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

“We’re in the midst of an integrated core business strategy that started with defining Girl Scouting as a leadership experience,” Cloninger says. “And the question is what do we have to do as a total movement across the country to really get ourselves ready to embrace this leadership philosophy?”

Cloninger says GSUSA’s 11-person fund-development team is working with local councils on fundraising projects, and has responsibility for corporate and foundation giving, major gifts, and planned giving. And the team now has begun reaching out to the roughly 50 million women who used to be Girl Scouts. She jokes that every time she gets on an airplane she meets former Girl Scouts who tell her stories about how wonderful their years in Girl Scouts were.