Girl Scouts of the USA historically has relied on a self-generating funding system. But as it approaches the century mark, a sweeping organizational transition will mean a new focus on fundraising and an enhanced partnership with its local councils around

By David Mckenna

The PepsiCo venture probably wouldn’t have happened 10 years ago, before there was an inkling of the realignment that’s taking place now. Even now GSUSA is careful not to jeopardize relationships between donors and individual councils.

Working with, not against
“I spent 23 years as a local council CEO, so I can really understand what it takes to develop the funding relationship on the ground,” Cloninger says. “We’re very clear to a donor when we go in. We tell them, ‘We really appreciate your support to our local community and we’ve got some great ideas that would help girls nationally. However, we would not want this funding request to diminish what you’re doing locally.’”