As a youth-serving non-profit organization, it is the responsibility of Girl Scouts River Valleys to model fiscal responsibility and, in keeping with the Girl Scout Law, use resources wisely. The majority of the organization’s revenue is generated through the Girl Scout Cookie and Fall Product Programs, camp and program event registration, and rental of its facilities. These funds are carefully managed to provide members access to programming, well-kept facilities, training, and meaningful experiences. Any debt to the organization left unpaid impacts these opportunities. Girl Scouts River Valleys has developed the following standards and procedures to equitably manage recovery of funds owed.
Policy Statement
Volunteers, members, or non-members may not be indebted to River Valleys. River Valleys has the authority to release, deny, or limit an individual’s participation if in violation of this policy.
Standards
- River Valleys defines indebtedness as:
- Checks written with insufficient funds.
- Unpaid product sale proceeds owed to the organization or a troop/service unit/group past the specified due date.
- Other amounts owed for products or services including but not limited to camp, facility rental, and program events past the specified due date.
- Any debt more than $5,000 will be considered misappropriation and is subject to the Misappropriation of Girl Scout Funds policy.
- River Valleys reserves the right to take appropriate action on any debt owed to the council.
- River Valleys will first attempt to collect funds owed from the responsible party(ies).
- After 45 days, River Valleys may take further action, including referral to a collection agency or other steps.
- Unresolved indebtedness may impact an individual’s volunteer role(s) and/or girl and member participation, including:
- An individual appointed to any service unit volunteer role with debt totaling $500 or more not paid within 45 days of the specified due date will be removed from and/or denied appointment to that role(s). See policy: Volunteer Eligibility
- An individual appointed to a money-managing troop volunteer role with debt totaling $500 or more not paid within 45 days of the specified due date will be removed from and/or denied appointment from that role(s). See policy: Volunteer Eligibility
- Money managing troop roles include: troop leader, troop cookie/fall product manager, troop treasurer, troop family giving, and Juliette mentor.
- Any adult in the indebted household is prohibited from managing Girl Scout finances and product inventory.
- Any girl in the indebted household is limited to troop participation (troop cookie booths, troop door-to-door sales), or selling online with direct-shipped delivery only during product program activities and may not hold inventory.
- Indebted households may not be eligible for financial assistance.
- If a debt is paid in full, the member may apply or re-apply for appointment to a service unit volunteer role or money-managing troop volunteer role. Appointment or re-appointment is at the discretion of River Valleys.
- Any individual who is prohibited from managing Girl Scout finances and product inventory must remove their name and authorization as a signer from all Girl Scout bank accounts within 10 business days of removal notification. This generally involves both account signers going to the bank together.
- River Valleys reserves the right to place restrictions on households where the indebtedness has been discharged through a bankruptcy ruling.
- River Valleys reserves the right to audit troop, service unit, and group bank accounts and financial information without consent of the account signers at any time as part of debt review and collection proceedings.
- Finance case records and actions are confidential. Information pertaining to a case will be reviewed only by the Troop Finance Specialist, relevant council leaders, the Volunteer Relations Committee, and Executive Leadership.