Q: How can I purchase Girl Scout Cookies®?
A: The best way to purchase Girl Scout Cookies is from local Girl Scouts. To find them, contact your local Girl Scout council by:
- Calling (800) 932-2833 or emailing gscr@crgs.org
Selling Girl Scout Cookies
Q: Who can sell Girl Scout Cookies?
A: Only Brownie and Junior Girl Scouts and Girl Scouts 11-17 may sell Girl Scout Cookies. Participation in this Girl Scout program activity is voluntary.
Q: Can girls earn any awards from participating in cookie activities?
A: As part of their experience, Girl Scouts can earn these age-appropriate awards:
- Cookies Count (a Brownie Girl Scout Try-It)
- Smart Cookie (a Brownie Girl Scout Try-It)
- The Cookie Connection (a Junior Girl Scout badge)
- Cookie Biz (a Junior Girl Scout badge)
- Cookies and Dough (an Interest Project award for Girl Scouts 11-17)
- Girl Scout Cookie Activity pin
Q: Can I purchase Girl Scout Cookies online?
A: Girl Scouts of the USA does not allow online sales but its cookie site, but you can email gscr@crgs.org for cookies.
Q: How do you ensure the safety of Girl Scouts who sell cookies?
A: The safety and security of our members is always our chief concern. We have strict guidelines for safety. Girl Scouts, depending on their age, must be accompanied by an adult when selling Girl Scout cookies and always use the buddy system. Our youngest members, Daisy Girl Scouts, who are five and six—are not allowed to sell Girl Scout cookies under any circumstances.
Q: Why can't Girl Scout Cookies be sold on the Internet?
A: Our existing National Girl Scout policy prohibits the sale of Girl Scout cookies or any other Girl Scout approved product on the Internet. The safety of our girls is always our chief concern. Even in supervised settings it is not possible to guarantee that the person purchasing Girl Scout Cookies harbors no harmful intent. Girl Scout Cookie Activities are designed to be face-to-face learning experiences for girls. In an online setting, there is no guarantee that the seller is indeed a girl member of Girl Scouts. We have many ways for girls to explore and experience the benefits of science and technology and the Internet.
Q: Does a Girl Scout troop/group have to sell cookies if it doesn't want to?
A: The Girl Scout Cookie Program is not just about cookies. These annual activities offer many opportunities for hands-on entrepreneurial program activities. We find that most girls in Girl Scouting thoroughly enjoy this activity and look forward to it each year. Participation in this activity is voluntary and requires written permission by a parent or guardian. Our youngest members, Daisy Girl Scouts, who are five and six—are not allowed to sell Girl Scout cookies under any circumstances.
Q: Do Daisy Girl Scouts participate in the Girl Scout Cookie Program?
A: All program activities for girls and the corresponding guidelines and standards are based on current developmental and educational norms for each of the age levels. Activities with the cookie program include programmatic components that require a range of skills, including arithmetic computation, reading comprehension, writing, problem-solving, as well as planning and social skills not typically possessed by girls of Daisy Girl Scout age (5-6 years old).
Girl Scouts of the USA affirms that the current guidelines for Daisy Girl Scouts and the Girl Scout Cookie Program activities are age-appropriate. Therefore, girls in that age level may not participate in this or any other money-earning activities.
Q: Can individual Girl Scouts participate in the Girl Scout Cookie Program?
A: Yes! To do so, individually-registered Girl Scouts must abide by guidelines published by Girl Scouts of the USA and the local Girl Scout council including: depending on their age, Girl Scouts must be accompanied by an adult when selling Girl Scout Cookies, girls must attend the council's cookie training, any money raised goes to the council to support the council's program activities, and no sales can be made by individual Girl Scouts over the Internet.
Q: Obesity is at epidemic levels, particularly childhood obesity. Does it concern you that by selling cookies you are contributing to a very real health threat?
A: Starting with our youngest members, the Girl Scout organization promotes a healthy lifestyle for its girl members, which includes a well-balanced diet and plenty of exercise. Our health and fitness programs encourage girls to adopt healthy fitness and eating habits early in life and continue them into adulthood.
In addition, the Girl Scout Research Institute (GSRI) recently released a research review entitled Weighing In: Helping Girls Be Healthy Today, Healthy Tomorrow. Weighing In addresses various underlying causes leading to the epidemic of obesity and of being overweight among children and adolescents and the lifestyles, culture, and behavior that have contributed to this condition.
Q: Can Girl Scouts donate cookies to military personnel serving overseas?
