2018 Annual Report the GIRL SCOUT MISSION
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
2018 Annual Report THE GIRL SCOUT MISSION Girl Scouting builds girls of courage, confidence, and character, who make the world a better place. THE GIRL SCOUT PROMISE On my honor, I will try: To serve God and my country, to help people at all times, and to live by the Girl Scout Law. THE GIRL SCOUT LAW TABLE OF CONTENTS I will do my best to be honest and fair, I. Executive Message IV. Take the Lead friendly and helpful, II. Strategic Plan: V. Thank You to Our Donors considerate and caring, Leadership for the Future VI. Board of Directors courageous and strong, and III. Financial Report VII. Our Footprint responsible for what I say and do, and to respect myself and others, respect authority, use resources wisely, make the world a better place, and be a sister to every Girl Scout. 2 3 Working together to help create the next generation of female leaders. EXECUTIVE MESSAGE Unleash Strong! Be a Girl Scout! more about themselves and develop a strong sense of In the ever evolving and competitive environment 2018 was a very important year for women who self, Connect with others and value the power of for girls, Girl Scouts is steadfast in our commitment to mentored and blazed the trail for future generations diversity, and to Take Action individually and serving girls, and girls only, in a safe space designed of young girls to succeed. The Girl Scouts of Eastern collectively to make our community and our specifically for them where they take the lead to Pennsylvania (GSEP) were there every step of the world better. inform and drive our one-of-a-kind programming. way. When Juliette Gordon “Daisy” Low began her Girl Scouts offers every girl a chance to prepare for Girl Scouts is and remains the best girl leadership remarkable journey 107 years ago, she had the great a lifetime of leadership, adventure, and success, experience in the world. vision to build girls of courage, confidence and and, we are inspired every day by the positive Thank you for being a valued part of this important character who could make the world a better place. actions they take at home, at school and within organization. We are pleased to share this annual their communities. Our girls are empathetic report, which will highlight and guide you through Today, every G.I.R.L. (Go-getter, Innovator, problem solvers who are providing solutions for the the second year of our three-year Risk-taker, Leader) is empowered to define her Strategic Plan: place in the world. The Girl Scout Leadership world’s biggest challenges and providing smaller Leadership for the Future. advancements in their everyday life experiences. Experience continues to encourage girls to Discover Yours in Girl Scouting, GIRL SCOUT LEADERSHIP EXPERIENCE (GSLE) IN ACTION: 50% of female CEO’s Deborah Hassan 80% of female tech leaders Chair, Board of Directors 76% of women in the U.S. Senate 53% of women in the House of Representatives Kim E. Fraites-Dow Chief Executive Officer And every female U.S. Secretary of State are Girl Scout Alums 4 5 LEADERSHIP 1. OUR ORGANIZATION: FOR THE FUTURE: YEAR 2 Build a learning and growing culture that enhances the contributions of the GSEP staff and leadership. Girl Scouts of Eastern Pennsylvania, Inc. (GSEP), operates as an independent, nonprofit organization 2. COMMUNICATIONS: chartered by Girl Scouts of the USA (GSUSA) to provide leadership development opportunities for Advance a clear message and build community around girls in nine Pennsylvania counties: Berks, Bucks, GSEP programs, experiences, and impacts. Carbon, Chester, Delaware, Lehigh, Montgomery, Northampton, and Philadelphia. In fiscal year 2018 (October 1, 2017-September 30, 2018) GSEP 3. GIRL EXPERIENCE: grew in girl membership and provided the Girl Position GSEP as the premier organization for girls to build Scout Leadership Experience (GSLE) to close to 40,000 girls, with the help of more than 15,000 leadership, confidence, independence, and community. adult members. In FY2018, GSEP was in year two of a three-year 4. VOLUNTEER EXPERIENCE: strategic plan designed to strengthen GSEP’s Position GSEP as a rewarding and sought-after leadership position while enhancing leadership opportunities for girls. This plan was informed by volunteer experience. both national and council-specific priorities and articulates five goals: 5. FINANCIAL SUSTAINABILITY AND REVENUE ENHANCEMENT: Optimize revenue sources and uses. This narrative details GSEP’s achievements for FY2018 as they relate to measures outlined in the Strategic Plan, which include seven guiding principles: Leadership, Community, Service, Inclusion, Respect, Integrity, and Innovation. 