We want the Girl Scout Cookie Program to be as successful as possible for girls and volunteers! Check out the volunteer resources below for everything you need to know about the cookie program. Resources for families can be found under For Cookie Sellers.
Share the Love with the Military Patch Opportunity!
NEW! Girl Scouts can earn a patch when they help show “axolotl love” to the military!
To get this patch, Girl Scouts must collect 14 donations on Feb. 14 for our Gift of Caring program that shares Girl Scout Cookies with U.S. servicemembers and veterans.
Watch for our post on Feb. 14 that caregivers can share to help let friends and family know that their Girl Scout is sharing her appreciation for U.S. military members through a gift of Girl Scout Cookies! You can also download a post to share!
Please note: Only Gift of Caring donations collected ON Feb. 14 and through Digital Cookie will apply towards earning this patch.
2024 FAQs
Rewards
Pricing and Proceeds
Programming
Training
Before Cookies In Hand
November 13: gsLearn Troop Training goes live
December 4-14: Area Zoom Calls
December 3: Volunteer Access to eBudde
January 6: Volunteer Access to Digital Cookie
January 13: Girl/Caregiver Access to Digital Cookie
January 3: Troop Initial Order Due by 11:59pm
January 3: Product Program Zoom Office Hours from 6:30-8:30pm.
January 4: SU Initial Order Due by 11:59pm
January 13: Belleville Mega Initial Order Delivery for Service Units 201, 202, 207, 209, 210 and 211
January 20: Edwardsville Mega Initial Order Delivery for Service Units 102, 105, 108, 109, and 111 (rescheduled from 1/15 due to inclement weather)
January 16-19: Initial Order Deliveries for remaining service units
January 18: Additional (cupboard) Orders Open up in eBudde
Cookies In Hand
January 20: All In-Person and Online Sales Begin
January 25: Cupboards Open and Additional Booth Cookie Pickups Begin
February 16-18: National Girl Scout Cookie Weekend
February 25: Digital Cookie Girl Delivery Option Ends
March 3: Last Day to Place a Cupboard Order in eBudde
March 4: Unpaid Girl/Caregiver Balances Reporting Deadline
March 10: Cookie Program Ends
After Cookies In Hand
March 12: Product Program Zoom Office Hours from 6:30-8:30pm
March 12: Troop Final Rewards and Allocations due in eBudde by 11:59pm
March 14: SU Final Rewards and Allocations due in eBudde by 11:59pm
March 20: ACH Sweep for Amount Owed to Council in eBudde on Sales Report Tab
March 22: ACH Proceeds Pushback for troops that have a negative balance.
Mid April: ETA of Rewards
May 11: Samoa Adventures at the STL Zoo - 600 package level reward
Why Direct Sale?
In past seasons, we ran a traditional sale. (Going door-to-door taking preorders from customers, the troop ordering the cookies needed to fill orders, waiting between order taking and time of delivery of cookies to customers.) This would mean that customers were waiting weeks, even months, to get the cookies they ordered. It would then lead to cancellations of orders or girls having a difficult time collecting money from their customers. Typically, traditional sales would also mean a longer/dragged out season for troop volunteers, girls and their families. This season, direct sale is our new and improved way of running the cookie program. Direct sale will shorten our program from three months to two! Allowing our girls to get cookies into the hands of customers faster!
How does Direct Sale work?
To get your Cookie Program started, you need cookies! Troops place an initial order with the council prior to the beginning of the program. This ensures troops have cookies in-hand at the start of the program. Initial orders can be placed as soon as you have access to eBudde.
Your initial order should be based on your troop’s history and the variables listed below.
Troops that had sales from the 2023 Cookie Program can use the provided Initial Order Worksheet to figure out what to order for this coming season. We recommend that troops order at least 70% of their initial order sales from last year to get started.
Girls will receive an initial order card to help keep track of in-hand orders and customer contact information.
Troop Tips for Direct Sale
Troop Participation Requirements
Troop/Troop Product Manager Responsibilities
Initial Order Worksheet/Calculator (For Returning Troops)
Use this calculator if your troop participated in the 2022-23 Cookie Program. We suggest ordering 70% of last year’s sales as a starting inventory for your troop.
Initial Order Worksheet/Calculator (For New Troops)
This calculator is broken down by Girl Scout levels and uses last season’s data.
Check out pages 15-19 of the Cookie 101 Guide for further instructions on using the calculator and placing your initial order in eBudde.
Booth sales are a troop activity where girls set up a mobile store in front of local retailers. Your troop can decide on how many times they want to participate in a booth throughout the program. Keep in mind that now that we have switched to a direct sale, that cookie booths and walkabouts are the best options to sell your cookie inventory. Make sure when you sign up for booth sales you have girls and adults to manage the booth.
