Cookie Program FAQ
How can I purchase Girl Scout Cookies?
The 2022 Cookie Sale is Feb. 11 through March 27, and the best
way to purchase Girl Scout Cookies is from a local Girl Scout. To find
one, contact your local Girl Scout office or call (888)
686-MINT. You can also enter your zip code in the Girl Scout Cookie Finder or find
the nearest Cookie Booth by using the free, official Girl Scout Cookie Finder
app!
Wondering where cookie proceeds go?
Learn all about how Girl Scouts benefit from the Cookie Program
with our Cookie
Facts Flyer.
Who can sell Girl Scout Cookies?
All registered Girl Scouts (Daisies through Ambassadors) can
participate in this voluntary Girl Scout program activity.
Does a Girl Scout troop have to sell cookies if it doesn’t want to?
Girl participation is voluntary and requires written permission
by a parent or guardian. And remember: The Girl Scout Cookie Program
is not just about cookies. This annual program allows girls to gain
new skills, build confidence and develop an entrepreneurial mindset.
Can Juliette Girl Scouts participate in the Girl Scout Cookie Program?
Yes. To do so, Juliettes (individual girl members) must abide
by guidelines published by Girl Scouts of the USA and the local Girl
Scout council. Depending on their age, Girl Scouts must be accompanied
by an adult when selling Girl Scout Cookies. For more information
about how Juliette Girl Scouts in your area can participate in this
activity, please contact your local Girl Scout office.
Can Girl Scouts donate cookies to military personnel serving overseas?
Yes! Girl Scouts and their customers can donate cookies to
military personnel and their families, along with charitable
organizations, by purchasing cookies through our Care & Share Program.
Can a customer write a check for cookies?
Girls should only take checks from people they know, and checks
should be made payable to their troop. Girls should only accept checks
with the customer’s name, address and phone number imprinted on the
check. It’s a good idea to write the customer’s driver’s license
number on the check and to not accept checks over $50.
Can Girl Scout Cookies be safely frozen for later use?
Yes, they can be frozen for up to one year for later consumption.
Why do different Girl Scout councils sell cookies at different
times of the year?
Councils each develop their own procedures and guidelines for
cookie activities, including the dates when you can order or purchase
cookies and the price per box. A council conducts only one cookie sale
per year. Most of these programs take place between January and April,
but some occur as early as September.
Why do different Girl Scout councils sell cookies at different
price points?
Girl Scout Cookies sell for different prices in different areas
of the country. Each of the 100-plus local Girl Scout councils has the
right to set its own price based on its needs and knowledge of the
local market. Today’s prices reflect both the current cost of cookies
and the realities of providing Girl Scout activities in an
ever-changing economic environment.
How do you ensure the safety of Girl Scouts who sell cookies?
The safety and security of our members is always our chief
concern. We have strict guidelines for safety. Girl Scouts, depending
on their age, must be accompanied by an adult when participating in
the Girl Scout Cookie Program and always use the buddy system.
Can girls use email, text-messaging, and social media to tell
friends and family about the Cookie Program?
Yes. Using the Smart Cookies online sales website at
abcsmartcookies.com, girls can use email and age-appropriate Internet
functions as marketing tools to encourage family, friends and former
customers to participate in the program. Girls 13 and older may use
social networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter as long as they
have parental permission and adult supervision. Under no circumstances
can girls or their parents take money for the Girl Scout Cookie
Program through online sales sites such as eBay, Craigslist, Amazon,
and public Buy & Sell sites.
As a reminder, when parents sign the Cookie Sale Parental Permission Form, they also agree to:
- Follow the GSUSA and Internet Provider guidelines when using the Internet as a marketing tool for the Cookie Program.
- Direct customers offline for payment and cookie delivery, unless girls are using the Smart Cookies online sales website at abcsmartcookies.com.
- Understand that cookies may not be
advertised or sold through online auction or sales websites such as
eBay, Craigslist or Buy & Sell Facebook pages or community
sites.
Obesity is at epidemic levels, particularly childhood obesity. Does
it concern you that by selling cookies you are contributing to a
very real health threat?
Starting with our youngest members, the Girl Scout organization
promotes a healthy lifestyle for its girl members, which includes a
well-balanced diet and plenty of exercise. Our health and fitness
programs encourage girls to adopt healthy fitness and eating habits
early in life and continue them into adulthood. In addition, the Girl
Scout Research Institute (GSRI) released a research review titled
“Weighing In: Helping Girls Be Healthy Today, Healthy Tomorrow.”
“Weighing In” addresses various underlying causes leading to the
epidemic of obesity and of being overweight among children and
adolescents and the lifestyles, culture, and behavior that have
contributed to this condition.
When I buy Girl Scout Cookies, where does the money go?
Each box of cookies costs $5.00, and the proceeds are broken
down this way:
-$2.89 goes to support programs and services
(girl programs, volunteer services and training, financial assistance,
facility operations and maintenance, program resources).
-40
cents goes to girls in the form of Cookie Credits, recognitions and
special incentives.
-60 cents goes to Girl Scout Troops for
programs, activities and supplies.
-2 cents goes to
participation bonus recipients.
-2 cents goes to the Girl Scout
Service Unit (SU events, camps and recruitment)
-1 cent goes to
postage and other sales expenses.
