In accordance with Girl Scouts of the USA, Girl Scouts are not allowed to solicit donations of money (including cash, checks, digital currency, or gift cards), except as allowed during River Valleys’ Fall Product and Cookie Programs.
Standards
- Girl Scout troops/Juliettes, girls pursuing their Silver or Gold Award, or other Girl Scout groups are allowed to approach small local businesses or organizations for in-kind donations of supplies, services, or volunteer time.
- When approaching a small business or organization for an in-kind donation, girls must be present to present their goals and plans for what they are funding, but an adult must formally ask for the donation.
- Girl Scout troops/Juliettes, girls pursuing their Silver or Gold Award, or other Girl Scout groups cannot approach large corporations (e.g. Target, Walmart, or Cub Foods) for any kind of donation, including in-kind.
- Acceptable cash donation situations:
- A troop, Juliette Girl Scout, or girl working on her Silver or Gold Award project requests an in-kind donation from a business or organization, and the business or organization offers a cash donation instead.
- An unsolicited cash donation is offered to a troop, Juliette, or girl working on her Silver or Gold Award project.
- Any single donation of money (including cash, checks, digital currency) in an amount of $250 or more must be submitted to River Valleys along with a completed Donation Form to “pass through” River Valleys for IRS compliance. River Valleys will process the donation for records purposes and return the full amount to the troop.
- For in-kind donations or donated gift cards worth $250 or more, troops must submit the Donation Form to River Valleys, but not the donation.
- See also: Fundraising for Other Organizations Policy
