Money matters! All troops participating in the Cookie Program must have an established bank account. If at any point, you need support with Cookie Program finances—reach out to us! GSMH will withdraw the amount due for your Troop via an electronic withdrawal, following the schedule below.
March 11 | Troop deposits for initial order plus additional cookies is due. Remind families to turn in money received. |
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March 15 | GSMH will electronically withdraw 30% of the total amount due* from the cookies transferred to your troop (initial orders plus additional cookies). |
March 25 | Troop deposits for second electronic withdrawal are due. Remind families to turn in money received. |
March 29 | GSMH will electronically withdraw 30% of the total amount due* for the cookies allocated to the troop in Smart Cookies. |
April 8 | Troop deposits for third electronic withdrawal are due. Remind families to turn in money received. |
April 12 | GSMH will electronically withdraw 30% of the total amount due* for the cookies allocated to the troop in Smart Cookies. |
April 19 | Deadline to submit Uncollected Funds Report. |
April 22 | Deadline to deposit remaining funds into troop account. |
April 26 | GSMH will electronically withdraw the remaining balance due from the troop. |
*Smart Cookies does not automatically calculate the amount due for your troop. To know, take the total due shown in Smart Cookies and multiply it by 0.3 to calculate the exact amount being withdrawn from your account. Once the amount has been withdrawn from your troop account, the transaction will appear on your Troop Balance Summary.
When dispersing cookies to girls, be sure to remind the caregivers that once they sign for the cookies, they are financially responsible and cookies cannot be returned. It's important to always issue a receipt anytime cookies or money are transferred between the troop and girls. Keep the white copy for your records and give caregivers the yellow copy. These receipts are important when transferring extra cookies or if you need to submit an Uncollected Funds Report.
We strongly encourage using Digital Cookie credit card system to accept payment whenever possible—it's easy to use, but also requires fewer trips to the bank! Not only is payment received at time of pick-up or delivery, no one will need to carry money to the bank or worry about receiving bad checks. This also helps ensure the money is already in your troop account when electronic withdrawals are taken out during the program.
GSMH covers 100% of the credit card fees incurred through the Digital Cookie credit card system! Girls can use Digital Cookie credit card system on both iPhone and Android devices to accept payments. This feature works for in-person orders so that a credit card can be used to pay for them at that time. Don’t worry—cookies won’t be counted twice since they were ordered from the girl and she added them right before she accepted the credit card payment.
Troops can also use the Digital Cookie credit card system to accept in-person credit card payments as long as the Troop Cookie Site has been set up. Money is deposited directly into the GSMH bank account, and the sale and credit for the deposit is recorded in each troop's Smart Cookies account. Check out this Digital Cookie Tip Sheet on collecting payments.
Peer-to-peer apps such as Venmo, PayPal, Square, etc. can also be used for payment from a customer, or from caregivers of girls to Troop Cookie Chairs. The person accepting the payment is responsible for any transaction fees and for getting the money transferred to the appropriate account—just as if you accepted cash.
Of course, many customers may still like to pay with cash or check. Cash and checks should be deposited frequently—weekly at a minimum. GSMH strongly cautions against accepting checks from someone the girls or families do not know. If you choose to accept a check, girls should only accept checks with issuer’s name and address pre-printed on the face of the check.
Girl Scout families are responsible for payment of all cookies that they have signed for. This is why receipts are so important every time cookies and payments are transferred between troop and girls, and why allocating cookies in the Smart Cookies platform to the proper girl must be done continuously throughout the cookie season.
If troops have made every effort to collect and followed best financial practices, but encounter an issue with money collection from a family, a troop may not be responsible for paying amounts owed by Girl Scout families who have not paid the troop—as long as documentation of efforts to collect are submitted with an Uncollected Funds Report to GSMH by April 19.
To submit an Uncollected Funds Report, include the following supporting documentation:
After submission, further discussion and/or documents may be requested by the Finance Team.
How does that affect recognitions and the bonus program?
In the event that a girl or troop owes money after April 26 and no Uncollected Funds Report has been submitted, recognitions will not be distributed to girl and/or entire troop until all outstanding money issues are resolved. The same procedure also applies to Troop Bonuses. If outstanding money issues are not resolved by September 30, all recognition items, proceeds, and bonuses are forefeited. No exceptions will be made. Unresolved money issues can result in a volunteer being removed from their volunteer position at the troop and/or service unit level.
Fire, Theft, Burglary, And Robbery.
Cookies and related funds become the responsibility of the troops, parents, and girls at the point of delivery. Cookies should be distributed to the girls quickly, delivered to the customers promptly, and the funds deposited immediately to help avoid potential issues. In the event that cookies or funds are stolen, the family and/or troop is responsible for the money that is due for the cookies. In some cases, homeowner’s or car insurance will cover the loss. For this reason, the police must be called and a report taken within 48 hours of the incident.
Troop Splits.
Troops may not split into two troops during the Cookie Program. If a troop would like to split please contact your Volunteer Support team, and they will help work on a solution after the Cookie Program.
Initial Orders.
Troops can order additional cookies for booth sales on the initial order—using the booth cookies line found in Smart Cookies. Do not enter extra booth cookies in Smart Cookies as a girl order. Troops and families are responsible for all cookies, even unsold cookies—as such, do not estimate a girl's initial order. GSMH reserves the right to request a copy of a girl’s order card for verification if her initial order is deemed unusually high. GSMH reserves the right to limit or refuse any cookie orders during the Initial Order or Direct Sale Period .
Girl Transfers.
No girl transfers are allowed between troops during the Cookie Season (January 5–April 21). Girl participation and sales in the Cookie Program can only be associated with one troop and cannot be transferred.