Guidelines
Cooperating with Businesses
Cookie Booth Request Letter
Looking for a nice way to ask a business for booth space? Use our Cookie Booth Request Letter Form to receive a pdf letter to then send off to businesses.
All you need is the Business Name, Your Full Name, Volunteer Position, Email, and Phone Number to fill one out.
Booth FAQs
Reminder: Booths need to be entered in eBudde 6 hours prior to the start time of the booth sale.
What should I do if I’m at a booth and we feel uncomfortable because it’s dark?
You are never required to stay at a booth if you feel uncomfortable. Please feel free to leave your booth location if there is anything there making you uneasy.
I’m at an awesome booth and I ran out of cookies. What do I do?
If you have a very successful booth and begin to run out of inventory before the booth is over, you can contact another adult in your troop to drop off additional cookies.
Our booth did not sell as many cookies as we’d hoped. Now what?
The best thing to do in this situation is to keep positive when talking with the girls in the troop. Praise their efforts and focus on the positive that you did sell some cookies, and then open up the dialogue about what techniques they could try differently for next time. If you find yourself with extra inventory, you can always sign up for additional booths and try your girls’ new ideas. You can also consider transferring cookies to another troop. Please use the “Cookie Exchange” tab in eBudde if you are looking to exchange cookies with another troop.
Can troops contact businesses to host cookie booths at their location?
Yes, you can! Troops can contact stores that are not council-sponsored. As soon as your troop has found their location, you will need to add this information in eBudde under the “My Sales” tab. Once this is done, Girl Scouts of Southern Illinois of your SUCM will approve or deny this location. If your site is approved, the information will be uploaded into the Cookie Finder.
Can my troop accept credit cards at booth sales?
Yes! Your troop can opt to accept credit cards your booth sales! This is a great way to achieve higher sales, provide great customer service and reach more customers. In addition, working with credit card processors can help girls get hands-on experience with technology, help customers make purchases more easily and eliminate the chance of counterfeit money or bounced checks.
First and foremost, please be kind and courteous to our cupboard managers! They set their own hours based off their availability. Most cupboards are ran out of a volunteer’s home or business.
Returns and Exchanges
Cupboard Contacts
Alton - Nancy Matis
Anna - Betsy Back and Marci Malnar
Belleville - Danyel Bagby
Benton - Alicia Dixon
Carterville - Seth Kohlhaas
Charleston - Miranda Zerbst
Chester - Tiffany Bryant
Du Quoin - Rosalinda Molla
Edwardsville - Council Staff and SU 108 Volunteers
Effingham - Dawn Quicksall
Golconda - Talina Norris Ryder
Highland - Nicole Balint
Mt Vernon - Sheila Jolly Scrivner
O’Fallon - Troop 117
Red Bud - Michelle Sturgill
Robinson - Debbie Parker
Troy - Adrian Summers
Start selling on DOC here: digitalcookie.girlscouts.org
On this online selling platform, girls can personalize their Digital Cookie site and send emails to invite friends and family to buy cookies with the option of getting in-person delivery or direct shipment to their home, based on Council approved methods of delivery.
Teens can customize their online site using Digital Cookie. Once their website is set up, they can tell their network of friends and family on social media that they are taking cookie orders online.
Girls younger than 12 can ask parents or guardians for help. Encourage girls to personalize their website with their goals and cookie pitch; then parents or guardians can post or email links to friends and family.
Upon DOC Activation
Digital Cookie - No Registration Email Received
Digital Cookie - Registration Process
Digital Cookie - How Families Can Market to Customers
Accessing Digital Cookie as a Volunteer
Digital Cookie - Troop Dashboard
Digital Cookie - Volunteer Login
Customer Options
Donated cookies - Purchase virtual cookies that will be donated to American military members through HEROES Care.
Direct shipped - Purchase cookies that are shipped to customer address as provided. The cost for shipping is 4-8 packages $12.99 or 9-12 packages $14.99. Direct shipped orders can be placed beginning Jan 20.
Mobile app In Hand - Customer must meet with girl in person to purchase cookies using the Digital Cookie mobile app. The mobile app allows customers to use a credit card as payment. Cookies come out of the girl’s on-hand inventory.
Girl Delivery - Customers can order cookies online and have them delivered by the Girl Scout. Caregivers must confirm Girl Delivery for each order. If a caregiver declines delivery, the customer is given the option to cancel the order or have their cookie donated.
