Sources of Funding

All donations, large and small are vitally important to Girl Scouts. Without the contributions of community spirited adults, we could not provide the programs and services to more than 42,000 members across the 30 counties we serve.

For More Information

To have someone contact you about Girl Scouts in your area, or to volunteer, click on your county below.

• Select County
  • Adams
  • Carbon
  • Centre
  • Clinton
  • Columbia
  • Cumberland
  • Dauphin
  • Franklin
  • Fulton
  • Huntingdon
  • Juniata
  • Lackawanna
  • Lancaster
  • Lebanon
  • Luzerne
  • Lycoming
  • Mifflin
  • Monroe
  • Montour
  • Northumberland
  • Perry
  • Pike
  • Schuylkill
  • Snyder
  • Sullivan
  • Susquehanna
  • Union
  • Wayne
  • Wyoming
  • York

How is Girl Scouting Financed?

Financing for the Girl Scout program comes from many sources. The most widely recognized source of income is the cookie sale, which helps girls learn sales and marketing skills, while helping to fund the Girl Scout program. While the cookie sale is a major source of funding, Girl Scouts in the Heart of Pennsylvania actively seeks community involvement to ensure every girl who wants to develop life and leadership skills, while laughing and learning, has that opportunity. Here are some ways donations make that happen.

Troop Financing: Each member pays a $10 registration fee that goes directly to our national organization, Girl Scouts USA, to help cover the cost of insurance and development of national programs, resources and trainings. None of this fee remains in our council. Troop dues, which are established by each troop or group, remain within the troop for the girls to use for girl planned activities. Earnings from product sales supplement those dues and also remain within the troop treasury.

Organization Financing: Girl Scouts in the Heart of Pennsylvania receives funding from many sources. Funding from community and private sources increases our ability to provide more programs for more girls. Our United Way and Community Funds provide community based funding for the entire geographical area we serve. Grants and Foundation funding is continally sought to provide programming and financial assistance to girls and to assist with new initiatives. Included in this assistance are camperships, registration and program aid to girls, troops and groups. Corporate funding, in the form of monetary support and in-kind gifts, is important as well. Planned gifts of life insurance, bequests, memorials or honorariums and charitable trusts are additional means of continuous funding for Girl Scouts in the Heart of Pennsylvania.

Grants and Foundations: Grants from community foundations, private foundations, public foundations and trusts fund Girl Scouting programs such as after-school activities, which enhance reading scores and literacy, Girl Scouts Kick Butts! program kits, which promote smoking prevention, and a wide range of other program kits designed to develop life skills in girls.

Corporate Funding: Good corporate citizenship benefits the community as well as the company. Many corporations have set aside funds for communtiy support. Whether it be a matching gift program, advertising in your Girl Scout newsletter, employee volunteer recognition or a corporate donation, corporate support makes a difference.

United Way and Community Funds: United Ways provide funding across the entire geographical area served by Girl Scouts in the Heart of Pennaylvania. These contributions help keep the cost of the Girl Scout leadership and development programs affordable to all. Girl Scouts in the Heart of Pennsylvania encourages you to give, not only donations but also your time, to your United Way.

• Berwick Area United Way
• United Way of the Capital Region
• United Way of Carbon County
• United Way of Carlisle and Cumberland County
• Centre County United Way
• Clinton County United Way
• United Way of Columbia County
• Danville Area United Way
• United Way of Franklin County
• United Way of Greater Hazleton
• Greater Susquehanna Valley United Way
• Huntingdon County United Way
• United Way of Lackawanna County
• United Way of Lancaster County
• United Way of Lebanon County
• Lower Anthracite Region United Way
• Lycoming County United Way
• United Way of Mifflin-Juniata
• United Way of Monroe County
• United Way of Pike County
• Schuylkill United Way
• United Way of the Shippensburg Area
• United Way of Susquehanna County
• Union County United Way
• Wyoming County United Way
• United Way of Wyoming Valley
• United Way of York County

In-Kind Contributions: Girl Scouts in the Heart of Pennsylvania welcomes contributions of goods or services that can benefit the council or the girls we serve. Receiving donations of goods and services may provide budge relief that can free up already assigned funding which may then be used to provide additional programs to help more girls.

Planned Gifts: A planned gift from your estate is designed to guarantee your financial security while passing your assets to the persons or institutions of your choice. It may help reduce taxes as well. Planned gifts may include bequests, paid-up life insurance policies or life income gifts. Girl Scouts in the Heart of Pennsylvania is happy to speak with you, your attorney and accountant about making a planned gift that will make a difference in the lives of girls. For more information, email donate@gshpa.org.

If you would like to support Girl Scouts in the Heart of Pennsylvania, please contact the Fund Development department at 1.800.692.7816.