River Valleys members are required to follow all money-earning requirements set forth by River Valleys, Girl Scouts of the USA, and any applicable local, state or federal laws governing members of a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.
Standards
- “Money-earning” refers to activities planned and carried out by girls, in partnership with adults, to earn money for their troop or Silver and Gold Award projects following a planned budget.
- 100% of proceeds from any money-earning activity must go to the troop and may not be split with any other organization or entity.
- Funds earned are not to be retained by individuals as their property.
- Girls registered as Juliette Girl Scouts may hold funds individually in the form of Juliette Program Credits. See Juliette Money Management Policy.
- See policy: Girl Scout Banking & Money Management
- Only girl members can participate in money-earning activities, with appropriate adult supervision. Adults cannot earn money for or on behalf of Girl Scouts.
- Permission must be obtained from a girl’s parent or guardian before she participates in troop money-earning activities, including council-sponsored product programs.
- Supervising adults are required to be familiar with applicable safety considerations found in Volunteer Essentials and Safety Activity Checkpoints.
- River Valleys’ Fall Product (Snacks & Magazines) and Cookie Programs are the primary money-earning activities for Girl Scout troops and Juliettes. All other money-earning activities are considered supplemental.
- Supplemental money-earning activities can only take place outside the dates of River Valleys’ Fall Product and Cookie Programs, except where provided by River Valleys in program-specific guidelines (such as Silver and Gold Award Guidelines). Dates for these programs are established annually by River Valleys and are communicated to troops and Juliette Girl Scouts.
- Service units cannot retain funds earned from supplemental money-earning activities. A service unit can support and assist in planning, but all money earned must benefit troops or Juliette Girl Scouts.
- All money-earning methods employed by Girl Scouts must be in keeping with the Girl Scout mission, Promise, and Law, be suited to the age and abilities of the girls planning and conducting the activity, and must follow applicable Safety Activity Checkpoints standards. Allowed money-earning methods are further governed by these specific standards:
- Solicitation, donations, and fundraising
- 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), or raise funds for or on behalf of other organizations, except as provided by River Valleys as part of the Fall Product and Cookie Programs.
- See policies: Donation & Grants and Fundraising for Other Organizations
- 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), or raise funds for or on behalf of other organizations, except as provided by River Valleys as part of the Fall Product and Cookie Programs.
- Online
- Online sales and marketing for any Girl Scout troop/group money-earning activities may not be conducted by individual girls, parents, or other adults except as provided for River Valleys council-sponsored Fall Product and Cookie Programs.
- See policy: Cookie Program Digital Sales & Social Media
- Crowd-funding sites such as Kickstarter, Go Fund Me, etc., including those provided by social media platforms such as Facebook, are not allowed.
- Online sales and marketing for any Girl Scout troop/group money-earning activities may not be conducted by individual girls, parents, or other adults except as provided for River Valleys council-sponsored Fall Product and Cookie Programs.
- Commercial products or businesses
- Girl Scouts cannot take orders for, sell, or endorse commercial products or businesses of any kind.
- Food
- Troops conducting money earning activities involving food must follow applicable state and/or county food safety requirements, up to and including purchasing a food license where required.
- Games of chance
- Any activity that could be considered a game of chance (raffles, contests, bingo, etc.) must be conducted in compliance with all local and state laws. It is the troop or group’s responsibility to obtain all relevant permits and ensure full compliance. Applicable laws and requirements are determined by individual states. Listed below are departments in each state under River Valleys’ jurisdiction that govern games of chance activities:
- State of Minnesota: Minnesota Gambling Control Board
- State of Wisconsin: Office of Charitable Gaming – Department of Administration
- State of Iowa: Social and Charitable Gambling Unit – Iowa Department of Inspections and Appeals
- Please contact the appropriate authorities to understand state laws and determine your responsibilities for permits and reporting.
- Any activity that could be considered a game of chance (raffles, contests, bingo, etc.) must be conducted in compliance with all local and state laws. It is the troop or group’s responsibility to obtain all relevant permits and ensure full compliance. Applicable laws and requirements are determined by individual states. Listed below are departments in each state under River Valleys’ jurisdiction that govern games of chance activities:
- Solicitation, donations, and fundraising
- River Valleys reserves the right to audit money-earning activities and restrict/revoke money-earning privileges.