“Troop funds” refers to any money earned by members of a Girl Scout troop. All troop funds belong to the whole troop, even if one or a few members raised all or most of the funds from the Cookie or Fall Product Programs, or any other means of fundraising. When a troop ends or dissolves (disbands) or its membership changes, there are often many questions about what to do with troop funds. This policy explains the allowed options for distributing those funds.
Policy Statement:
- All funds raised by members of a Girl Scout troop belong to the troop, not to individual members, and are to be used for Girl Scout activities only. The troop decides together how the money is used, including how it is distributed if something changes (e.g., members leaving, two or more troops merging into one, or one existing troop splitting into two or more).
- Individual rewards such as Cookie Credits, Fall Funds, Electronic Program Credits, Juliette Program Credits, and reward items belong to individual Girl Scouts.
Standards:
- Transfers: When a Girl Scout transfers to another troop, their original troop may decide to donate an equal amount of money to the new troop (e.g., in a troop of 10, 10% of the troop’s funds would be donated to the Girl Scout’s new troop).
- This is at the original troop’s discretion.
- This also applies if someone becomes an individual Juliette Girl Scout (also called an Individually Registered Girl or IRG), or if a Juliette Girl Scout joins an existing troop. See guidance and requirements in the Juliette Girl Scout Money Management Policy.
- If a Girl Scout transfers to a new troop during the Cookie or Fall Product Program timeframes, their funds and sales numbers remain with the original troop until the program ends. At that time, the original troop decides as a group how funds will be distributed.
- Troop splits: When a troop splits into two or more, the funds are divided between the two (or more) troops equal to the number of girls in each new troop.
- For example: A troop of ten girls splits into two troops of six girls and four girls. The troop of six takes 60% of funds from the original troop, and the troop of four takes 40%.
- Troops merge: When two or more troops merge, the funds in their troop bank accounts are to be combined.
- Troop disband: When a troop disbands (ends or dissolves), the troop members decide how remaining funds are disbursed or spent, using River Valleys guidance.
- Review the Troop Disband and Banking and Money Management Policies and Troop Disband Form for full details and requirements.
- Transferring money between troops should be completed by check, cashier’s check, or money order. If your troop(s) needs assistance transferring money, please contact Girl Scouts River Valleys.