6 7 1. OUR ORGANIZATION: Build a learning and growing culture that enhances the contributions of the GSEP staff and leadership. To promote a culture that is inspiring, cohesive, Investments in staff development included Providing ongoing leadership development for the and supportive of the Girl Scout mission, GSEP standardizing employee recognitions at all-staff Board of Directors was also a goal. All Board reinvented several of its Service Center spaces, events, piloting an in-house mentorship program, Committees were mapped to the strategic plan which are available to staff, members, and visitors. and continuing to provide comprehensive goals, with a focused effort to ensure every Board At the Shelly Ridge Service Center, a new multi-purpose management training to all staff with supervisory Member served on a Board committee or lounge space was created that features collaboration responsibilities. The employee handbook and subcommittee. An on-boarding presentation for spaces and a private nursing area. At the Valley employee assessment process were updated to new Board Members was created and a full-day Forge Service Center, a new Girl Scout Museum incorporate the council’s strategic goals and to retreat was held. Board members were engaged to opened to the public and a brand-new art space reflect current HR best practices. In addition, all provide guidance on competitive marketplace was created for day-camp and program participants staff received Volunteer Essentials training to ensure challenges. Every Board Meeting agenda included that is contiguous with other day-camp spaces. alignment with the most up-to-date policies and a presentation by a Gold Award Girl Scout and a safety standards required of Girl Scout volunteers. Board engagement topic to provide opportunities To improve cross-team collaboration, staff were for ideas, feedback, education, and relationship trained on a project management matrix (RACI) building. Board members also worked together to and provided with new tools for planning events. design their own GSEP Board Patch, which they can Teams now have a better understanding of how distribute to Girl Scouts they meet in the community. and when various projects/events overlap, and The Board Development Committee had a continued when they should begin working together in the focus on building a diverse leadership pipeline. planning process to implement changes or collaborate around shared goals. 8 9 2. COMMUNICATIONS: Advance a clear message and build community around GSEP programs, experiences, and impacts. GSEP overhauled its internal systems and organizational structure in FY2017 to accommodate the The Hispanic girl population continues to grow, In addition, GSEP developed plans for a pilot program Lastly, in FY2018 GSEP focused on improving its Customer Engagement Initiative (CEI) and in FY2018 turned its attention to improving communication and remains an area of opportunity for Girl Scouts. to reach out to Hispanic communities with the goal young alum network. Young alums are untapped with external audiences – volunteers, parents, caregivers, Girl Scouts, alums, funders, community The Hispanic communities in the GSEP footprint of forming sustainable volunteer-led troops. A ambassadors, donors, and volunteers, as well as partners, and the public – and providing resources and opportunities for members and other stakeholders differ greatly, and successfully reaching them and subcommittee comprised of Board Members, staff, potential role models for older Girl Scouts – particularly to tell the Girl Scout story. The organization developed a comprehensive communications plan to growing girl membership will require understanding and volunteers identified three target areas as girls are preparing for college. A very successful proactively manage marketplace challenges, which included community forums where members of their needs and providing troop opportunities that (Philadelphia, Easton, and Southern Chester County), young alum event, organized and co-hosted by the public could learn more about the competitive threats to Girl Scouts and discuss how to grow Girl meet girls – and their families – where they are. To performed demographic research, and interviewed staff and volunteers, served as a template for future Scouting in their communities. provide increased access to Girl Scouts for Spanish- volunteers and community members in each area to events and GSEP began sending a quarterly alum speaking families, GSEP translated key portions of understand how to best reach the Hispanic population. newsletter. GSEP also made a special effort to begin To provide greater access and expand grassroots marketing opportunities, GSEP created an online its website into Spanish and created a specific reconnecting with and collecting contact information To position Girl Scouts as the premier female leadership catalog and a process for printing and distributing marketing materials directly to volunteers. Via the landing page with information about Girl Scouting for alums of the Girl Scouts Beyond Bars (GSBB) experience, there was an increased focus on promoting GSEP website, volunteers can now view available materials (which are updated seasonally) and place and contact information for a Spanish-speaking program. Girl Scouts Beyond Bars connects girls the Girl Scout Gold Award, the highest award in Girl an order which is mailed directly to their homes. staff member. In the past, GSEP had translated with their incarcerated mothers through troop Scouting, as a unique and demanding accomplishment some marketing materials, but they directed families meeting experiences.