Misappropriation of Girl Scout funds is strictly prohibited. River Valleys reserves the right to pursue collection efforts, remove a volunteer or member found to be misappropriating funds, and/or prosecute to the fullest extent allowable by law. River Valleys reserves the right to remove volunteers for non-compliance/no response to suspected misappropriation inquiries.
Standards
- Examples of misappropriation of Girl Scout funds include, but are not limited to:
- Using Girl Scout funds for personal use
- Girl Scout account funds spent without group approval (troop, service unit, etc.)
- Self-reimbursement
- Funds not benefitting the whole troop/group
- Theft/embezzlement
- Non-Girl Scout related purchases
- Co-mingling Girl Scout funds with personal funds
- Girl Scouts River Valleys reserves the right to immediately suspend a volunteer if River Valleys has reason to suspect misappropriation of Girl Scout funds. Evidence of misappropriation will result in immediate removal of the volunteer responsible.
- Once the volunteer responsible is removed from their volunteer role, they must remove their name and authorization as a signer from all Girl Scout bank accounts within 10 business days.
- This generally involves both account signers going to the bank together.
- The individual is required to pay back misappropriated funds in full to River Valleys within 10 business days.
- After 10 business days, unpaid funds of any amount will be sent to a collections agency, and/or will be subject to any and all applicable legal action.
- Removal is final and binding; a removed volunteer is not eligible for re-appointment.
- All adults in the removed individual’s household are prohibited from managing Girl Scout funds (e.g., signer on a Girl Scout accounts, troop cookie manager, holding product program inventory, etc.)
- All girl members in the removed individual’s household will have limits on their participation in product sales and are restricted to troop booth sales only for the cookie sale.
- For girl and adult members in the removed individual’s household:
- Requests for financial assistance may be denied without opportunity for appeal.
- Registration balance(s) for camp sessions and program events are required to be paid in full 30 days prior to the first scheduled date of participation. Failure to pay in full within this timeframe will result in automatic cancellation of registration.
- Actions, decisions, and records relating to misuse of funds and steps taken are confidential. Information pertaining to a case will be reviewed only by relevant department staff, the Volunteer Relations Committee, Executive Leadership, legal representation, and applicable authorities.