2023 Troop Cookie Manager Guide

Troop Proceeds Money Management

Money due to council for the product the troop received is collected via ACH at two points during the Cookie Program: in March (for 1/3 of troop’s initial order) and in April (for the remaining balance). Payments collected through Digital Cookie will automatically be transferred to council. If a troop has conducted the majority of its sales through Digital Cookie, the troop may be due a deposit. If a troop uses the Clover credit card system, customer payments will go directly to the troop’s bank account. The Troop Cookie Manager or troop leader should collect and deposit cash frequently as a best practice. A Troop Late Payment Report is required for any family not paying in full by the deadline. It is strongly recommended troops use the Digital Cookie in-hand process for accepting credit card payments at booths and by individual Girl Scouts when delivering product. Council covers processing fees. Please note that cash transfer apps, such as Venmo, Cash app, Zelle, etc. are not approved payment systems for Girl Scout troop business. Track your inventory closely and make sure to keep receipts for all product given out and money received. Cookies cannot be returned at the end of the season, so make sure to use the Cookie Exchange feature in eBudde to see if another troop could use your cookies. Money Tip: ALWAYS make sure your Girl Scouts’ parent/adult has signed the product programs permission section of the annual Girl Health History/ Permission Form before any product is ever given to them. This means they acknowledge responsibility for taking care of the product and turning in money for product to the troop. In instances of non-payment by a family, turning in a Troop Late Payment Report to council protects you and the troop’s funds. Having that signed permission slip is very important for this process. Make regular deposits to your troop bank account when you receive payments from families and booths.

PGA

Proceeds

1-139 PGA

$0.80/pkg

140-189 PGA

$0.90/pkg

190+ PGA

$1.00/pkg

Cadette, Senior and Ambassador troops may choose to opt-out of rewards, increasing the troop proceeds by an additional $0.05/package.deadline.

Opt-Out Troops Cadette, Senior and Ambassador troops are eligible to opt-out of receiving rewards and receive an extra $0.05/package instead. Individual Girl Scouts in opt-out troops are still eligible to earn patches, Troop PGA Reward event, Trefoil Rewards and any rewards at the 1,000 level and higher. Opting-out is a majority-rule decision of all Girl Scouts selling in the troop and they need to sign the opt-out form (included in the online Troop Cookie Manager guide) which the troop maintains for it’s records. Once the troop has voted and signed, please complete the council notification form at girlscoutsem.org/ optoutform . Troops not opting-out of rewards do not need to submit this form. Any eligible troop wishing to opt-out of rewards must adjust their eBudde setting to opt-out NO LATER than Jan. 13. We cannot make changes on a troop’s behalf after initial order submission.

18 Troop Cookie Manager Guide