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

Cookie sales have not and will not be used to help fund the national organization, Cloninger notes. The cookie sales drives are organized by the councils, with each council retaining the proceeds from its sales for training and leadership-development programs, special events, etc. In fact, the cookie program is not considered a fundraiser by the organization, but rather a financial- and economic-literacy tool for teaching girls how to work with a team and develop customer-service skills.