Tips for DOC
You will receive cookies with your initial order and should deliver to customers right away. There is no money to collect, since orders are paid for online with a credit card! Girls can only have one Digital Cookie account. Separated caregivers are encouraged to work together to manage one Digital Cookie account for their Girl Scout. Work with your troop cookie manager to get the cookies to fulfill any girl delivered orders through Digital Cookie. Girl Scouts of Southern Illinois cannot delete or change an order once approved. Therefore, you must be willing to deliver to the customer before you approve their order. Girls must approve their customers’ orders within FIVE days of the order being placed or the order will default to the customer’s second choice-either cancellation or donation. Check your email and digital orders regularly to approve those sales!
Digital Marketing Tips and Safety
Online Marketing Guidelines
Girls should NEVER share their last names, addresses, or any contact information when marketing their products. Online marketing should always be done with accounts set to private. Girls can only market their online storefront to friends and family: people that the girl or family personally knows. Girl Scouts forbids selling on storefronts or websites like Craigslist, eBay, Facebook, Amazon or sales groups where the Girl Scout does not know all the members. Digital Cookie storefronts may be deactivated if we find girls selling cookies in ways that are unsafe. Adding a $ (dollar sign) to a post on your personal page will automatically move it to FB marketplace, which is not allowed. Girl safety is our number one priority.
Digital Marketing Tips for Cookie Entrepreneurs and Families
Troop Links – Helpful Tip Sheets
Setting Up Troop Digital Cookie
Troop Leader - Order Received Delivery Ship or Donate
How-To Videos
How the Cookie Crumbles
Zero Tolerance for Misuse of Girl Funds
Girl Scouts of Southern Illinois has a zero-tolerance policy for misuse of girl funds; any adult accepting responsibility for handling money is accountable for its proper use and safekeeping. Unresolved debt under $1,000 will be referred to a collection’s agency. Unresolved debt above $1,000 will be turned over to law enforcement for prosecution. Misuse of funds may result in legal action with law enforcement and termination of volunteer service. This policy includes both parent/caregiver and troop leader debt. Unpaid debt may jeopardize the opportunity to serve as a Girl Scouts of Southern Illinois volunteer.
In order to minimize the risk of loss, TCMs should regularly collect payments from caregivers throughout the sale and make prompt deposits into the troop bank account. Please provide weekly/monthly financial updates to families for full transparency. We appreciate your understanding and support of the Girl Scout Cookie Program. The intent of the program standards are to ensure a positive experience for all.
Proceeds
All Troops will earn $1.00 per package and can earn an additional $0.05 a package if the troop reaches a per girl average of 250+.
Reward Opt-Out
Troops with a majority of Cadette, Senior or Ambassadors have the option to opt out of rewards to earn an additional $0.10 per package. Opt-out troops can earn all patches and troop initial or final rewards.
Service Unit Proceeds
Service Units will earn cookie proceeds too! Each service unit can earn between $0.01 to $0.025 per package sold by troops in their service unit. Each service unit is given a cookie box goal and depending on the percentage to goal will determine the proceed rate.
Money Management
Troop Level: Cookie money belongs to the troop, and any misuse or failure to appropriately deposit funds may result in legal action taken by Girl Scouts of Southern Illinois.
To ensure the security of the money, make weekly deposits of funds into your troop’s bank account. DO NOT leave large sums of money in places that may be unsafe. This includes your vehicle(s) and your home.
Troops must deposit all monies form cookie sales including troop proceeds. Troops should not spend troop proceeds until all cookie balances are paid in full with Girl Scouts of Southern Illinois. Troop cookie managers should regularly collect payments form caregivers throughout the sale to minimize the risk of loss and/or outstanding balances.
Money Safety
What to do if theft occurs:
Receipting
You will give this receipt to a girl/caregiver when they pick up cookies from you. The TCM will keep the white copy and the caregiver gets the yellow copy. Again, please keep these receipts for your records even after the sale is over.
You will get a receipt whenever you pickup cookies from your designated cookie cupboard. You may also print your own receipt from the eBudde cupboard transactions tab. It is important to save these receipts for your records even after the sale is over in case there is a discrepancy or a caregiver debt.
Cupboard managers may use a printed eBudde transaction receipt instead of a product receipt. The receipts work the same way. You may also print this receipt out form home when you place your cupboard order.
Cookie/Money Exchange Electronic Receipt
We have available an electronic receipt that troops and caregivers can utilize while money or cookies exchanges hands. This can be used in placed of the paper receipt books, if preferred or if paper runs out. The volunteer and caregiver will each receive an email copy of the receipt if an email is provided for both parties.
