Additional Money-Earning Guidelines

Sample Money-Earning Activities

The Girl Scout Cookie Program and other council-sponsored product programs are designed to unleash the entrepreneurial potential in Girl Scouts. From there, your troop may decide to earn additional funds on its own. 

Collections/Drives

• Cell phones for refurbishment
• Used ink cartridges turned in for money
• Christmas tree recycling

Food/Meal Events

• Lunch box auction (prepared lunch or meal auctioned off)
• Themed meals, like a high tea or a build-your-own-taco bar, related to activities Girl Scouts are planning; for instance, if they are earning money for travel, they could tie the meal to their destination

Service(s)

• Service-a-thon (people sponsor a Girl Scout doing service and funds go to support a trip or other activity)
• Babysitting for holiday (New Year’s Eve) or council events
• Raking leaves, weeding, cutting grass, shoveling snow, walking pets
• Cooking class or other specialty class

Source: Volunteer Essentials, Troop Finances, Money-Earning Basics for Troops 2024-26

Above & Beyond

If troops need funds above and beyond what they earn from council-sponsored product programs and troop dues, they can apply to receive permission to organize additional money-earning activities.

Per GSUSA policy, when serving as Girl Scouts, girls may not solicit money for other organizations or promote or advertise another organization. Note: If Girl Scouts are passionate about an organization, they are encouraged to support it through service projects or donating troop funds.

During your activity planning phase, check the following requirements for participation.

• Troop activities must be age appropriate.
• Troops must participate in the Girl Scout Cookie Program to be approved for additional money earning. Exceptions will be made for troops formed after council-sponsored product programs.
• For approval, troop leaders must submit a completed Money-Earning Application to Customer Care (info@gsnwgl.org) three weeks before any money earning. Troops must have approval before beginning or advertising activities. NOTE: Customer Care will note any United Way or grantor fundraising black-out dates when evaluating your application.
• Review Volunteer Essentials Troop Finances for full details of the GSNWGL money-earning guidelines, sample activities, and how to facilitate girl-led planning.

Troop and Service Area Money-Earning activities must meet GSUSA and Girl Scouts of the Northwestern Great Lakes policies, standards, and guidelines. Applications must be completed at least three weeks prior to any proposed activity or advertisement. Our customer care team is available right away to assist with all of your inquiries! If needed, contact them at info@gsnwgl.org or 888.747.6945.

Do: Appropriate money-earning activities

• Girl Scout-made sales: girls make goods or items and sell them. Examples: bake sales, plant sales, craft sales
• Events: girls hold an event and charge an affordable ticket price. Examples: badge earning day, art show, performance, brat fry, cake auction, spaghetti dinner, pancake breakfast, lemonade stand, face painting, photo booth
• Collections/Drives: Collect items and redeem them for a profit. Examples: cell phones, ink cartridges, recycling or can drives, rummage sale
• Service(s): girls provide a service and are paid via donations. Examples: lawn care, shoveling snow, house cleaning, car wash, babysitting/ pet sitting, tutoring

​​​​​​​Don’t: Inappropriate money-earning activities

• Raising or collecting funds for other organizations (i.e. ringing bells for Salvation Army)
• Sales of gift cards, coupon books, or candy bars for other organizations or businesses
• Product demonstration parties: Pampered Chef, Mary Kay, etc.
• Games of chance (raffles, drawings, lotteries)
• Direct solicitation of cash
• Sales or endorsement of commercial products
• Door-to-door sales other than Council-sponsored products