparation, one part goal, two parts entertainment, and seven heaping parts of smiles.

We planned to sell 120% more than our troop sold last year and we surpassed that by another 108 packages. When we sold cookies at booth hotspots we offered entertainment. We created a fun cookie rap that we sang and a cookie dance. We believe we gave people an opportunity to see how excited our troop was to be together and to see how exciting it is to be a girl scout. Our troop even made signs telling people our goal was to go to camp together.

Each Girl Scout had a job and we all took turns with different tasks. Our leaders provided guidance and hot chocolate breaks on the really cold Minnesota days. Our troop learned so much about doing business and setting goals that we are already looking forward to next year when we can improve our recipe and make it even bigger and better. One goal we have for next season is to work with a younger troop and teach them what we learned.

Troop 50371 Recipe for Cookies Now! Success:

Our Cadette Girl Scout Troop loves to have fun together. Their exuberance and energy is our recipe for success.

Their zest for life fills the room, even in the beginning of the cookie season, when they set their goals, played cookie-themed games, and made cookie catchers and concession boxes.

We ordered the same amount as the previous year, but ended up selling almost 500 extra boxes! We did four booth sales the first weekend and every girl in the troop was involved. What these girls like to do is “wear” the empty cases (usually 4-5 per girl). Weather permitting (it’s been cold here!), two or three of the girls stood near the road in their box outfits, (with an adult nearby) directing traffic in, and encouraging drivers to sample and buy.

At the booth, they created an assembly line, with one girl in charge of putting together the order, another handling the money, and yet another replenishing the table, so it always looked orderly.

Door-to-door sales seemed easier this year, with customers happy about getting their cookies right away. I think the media covered it well – most knew about the new way we were selling.

The Roseville Cookie Cupboard played its part, always being ready to have us pick up extra boxes.

I had the girls turn in any extra boxes they weren’t sure they’d sell at booth sale time. After booth sales, the girls then got and gave back boxes as needed. The receipt packs worked great for keeping track of who had what and for payments as well. When they turned in boxes, I gave them a minus receipt.

I like the new way of selling. It sure worked for us!Troop 52512 Recipe for Cookies Now! Success:

Take 11 goal-oriented Girl Scouts with knowledge of previous fanatical buyers and an ambitious initial order.

Add:

• 1 gallon of golden goals
• 2 Tablespoons of comedy performed in silly superbishly awesome skits
• 1 pound of smiles
• 1 cup of charisma
• 2 tons of temptation (it’s easier to sell what the customer can see in front of them!), A dash of posters, A sprinkle of internet and e-promises, A variety of movable devices (sleds, carts, wagons), A pinch of black market school hallway business, A plethora of parent workplaces
• 1 aunt’s apartment building
• 4 sensational cookie booths
• 1 quart of cookie-craving college students

Mix together adding persuasion and charm as needed. Wrap up warmly for freakishly freezing weather and then simmer for 7 selling weeks. Pick up extra cookies at the cupboard as needed. And don’t forget to return to your biggest cookie fans for maximum impact in the final days.

Troop 43110 Recipe for Cookies Now! success:

10 happy, energetic 2nd grade Brownies
2 cookie-crazy troop leaders
20 very supportive parents
1 extra-hard working, dedicated cookie mom
1 goal of helping kids that aren’t as lucky as us at The Ronald McDonald House.

Directions:

1. Hold family meeting. Get everyone really excited about selling cookies!
2. Distribute initial cookie order. Give each girl at least two cases of the most popular: Thin Mints, Tagalongs and Samoas. Give one case of Trefoils and Do Si Dos. Give 6 boxes of Thank You Berry Munch, Dulce de Leche and Lemon Chalet Cremes. (You can always get more…but you don’t want to get stuck with any.)
3. Sell like crazy for the first two weeks. Then take an inventory of what has been sold and what is still out there. Shuffle less popular varieties between girls instead of ordering more. Continue to get more of the best sellers.  Plan to be almost done with door-to-door sales when booths start. Use extra cookies to stock booths.
4. Have parents stay in constant contact with you regarding their cookie inventory. Have them return unopened cases before council buy-back days. Offer to use open cases to stock cookie booths.
5. After the last cookie booth, go door-to-door one last time with a wagon of extras. Ask customers to help your troop sell the last of it’s cookie inventory. Almost everyone is willing to buy one or two more boxes to help you out.
6. Wear cookie costumes…it’s super cute and people can’t resist!
7. Cookie Moms: SET FIRM DEADLINES for cookie returns and turning in money. Have a schedule for trips to cookie cupboards…and stick to it!

