Okay, it’s not really a scandal (at least not yet), but I wanted something catchy.
Ever the helpful neighbors, we bought a box of Girl Scout Cookies the other day. Actually, we bought ’em a few weeks ago, but they were delivered the other day. Cost? $3.50. Pretty pricey for a box of cookies, thought I. Then I opened them.
There were 15 – fifteen! – cookies in the box. The entire box. That works out to more than $0.23 per cookie. Now it’s not an issue of donating to the group. Had they simply asked for a donation, we’d probably give them one. But what a rip-off. Fifteen reasonable-quality cookies, for $0.23 each?
Comments
61 responses to “Girl Scout Cookie Scandal”
First of all, the Girl Scout cookie sale is a PROGRAM, not a fund-raiser. I implemented properly, the girls learn life skills such as goal setting, business techniques, money skills, budgeting, giving presentations, etc. An added benefit of this program is individual troops can earn proceeds from the sale. Each council sets it’s own selling price, troop proceeds, etc. A portion of the sale cost goes to the actual cost of the cookies, there’s a cost for the program materials to execute the program, recognitions for the girls, troop proceeds, and finally a portion does go to the individual council. Although some administrative costs are covered by cookie proceeds, most of the council proceeds goes right back to the girls in the form of additional programs, events, camps, materials, financial aid/sponsorships, etc.
By donating directly to a troop (which is discouraged – donations can be made to councils), you are denying the girls the opportunity to participate in a program that helps build girls of “courage, confidence, & character.”
Guess how much Kathy Cloninger, CEO makes a year? $349,000. Yeah,
you can count me out on helping the girl scouts out. That is way too much for
non-profit.
Chad,
It is a fund raiser! Items for sale in a fund raiser are by their very nature overpriced. Think of the price per plate of a charity dinner when you criticize this time honored and much anticipated girl scout fund raiser. They are not trying to offer you a great deal on some cookies, they are trying to make money to support the organization. 3.00 goes directly to the overhead of the cookies and the larger GS org. and the troop gets .50 per box sold for their coffers.
Since GS is primarily a service organization much of this profit gets turned around and put right back into the community. It is the charity that keeps on giving. And you get some tasty cookies to eat! Also worth noting is the unique selection that many folks look forward to sampling. The sale is a very brief month or so, so nobody is trying to soak you. Enjoy your 15 cookies and feel satisfied that you supported a exceptionally worthwhile organization.
thanks, Mary
How dare you post a headline with the words “Girl Scout Cookie SCANDAL” then retratct it in the meat of your rant admitting there is no scandal, you just wanted to get attention. What about the readers who only scan headlines then share that info? You did a large disservice to the GSA, me, a leader and my granddaughter, a girl scout. The price of everything is going up while the quality and quantity goes down. Girl Scout cookies are delicious and a tradition. Purchasing Girl Scout cookies is a donation with a bonus. We’ve never not said it!
Actually, troops can’t take monetary donations directly but their councils can.
And I worked for a council awhile ago, and I quit because the volunteers were largely an angry and mean group. If you hate volunteering so much, then quit. Really.
Just because the GS is a non-profit doesn’t mean there aren’t bills to pay. You know, for campgrounds and the like. But apparently everything should be for free and the only thing that matters to people is their particular kid and their particular troop. Who cares if other girls want to join? Who cares if the council puts on programs that your kid doesn’t want to partake in? Because it’s all about the individual.
Nothing is free. Mean (you have no idea how mean they can be) volunteers killed my idealism. I WAS willing to work for peanuts to do something I care about. I no longer care deeply for this organization and will do my caring unpaid and non work related. This is why I will join corporate America.
And if you hate something so much, quit already. Get a new hobby beyond complaining and creating “drama”. Leave high school behind already and grow up. Sheesh.
Two industrial Giants, Keebler and Interbake make 250 million per year from your “fundraiser folks” .
250 million a year for two multination food companies.
That is larger than some GDPs.
It is always the people who do absolutely nothing in the way of volunteering, who complain the most…no matter which organization we’re talking about!
I cannot believe all the fuss over cookies. If you do not want to pay out the money and support a group of girls in your area…then go to the grocery store and look for the best bargain.
This is a fundraiser folks, you do not have to buy anything.
Girl Scouts CAN take monetary donations! If you are upset about the price/the amount of cookies you get/ or you just don’t like them…then give the scout $5.00 or $500.00 and then it goes directly to the troop! Check the rules…Girl Scouts can except cash donations at anytime and any amount!
Lets remember…it is for the children!
This sounds like amway
Our council charges 3.25 per box. my scouts make 48 cents a box. If we can’t sell a box we are stuck. That means that we have to sell about six boxes to break even. The girls deserve so much better. next year we are all joing 4H.
girl scout cookies rock my socks and are worth the price!!!!!
in fact you should have to contribute 20 bucks to the girls just to have the rights to eat them!!