-$1.07 goes to the cookie
baker to cover cookies purchased, troop materials, standard and
special print forms, promotional materials.
How does the cookie revenue benefit girls?
After paying the baker, all of the remaining revenue earned
from cookie activities stays within the Girl Scouts of Kansas
Heartland. Twelve percent of this revenue goes directly to the troop
selling cookies. The troop holds the money earned in its treasury, and
its girl members vote on how to use that money. Girls also earn Cookie
Credits, which can be used toparticipate in camp and events, troop
travel trips, or purchase items in the Council Shop. Councils use
their cookie revenue to supply essential services to troops, groups
and individual girls, such as providing program resources and
communication support, training adult volunteers and conducting
special events.
Is the purchase of Girl Scout Cookies tax-deductible?
If the customer keeps the cookies, then no. Individuals who buy
Girl Scout Cookies and take the cookies home or consume them have
purchased a product at a fair market value. However, the purchase
price of Girl Scout Cookies IS tax deductible if the customer
purchases cookies through our Care & Share Program, in which cookies
are donated to members of the military and other charitable
organizations like the Kansas Food Bank. Cookie Share customers can
treat the purchase price of the donated cookies as a charitable contribution.
Does any part of the cookie revenue go to support organizations
other than Girl Scouts?
No. None of the money from any Girl Scout council-sponsored
cookie program is given to any other group. All of the revenue – every
penny after paying for the cookies – from all Cookie Program
activities supports the local Girl Scout where the cookies are sold,
including a portion that goes directly to the troop selling cookies.
The purpose of selling cookies is to help girls develop a wide range
of skills and to generate revenue to support Girl Scouting locally.
All of the proceeds from the sale of Girl Scout Cookies support girls
in Girl Scouting. No money is given to any organization other than
Girl Scouts. Find
more facts about Girl Scout Cookies with this flyer.
Who bakes Girl Scout Cookies?
Two commercial bakers are licensed by the Girl Scouts of the
USA to produce Girl Scout Cookies: ABC Bakers/Weston Foods and Little
Brownie Bakers. Girl Scouts of Kansas Heartland uses ABC Bakers/Weston Foods.
Who selects the cookie varieties?
Licensed bakers can offer up to eight varieties of Girl Scout
Cookies; only three types are mandatory: Thin Mints, Peanut Butter
Sandwich/Do-si-dos and Shortbread/Trefoils. The national Girl Scout
organization reviews and approves all varieties proposed by the
bakers. Any of the five optional cookies can be changed every year.
Each bakery names its own cookies, so Girl Scout Cookies that are
quite similar may have different names. Suggestions for new cookies
are welcome, but the national Girl Scout organization can make no
promise to use them.
What are the sizes, quantities and prices of Girl Scout Cookies?
Girl Scout Cookies are sold by weight, not by size or number.
The number and size of cookies may vary by variety. Girl Scouts of the
USA monitors the weights of the cookies, which are set by contract.
Girl Scout Cookies sell for different prices in different areas of the
country. Every Girl Scout council has the right to set its own price
based on its needs and knowledge of the local market. Girl Scouts of
Kansas Heartland will sell cookies for $5.00 per package, which
reflects both the current cost of cookies and the realities of
providing Girl Scout activities in an ever-changing economic
environment.
Are all Girl Scout Cookies kosher?
Yes, all Girl Scout Cookies are kosher.
What are the best-selling Girl Scout Cookies?
Nationally, the biggest sellers are:
25 percent Thin
Mints
19 percent Caramel deLites/Samoas
13 percent Peanut
Butter Patties/Tagalongs
11 percent Peanut Butter
Sandwiches/Do-si-dos
9 percent Shortbreads/Trefoils
The
other varieties combined account for the remaining 23 percent.
Where can I find recipes using Girl Scout Cookies?
Check out the website of our licensed baker: www.abcbakers.com.
How do I find out the ingredients, nutritional value, and/or
allergen information for one or more of the Girl Scout Cookie varieties?
That information is posted on ABC Bakers’ website.
Are any preservatives used in Girl Scout Cookies?
Girl Scout Cookies do not contain preservatives. They are all
made with pure vegetable shortening, are kosher and freeze well to
extend their shelf life.
Why do you still use partially hydrogenated oils (trans fats)?
We are constantly working with our bakers to improve our
product. As food science and technology evolves, so does the process
of producing any food item including, Girl Scout cookies. All
varieties of Girl Scout cookies are zero trans fat per serving
according to FDA guidelines which state, “Any food item with less than
.5 grams trans fat per serving are classified as “zero trans fat per
serving.” We recognize that Americans love their Girl Scout cookies
and are grateful to all those who help millions of girls learn
valuable business and economic literacy skills by making cookie
purchases. In addition, Girl Scouts also teaches girls about healthy
living and the importance of eating any snack in moderation, including
our own cookies.
Should diabetics buy or consume Girl Scout Cookies?
Our licensed baker lists dietary exchanges on the order form so
diabetics can make informed choices. For more information, check the
website of our licensed baker: www.abcbakers.com.
How do you answer the concerns of those on low-carb diets?
The ingredients and nutritional elements of all cookies are
listed on the order forms and the side of the cookie box so those
concerned about carbohydrates can make informed choices. For more
information, check out the website of our licensed baker: www.abcbakers.com