A: Girl Scouts of the USA will be following the guidelines (see below) issued by the United States Department of Defense (DoD). We are keenly aware and supportive of the widespread desire to show support for our troops overseas. Towards this end, we provide alternate ways to show support, such as helping out the families of service members within their own communities.
In addition, many Girl Scout councils with military bases or establishments in their immediate area have made arrangements with the local military personnel to arrange for the proper shipment of cookies.
Note: For Girl Scout purposes, "gifts" include donations of Girl Scout Cookies.
Gifts for Deployed Personnel: U.S. Department of Defense (DoD)
The DoD has requested that the public not send unsolicited mail, care packages, or donations to service members unless they are family members or personal friends. Such donations overload the DoD transportation and distribution systems and may pose a security threat to deployed personnel.
Cookie Revenue
Q: When I buy Girl Scout Cookies, where does the money go?
A: With every purchase, approximately 70% of the proceeds stays in the local Girl Scout council to provide a portion of the resources needed to support Girl Scouting in that area, including a portion that goes directly to the troop/group selling the cookies. The balance goes directly to the baker to pay for the cookies.
Q: How does the cookie revenue benefit girls?
A: All of the revenue—every penny after paying the baker—earned from cookie activities stays with the local Girl Scout council that sponsors the sale, including a portion that goes directly to the troop/group selling cookies. Councils use their cookie revenue to supply essential services to troops, groups, and individual girls, such as providing program resources and communication support, training adult volunteers, and conducting special events. The Girl Scout council's volunteer board of directors:
- Chooses the baker.
- Determines the price per box.
- Decides how this revenue will be used to provide vital services—such as leader recruitment and training and operation of camps and service centers—and other indirect expenses.
- Decides how much money will be returned to troops/groups selling cookies for their projects and activities.
Q: What portion of the cookie revenue is shared with the troop/group selling cookies?
A: That decision is made by each local Girl Scout council, so the portion varies from one council to another. Nationwide, an individual troop/group receives from 12-17% of the purchase price of each box sold. The troop holds the money earned in its treasury, and its girl members vote on how to use that money.
Q: Is the purchase of Girl Scout Cookies tax-deductible?
A: No and Yes.
- No, if the customer keeps the cookies. Individuals who buy Girl Scout Cookies and take the cookies home, or consume them, have purchased a product at a fair market value. For this reason, no part of the price of a box of Girl Scout Cookies used in this way is tax-deductible.
- Yes, if the customer leaves the cookies with Girl Scouts. Many Girl Scouts ask customers to pay for one or more boxes of cookies for use in their community service project, for example, collecting for a food pantry. The customers not receiving any Girl Scout Cookies do not benefit directly from paying for them. Those individuals may treat the purchase price of the donated cookies as a charitable contribution.
Q: Does any part of the cookie revenue go to support organizations other than Girl Scouts?
A: No. Absolutely none of the money from any Girl Scout council-sponsored cookie sale is given to any other group.
All of the revenue—every penny after paying for the cookies—from all cookie sale activities supports the local Girl Scout council where the cookies are sold, including a portion that goes directly to the troop/group selling cookies. The purpose of selling cookies is to help girls develop a wide range of skills and to generate revenue to support Girl Scouting locally.
All of the proceeds from the sale of Girl Scout Cookies goes to support girls in Girl Scouting. No money is given to any organization other than Girl Scouts.
Product Information
Q: Who bakes Girl Scout Cookies?
A: Two commercial bakers are licensed by the national Girl Scout organization, Girl Scouts of the USA, to produce Girl Scout Cookies: Little Brownie Bakers.
Q: Who selects the cookie varieties?
A: Licensed bakers can offer up to eight varieties of Girl Scout Cookies; only three types are mandatory: Thin Mints, Peanut Butter Sandwich/Do-si-dos™ and Shortbread/Trefoils. The national Girl Scout organization reviews and approves all varieties proposed by the bakers. Any of the five optional cookies can be changed every year. Each bakery names its own cookies, so Girl Scout Cookies that are quite similar may have different names. Suggestions for new cookies are welcome, but the national Girl Scout organization can make no promise to use them.
Q: What are the sizes, quantities and prices of Girl Scout Cookies?
A: Girl Scout Cookies are sold by weight, not by size or number. The number and size of cookies may vary by variety. The national Girl Scout organization, Girl Scouts of the USA, monitors the weights of the cookies, which are set by contract.
