GIRL SCOUTS OF EASTERN OKLAHOMA GUIDELINES FOR MONEY-EARNING PROJECTS
“Troop/group money earning” refers to activities following a planned budget and carried out by girls and adults, in partnership, to earn money for the troop/group treasury. These projects should teach girls to plan, budget, handle money, and develop skills and self- reliance. Group money belongs to the entire group, not to individual girls, and decisions on use and spending should be made through the group’s system of government.
GSUSA and Girl Scouts of Eastern Oklahoma’s Board of Directors have established certain guidelines and policies for handling troop/group finances, including group money earning. A council staff member is responsible for seeing that these guidelines and policies are followed. GUIDELINES
1. Groups must review Volunteer Essentials, Chapter 5: Managing Group Finances, including the section on Helping Girls Reach Their Financial Goals.
2. Groups must participate in council-sponsored product sales (Fall Product Sale and Cookie Sale) before considering other money-earning projects.
3. Plans and budgets for a trip or activity must be prepared before money-earning projects are planned. This gives the troop and each girl a goal. It is wise to have alternate plans that are less expensive. Troops should keep enough money in their bank accounts to cover the activities planned for the year. (See also Volunteer Essentials Appendix for Travel Volunteers.)
A troop’s budget should be based on reasonable dues, council-sponsored product sales activities, and an additional money- earning event only if needed. These activities must have program value for girls and earnings may not exceed the amount of money needed to support group activities. The Cookie Sale is usually a troop’s largest source of revenue.
Girl Scout Daisies should plan activities with minimal cost and within troop budgets.
Girl Scout Brownie troops should generally plan activities close to home that can be covered by troop budgets.
Girl Scout Junior troops may need to plan an extra money-earning project if planning a large trip or event.
Girl Scout Cadette, Senior or Ambassador groups planning community service projects or extended trips may need to plan money-earning projects over more than one year, and should consider putting this money in a special project savings account to earn interest.
4. Money-earning activities need to be suited to the age and abilities of the girls and consistent with the principles of the Girl Scout Leadership Experience. Any group money-earning project should:
Be part of ongoing troop program. Be of value to the girls with a positive learning experience. Fulfill a genuine troop need. Be worth the time involved in value received. Be free of health and safety hazards. Abide by city, county and/or state laws. Be voluntary on the part of each girl. Be well planned by the girls with adult help. Be supervised by responsible adults at all times. Discourage undesirable competition between girls.
5. Group money-earning projects must not be used as a method of allowing individual girls to build up a personal “bank account” within the group treasury.
6. Money earning for trips should be shared, with the group raising approximately half of the total expenses.
POLICIES TO BE OBSERVED
1. The sale of commercial products, other than council-sponsored product sales, is not allowed.
2. Girls may not act as solicitors in non-Girl Scout public fundraising projects. All money raised in the name of Girl Scouting must be used for that purpose.
3. No other money-earning projects shall be undertaken during council-sponsored product sales, or during any local United Way blackout periods if applicable. (Fall Product Sale order taking period in October and throughout deliveries in November/December; Cookie Sale beginning with the initial sales period in January/February through end of deliveries/direct sales in March). Exception: Ongoing projects such as recycling.
#302T 3/18 POLICIES . . . continued on next page
POLICIES TO BE OBSERVED, continued
4. Group money-earning projects are limited to one each school year in addition to the two council-sponsored product sales. Only the approving staff member can allow deviation from this policy if a genuine need exists, for Cadettes and above (e.g., for extended trips).
5. Form #301F, Money-Earning Project Application, must be submitted at least 60 days in advance and approval must be received before plans are finalized. If you are using a flyer in conjunction with your project, it must be attached to your application for council approval. No flyer distribution may occur until final approval of project and flyer.
6. Group leaders/advisors must obtain written permission from parents/guardians.
7. Troop money-earning activities may not be conducted on the Internet. (The only exceptions are council-sponsored product sales, using the official websites designated for this purpose.)
8. Girl Scout Daisies may be involved in council-sponsored product sale activities only and may not collect money in any other way except through group dues or parental contributions.
MONEY EARNING SUGGESTIONS
SERVICES Car wash – Collect fee at the time of the car wash or take pledges as to how many cars can be washed in an hour. “Kid Power” project – Perform various household or lawn chores (wash windows, rake leaves, walk dogs) for donations. “Kids Day Out” babysitting service – Offer either a one-day event or on consecutive Saturdays. Have the children bring a sack lunch and charge a fee for each child. Holiday gift wrapping at local stores. Working at special events in the community. Uniform exchange service -- Collect outgrown uniforms (Girl Scout, school, etc.), clean and repair as necessary and make available to those who could use them.
ENTERTAINMENT Stage a talent show. Charge admission and award prizes for different categories and age groups. Hold a sports/games tournament (soccer, croquet, ping-pong, video games, etc.). Charge players a registration fee. Organize a carnival or fun day. Charge admission or participation fee. Organize a benefit sports event such as a basketball game with disc jockeys or teachers. Organize a school or service unit dance. Deliver singing telegrams or birthday/holiday greetings.
FOOD SALES (CAUTION! Consult local health department for laws and standards if product is to be sold to the public) Bake sale. Pancake breakfast. Spaghetti dinner. Operate a concession stand during a special event. Pie or box supper – Bring homemade pie or special dinner and auction them to the highest bidder.
OTHER Organize a used book sale. Plant sale (grown from seeds or cuttings). Arts & crafts fair. Garage sale.
COLLECTION DRIVES Collect paper, aluminum and/or glass for recycling.
#302T part 2 3/18
Approved ____
Denied ______GIRL SCOUTS OF EASTERN OKLAHOMA MONEY-EARNING PROJECT APPLICATION
Form is to be submitted 60 days before the project begins and approval received before finalizing plans. SEE FORM #302T AND VOLUNTEER ESSENTIALS FOR GUIDELINES, POLICIES AND SUGGESTIONS
Troop #______Program Level ______Service Unit ______Today’s Date ______
Leader/Advisor ______Home Phone ______Work/Cell Phone ______
Email address to receive approval ______OR Address ______City ______Zip ______
Project Title ______Project Date(s) ______
Describe how and where project* is to be carried out (if using flyer, it must be attached and approved before distribution)
______
*If project is an event, see additional guidelines and list project plan and event budget on the back of this form
Why are additional funds necessary?______
Current group treasury balance $______Last Fall Product Sale proceeds $______Last Cookie Sale proceeds $______Troop Budget Expected Income: Estimated Expenses: Dues $ ______Troop supplies $ ______Fall Product Sale proceeds $ ______Badges/patches $ ______Cookie Sale proceeds $ ______Camping/cookouts $ ______Activity fees paid by girls $ ______Troop activities $ ______Expected proceeds from this project $ ______Service $ ______Total $ ______Total $ ______
FOR OFFICE USE ONLY
This money earning application is: Approved ______Denied ______
Reason for denial and/or additional comments: ______
______
Authorizing Council Staff Member ______
Please complete the report and evaluation on the reverse side within two weeks of project completion.
Send to: [email protected] or Troop Money Earning Girl Scouts Eastern OK 4810 S. 129th E. Ave. Tulsa OK 74134 or #301F part 1 3/18 Fax: 866-749-2556
PROJECT PLAN AND BUDGET FOR EVENTS HELD AS MONEY-EARNING PROJECTS
When planning events for other Girl Scouts to attend, you must follow all council procedures, including timely filing of form #585F, Request for Approval of Activity, if applicable. Approval of your event must be received before your money-earning project will be approved. Rooms at council facilities may not be reserved for money-earning events without prior approval of your project; commensurate fees will apply for facilities or equipment; and no overnight events may be held in council facilities.
PLEASE DETAIL YOUR PROJECT PLAN (or attach):
Please use the form below or submit your own budget for the event. (You may refer to the Program Event Planner, #507T, for planning larger events.)
COST PER PERSON TOTAL MATERIALS/SUPPLIES ______FACILITY ______FOOD (meals, snacks) SPECIAL ACTIVITY ADMISSION FEE ACTIVITY INSURANCE (For events of 24 hours or more) (# of Days x $ /Person) ______PATCH/BADGE ($ ) ______OTHER ______
PROPOSED FEE PER PARTICIPANT $______
------GIRL SCOUTS OF EASTERN OKLAHOMA
MONEY-EARNING PROJECT REPORT & EVALUATION (Return to Girl Scouts of Eastern Oklahoma, 4810 S. 129th E. Ave., Tulsa, 74134, when project is completed.) Should be completed by, or with input from, the girls who participated.
Troop # ______Project Title ______Project Date(s) ______
Total proceeds from this project $ ______Must be reported on Troop Financial Report, #300F.
Would you recommend this project to another group? ______If so, what (if anything) should be done differently? ______
Was it worth the time spent for the value received? ______
What did the girls like about or learn from this project? ______
Additional Comments: ______
______
Troop Treasurer (Girl) ______
Leader/Advisor ______#301F part 2 3/18