GSEM Case for Support

Gifts for Girls Helping Girls Soar Higher

We are Girl Scouts

Girl Scouting builds girls of courage, confidence, and character, who make the world a better place.

Our Council

For more than 100 years, Girl Scouts of Eastern Missouri (GSEM) has been a pillar in our community, supporting Girl Scouts through their journey of self-discovery and growth. GSEM serves a 28-county jurisdiction and brings together Girl Scouts in surrounding rural, suburban and urban communities.

We believe in the power of belonging where every girl is valued, safe, seen and heard. From preschool through young adulthood, we make intentional efforts to create learning opportunities for Girl Scouts based on four pillars: STEM, Life Skills, Outdoors and Entrepreneurship. Girl Scouts participate in a variety of activities, including: badges, troop activities, excursions and community service, all while engaging in adventure, building confidence, and developing critical skills to promote lifelong success.

Impact Girl Scouts is the only youth development program where girls get to follow their own lead and feel empowered to share their unique selves. With the help of supportive adults and troop leaders, girls try new things, become well-rounded leaders, and understand how it feels to lead from the heart. Girl Scouting is for girls, by girls, for all girls.

Our Girl Scouts At Girl Scouts of Eastern Missouri, we provide a holistic approach to ensure every Girl Scout can accomplish their goals and dreams. From Pre-Kindergarten to young adulthood, Girl Scouts are finding joy, friendship, and becoming confident members of their community. Here, they discover the leader within themselves, and it’s imperative that we evolve with them. Our Volunteers Our organization emphasizes values that promote respect, responsibility, and compassion while fostering a sense of community and belonging. We could not do this work without our over 10,000 volunteers that guide and mentor the next generation of female leaders, undoubtedly making a lasting impact on their lives.

Philanthropic Investment Girl Scouts of Eastern Missouri has a legacy of supporting Girl Scouts of past, present, and future. Our board, executive leadership team, staff, and volunteers are committed to the mission of building girls of courage, confidence, and character, who make the world a better place. GSEM is where every Girl Scout can excel to their highest potential in a safe and inclusive community. With a remarkable 74 percent member retention rate, adults and girls are continuously choosing Girl Scouts year after year.

GSEM is striving to create sustainable funding streams to support every girl throughout our 28-county jurisdiction. To bridge the gap in funding necessary to establish new programs, attract and retain members, and create innovative and relevant experiences, we must engage our community’s support. Philanthropic investments have enabled transformative programs that positively impact thousands of girls across our region. In 2024, GSEM provided more

than $500,000 in scholarship assistance, ensuring girls could participate in membership, programs, uniform purchases, or camp experiences regardless of financial barriers. Additionally, thanks to community support, GSEM is bringing innovation to life with a new STEM Center at Camp Fiddlecreek along with other much-needed camp facility updates to better support all girls in a safe and engaging space.

We have also been able to expand opportunities for over 3,400 girls in marginalized areas, both urban and rural, to experience Girl Scouting

and pioneered initiatives like the Daisy Drop Box and Brownie Bundle, providing volunteers with resources to best serve girls near and far. Your support ensures that every girl in our region has access to opportunities to excel, lead, and thrive.

Need Today’s girls are growing up in a world filled with unprecedented challenges—long school hours, mounting pressures, and the overwhelming influence of technology on their leisure time. These factors contribute to a growing mental health crisis: in Missouri, 1 in 10 girls face mental health challenges, and by 5th and 6th grade, more than half—52 percent—doubt their intelligence and career potential. This self doubt, compounded by societal pressures, erodes their confidence and stifles their ambitions.

At Girl Scouts of Eastern Missouri, we are determined to positively contribute to the well-being and lifelong success of all girls. Through dynamic programming, we empower girls to build resilience, confidence, and leadership skills that prepare them to excel in the face of challenges. From outdoor experiences that nurture grit and perseverance, to STEM programs that ignite curiosity and a passion for discovery, Girl Scouts equips girls with tools to succeed.

Your contributions are essential to ensure that every girl in Eastern Missouri can participate in our services regardless of her financial situation. This means improving the physical accessibility of our camps and ensuring that girls with disabilities can fully participate. It also means waiving membership and uniform fees, while also providing scholarship opportunities for camp, robotics, travel experiences, and council-led programs, so all girls can access the world of Girl Scouts. We can’t do it alone . Your investment in the Gifts for Girls: Helping Girls Soar Higher Campaign directly supports local girls, volunteers, and programs, creating pathways for all girls to thrive. By supporting Girl Scouts, you’re not just funding a program—you’re shaping the next generation of leaders, equipped with the courage, confidence, and character to create a brighter, more equitable future for us all.

To learn more about GSEM’s fundraising efforts or to make your gift online, please visit girlscoutsem.org/supportus .

For over 100 years, the green trefoil has stood as a symbol for the future leaders of tomorrow, Girl Scouts. Join us as we solidify our path forward, ensuring the Girl Scouts of today are ready for the next chapter.

314.592.2300 | girlscoutsem.org | 2300 Ball Drive