Stay organized! Every time that you pick up cookies form your troop cookie manager and/or give her/her money, be sure to get a receipt Keep all receipts for your records. Do not take cookies from the TCM or give him/her money without also receiving a receipt in return.
Transactions
For each transaction, troop cookie managers are caregivers should count cookies and money together, then complete a receipt for the transaction. This way everyone is on the same page.
Note: Troops that get checks with Non-sufficient funds, can send those to their state’s attorney office collection.
ACH
What is an ACH?
ACH is a process called Automated Clearing House. It is an electronic funds transfer from your troop account to Girl Scouts of Southern Illinois.
What is the ACH Form?
The form is needed in order to establish an eBudde account. Every troop must fill out and sign this form.
If you are unsure if any of the above forms have been submitted, you can reach out to Council Customer Care or your SUCM for the submitted ACH/permission forms.
Download a copy of the 2024 Rewards Card
Initial Order Rewards
If your troop earned the initial order reward(s), these will now be given out at the time of the service unit initial order cookie pickup!
Samoa Adventure
This season’s Samoa Adventure, 600-package level, will be hosted at the STL Zoo on May 11. This will be a family event. Girls who earn this reward will be able to take up 3 family members on this day.
Higher Reward Levels
Final reward level 1000 to 3000: Council will work with and ship these rewards directly to the Girl Scout. Girl Scout home addresses must be up to date on their Girl Scout membership account.
GS Bucks
If GS bucks are selected as a reward, the caregiver of the girl will receive an email from Council within a week of final reward submissions with the amount available to spend. This can be used right away. Please remind your Girl Scouts and caregivers that GS bucks funds are good from April 1 to March 1.
Girls can choose to use their GS bucks’ funds on program events, membership, day and resident camps, and GSofSI shop items.
To redeem GS bucks, the Girl Scout and her caregiver will need to fill out the GS Bucks Request form. This form will ask for the amount requesting to be used and what the girl would like to use it on. If you are using it for a program event, resident camp, or day camp, the caregiver will need to know the name, date, and cost of the event. Customer Care will then process your request and be in contact with the caregiver.
Cookie Crossover Patch
Patches will be mailed directly to the Girl Scout from M2. Please contact M2 customer care if you have any questions on your patch’s status. 800-372-8520
To earn:
Independent girls, known as Juliettes, may participate in the Girl Scout Cookie Program, learn business skills, and earn rewards! Juliettes cannot have a troop account; therefore, proceeds will be calculated on a per box range and will be distributed in the form of a virtual council gift card.
Girl Scout Juliettes will no longer receive a physical council gift card. Instead, each Juliette will be assigned a virtual gift card number. This gift card will stay with the Juliette throughout her Girl Scouting years, and will be reloaded with the proceed amount earned at the end of each Product Program.
Similar to the new cookie dough process, to use proceeds earned, fill out a Juliette Proceeds Request form. This form will ask for the amount requesting to be used and what the girl would like to use it on. In the case of a program event, resident camp, or day camp the caregiver will need to know the name, date, and cost of the event. Customer care will then process your request and be in contact with the caregiver. In the case of a shop purchase, the shop will be in contact with the caregiver within 4 business days to collect the order.
Initial Order
How does the Juliette Come Up with Her Initial Inventory? By goal setting which is an important life skill!
When Can the Juliette's Starting Inventory Order (IO) be Picked-up? Communicate often and frequently with your Juliette Advisor.
Ways to Sell
Walkabouts: Door-to-door sales with cookies in-hand!
Cookie Booths: Juliette Girl Scouts can participate in a booth sale or a Lemon Up stand.
Digital Cookie: online sales.
Gift of Caring Donations: Donations can be collected from all aspects of the Cookie Program!
Getting More Cookies
The Service Unit Cookie Manager/Juliette Advisor can order additional cookies as needed. Please out to them if you need additional cookies. As a reminder, orders can only be placed in full case amounts.
Paying for Cookies
How is Money from Product Sales Handled?
Forms and Links
Cookie/Money Exchange Electronic Receipt
Unpaid Girl/Caregiver Balances
Girl/Caregiver Permission Form
Cookie Booth Social Media Graphic
Drive Thru Cookie Booth Social Media Graphic
Printable Resources
Troop Product Manager Position Description
Additional Websites
Little Brownie Bakers | littlebrowniebakers.com
The official baker of Girl Scout Cookies! You’ll find information, fun and games for girls.
Girl Scout Cookie Finder | Find Cookies
Digital Cookie | digitalcookie.girlscouts.org
Cookie portal for girls to create their online store front, set goals, track sales, and email customers.