The 2023 Girl Scouts River Valleys Cookie Program begins February 17 and ends March 26.

Where Cookie Money Goes

When you buy delicious Girl Scout Cookies, you’re helping to power new, unique, and amazing experiences for girls—experiences that broaden their worlds, help them learn essential life skills, and prepare them to practice a lifetime of leadership.

All cookie proceeds stay local! In fact, 76% of the cost of each box is reinvested in local Girl Scouts! That’s right, all the money that a council and its troops raise through the Girl Scout Cookie Program—every penny after paying the baker—stays with that council and its troops. Girl Scout councils do not provide any portion of their cookie revenue to Girl Scouts of the USA.

Your cookie purchase not only supports girls' success, but helps cookie entrepreneurs learn essential life skills like goal setting, decision making, money management, people skills, business ethics and so much more.

How the Cookie Program Helps Pay for Girl Scouting

The Girl Scout Cookie Program helps to subsidize Girl Programs, keeping Girl Scouting affordable for all. In fact, the Cookie Program is vital to River Valleys’ mission of building girls of courage, confidence, and character—more than 60% of Girl Scouts River Valleys’ budget comes from the Cookie Program.

Here’s what the Cookie Program makes possible:

Keeps camp affordable by subsidizing the registration cost
Supports the Girl Scout Leadership Experience which includes programming, curriculum, and events
Provides grants to Girl Scouts and troops with financial barriers, so that Girl Scouting is available to all

Girl Scouts also earn proceeds for their individual troop, which are used for troop activities and service projects within their communities.

Concerns About Girl Scout Cookies?

Once in a while, we hear concerns about the Girl Scout Cookie Program. In short, this concern arises because individuals have been fed false information about the program. As such a large organization, Girl Scouts is occasionally a target for outside entities with clear agendas. A fundamental piece you should know is that Girl Scouts does not advocate one way or another with regard to what we perceive as private issues best handled by families.

And hey, let’s let them have fun! We ask that adults keep adult conversations to themselves. Approaching Girl Scouts with negative materials at a cookie sale is not acceptable.

We’re Committed to Inclusivity

We are committed to providing a welcoming and inclusive environment for all Girl Scouts and their families.

Diversity and inclusion have been core values of Girl Scouts since its founding in 1912. Girl Scouts River Valleys and Girl Scouts of the USA value diversity in all its forms and do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, alienage or national origin, ancestry, citizenship status, age, disability, gender, marital status, familial status, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identification, genetic information, public assistance, local human rights commission activity, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local laws.

Girl Scouts River Valleys strives to ensure its members have safe spaces to learn, grow, take healthy risks, and make new friends, all while being themselves and feeling affirmed and respected for who they are.

We Do Not Take a Political Position

Girl Scouts is a non-partisan, non-profit organization. We do not support or oppose candidates for public office in any election, nor take a stand for or against a political party. Girl Scouts River Valleys does not take a position on abortion or birth control or have a relationship with Planned Parenthood. The national umbrella organization, Girl Scouts of the USA, does not have a relationship with Planned Parenthood on a national level and does not plan to have one.

Cookie Concern Resources

Social Issues FAQs - This page from Girl Scouts of the USA answers questions customers commonly have about Girl Scout stances on social issues.
Cookies FAQs - This page from Girl Scouts of the USA answers questions customers commonly have about Cookies and the Cookie Sale.
Catholic Church Relationship - This page from Girl Scouts of the USA outlines Girl Scouts' 100-year relationship with the Catholic Church.
Additionally, we have put together responses for cookie sellers for instances where Girl Scouts or volunteers are faced with questions or negative comments.