Troop 13106 Recipe for Cookies Now! Success:

Our recipe for cookie success began with our enthusiasm for Girl Scout Cookies Now! We were contagious! This year our recipe for cookie success was; one part cookies, one part preparation, one part goal, two parts entertainment, and seven heaping parts of smiles.

We planned to sell 120% more than our troop sold last year and we surpassed that by another 108 packages. When we sold cookies at booth hotspots we offered entertainment. We created a fun cookie rap that we sang and a cookie dance. We believe we gave people an opportunity to see how excited our troop was to be together and to see how exciting it is to be a girl scout. Our troop even made signs telling people our goal was to go to camp together.

Each Girl Scout had a job and we all took turns with different tasks. Our leaders provided guidance and hot chocolate breaks on the really cold Minnesota days. Our troop learned so much about doing business and setting goals that we are already looking forward to next year when we can improve our recipe and make it even bigger and better. One goal we have for next season is to work with a younger troop and teach them what we learned.

Troop 50371 Recipe for Cookies Now! Success:

Our Cadette Girl Scout Troop loves to have fun together. Their exuberance and energy is our recipe for success.

Their zest for life fills the room, even in the beginning of the cookie season, when they set their goals, played cookie-themed games, and made cookie catchers and concession boxes.

We ordered the same amount as the previous year, but ended up selling almost 500 extra boxes! We did four booth sales the first weekend and every girl in the troop was involved. What these girls like to do is “wear” the empty cases (usually 4-5 per girl). Weather permitting (it’s been cold here!), two or three of the girls stood near the road in their box outfits, (with an adult nearby) directing traffic in, and encouraging drivers to sample and buy.

At the booth, they created an assembly line, with one girl in charge of putting together the order, another handling the money, and yet another replenishing the table, so it always looked orderly.

Door-to-door sales seemed easier this year, with customers happy about getting their cookies right away. I think the media covered it well – most knew about the new way we were selling.

The Roseville Cookie Cupboard played its part, always being ready to have us pick up extra boxes.

I had the girls turn in any extra boxes they weren’t sure they’d sell at booth sale time. After booth sales, the girls then got and gave back boxes as needed. The receipt packs worked great for keeping track of who had what and for payments as well. When they turned in boxes, I gave them a minus receipt.

I like the new way of selling. It sure worked for us!Troop 52512 Recipe for Cookies Now! Success

Take 11 goal-oriented Girl Scouts with knowledge of previous fanatical buyers and an ambitious initial order.

Add:
1 gallon of golden goals,
2 Tablespoons of comedy performed in silly superbishly awesome skits,
1 pound of smiles,
1 cup of charisma,
2 tons of temptation (it’s easier to sell what the customer can see in front of them!), A dash of posters, A sprinkle of internet and e-promises, A variety of movable devices (sleds, carts, wagons), A pinch of black market school hallway business, A plethora of parent workplaces,
1 aunt’s apartment building,
4 sensational cookie booths,
1 quart of cookie-craving college students.

Mix together adding persuasion and charm as needed. Wrap up warmly for freakishly freezing weather and then simmer for 7 selling weeks. Pick up extra cookies at the cupboard as needed. And don’t forget to return to your biggest cookie fans for maximum impact in the final days.

On Sunday, May 22, 2011, North Minneapolis and the surrounding community experienced devastating severe weather and a tornado. As families regroup, individuals and organizations across Minnesota are already extending their generosity to their North Minneapolis neighbors. River Valleys received inquiries from Girl Scouts in our region asking how they can help.

We are happy to report that the policy that prohibits Girl Scouts from raising money for other organizations has been temporarily suspended.

It’s important that monetary donations be made to reputable organizations that have systems in place to support the ever-changing needs in North Minneapolis and the surrounding communities. If you choose to raise money on behalf of another organization, please ensure the following guidelines are followed:

• A money-earning application is completed and submitted to River Valleys.
• The time period for this special money earning opportunity is limited to May 25 through June 22, 2011.
• Money-earning guidelines are followed. With the exception (limited time only) of the policy that prohibits Girl Scouts from raising money for other organizations.
• Donations are made and limited to one or more of the following organizations:
  • American Red Cross
  • Salvation Army
  • Minnesota Helps – North Minneapolis Recovery Fund

Questions can be directed to moneyearning@www.girlscoutsrv.org.