Girl Scout Cookies sell for different prices in different areas of the country. Each of the 300 plus local Girl Scout councils has the right to set its own price based on its needs and knowledge of the local market. Today's prices, currently $2.50 to $4.00 per box, depending on location, reflect both the current cost of cookies and the realities of providing Girl Scout activities in an ever-changing economic environment.
Q: Are all Girl Scout Cookies kosher?
A: Yes. All Girl Scout Cookies are kosher.
Q: What are the best-selling Girl Scout Cookies?
A: Our biggest sellers are:
25% Thin Mints
19% Samoas®/Caramel deLites™
13% Peanut Butter Patties®/Tagalongs®
11% Peanut Butter Sandwich/Do-si-dos™
9% Shortbread/Trefoils
The other varieties combined account for the remaining 23%.
Q: Where can I find recipes using Girl Scout Cookies?
A: Check out the Web sites of this licensed bakers:
Q: Who are the girls on the Girl Scout Cookie boxes?
A: All of the girls pictured on the boxes are registered Girl Scouts. Every box shows Girl Scouts—in action—having fun and growing strong.
Q: How do I find out the ingredients, nutritional value, and/or allergen information for one or more of the Girl Scout Cookie varieties?
A: Each of the bakers licensed by Girl Scouts of the USA to produce Girl Scout Cookies lists specific product information in the "Cookies" section of their respective Web sites. Here is the link to your council's baker:
Q: Are any preservatives used in Girl Scout Cookies?
A: Girl Scout Cookies do not contain preservatives. They are all made with pure vegetable shortening, are kosher, and freeze well to extend their shelf life.
Q: What about Girl Scout Cookies and partially hydrogenated oils (trans fats)?
A: For several decades, it was thought that partially hydrogenated oils–sometimes referred to as trans fats–were a healthier food choice compared with saturated fats. In recent years, data has emerged suggesting that, in fact, trans fats are not a healthier choice than saturated fats. Girl Scouts of the USA is proud to announce that all Girl Scout cookies are now "zero trans fat per serving" with the same great taste that has made them one of America's favorite treats over the years. While some "zero trans fat per serving" varieties of Girl Scout cookies were available in 2005 and 2006, this year all varieties will contain less than 0.5 grams trans fat per serving, which meets or exceeds the FDA guidelines for the "zero trans fat" designation.
Girl Scouts of the USA has worked diligently with our bakers over the past several years to address the issue of trans fats. We began listing the amount of trans fats one full year before FDA requirements went into effect. It is important to remember that Girl Scout Cookies are a snack food and are meant to be consumed in limited quantities within the context of a balanced diet. So that consumers can make an informed choice, the ingredients and nutritional profile of each variety are clearly listed on both the cookie box and the cookie order form.
Q: Why do you still use tropical oils such as palm oil?
A: Our cookie bakers tell us it is still necessary to use tropical oils for the production of compound coating. Many top bakers have tried to stop using it, but without it, their products do not meet production standards. There are currently eight varieties of Girl Scout Cookies produced by each baker licensed to produce Girl Scout Cookies. Each baker produces Girl Scout Cookie varieties without palm oil. For more information, check the bakers' Web site:
Q: Does the chocolate used in Girl Scout Cookies come from a free trade zone or is it from cacao beans picked by children?
A: While tracing farming practices is very difficult and the problems identified with it very complex, our licensed bakers continue to assure us that they are working with their main suppliers of chocolate and with the Chocolate Manufacturer's Association (CMA), of which both licensed bakers are members, on the issues of slavery and abusive child labor as it relates to the production and purchase of chocolate. The chocolate suppliers and the CMA strongly condemn the use of slavery and abusive labor practices. Their goal is to support the governments and advocacy groups that will make a difference in the lives of the cacao farmers as well as to give assurances to consumers that the cocoa has been farmed under appropriate working conditions.
Q: How can I find out what ingredients are used in Girl Scout Cookies?
A: So that consumers can make an informed choice, the ingredients and nutritional profile of each variety are clearly listed on both the cookie box and the cookie order form. For more information, check the bakers' Web site:
Q: Should diabetics buy or consume Girl Scout Cookies?
A: Each of our two licensed bakers lists dietary exchanges on the order form so diabetics can make informed choices. For more information, check the bakers' Web site:
Q: How do you answer concerns of those on low-carb diets?
A: The ingredients and nutritional elements of all cookies are listed on the order forms and the side of the cookie box so those concerned about carbohydrates can make informed choices. For more information, check the bakers' Web site:
