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For the Record – Your Questions, Answered
Here are our Council's official statements and detailed information to set the record straight regarding topics that go beyond the basics of Girl Scouting. This page contains information regarding complex topics as well as false rumors and myths, which most commonly resurface during cookie season when we are most visible to the public.
Respectable, third-party fact-checking sites Snopes.com and FactCheck.org have also debunked the rumors and misperceptions. It’s difficult to ascertain why untruths were generated and continue to be disseminated. What we do know is that, as a large and visible organization, Girl Scouts is occasionally a target for outside groups with clear agendas. Please encourage everyone to seek the facts.
Social Issues 
Is Girl Scouts political?
No. Girl Scouts is non-partisan and non-political. In recent years it’s become increasingly difficult to appear so in our divided political environment. As GSUSA and Councils become more sensitive to the changing environment, we aim to focus on our mission. Our organization aims to serve all girls and support the issues and causes important to them.
Does Girl Scouts of the USA (GSUSA) and, therefore, Girl Scouts–Arizona Cactus-Pine Council (GSACPC) present a political stance in its materials and/or programs?
Girl Scouts strives to remain neutral on political topics. Girl Scouts also does not discriminate with regard to the women it chooses to highlight in its materials. Journey books feature women from many walks of life, of all ages and origins, who have worked as leaders in their respective fields to make a difference in the world.
Girl Scouts–Arizona Cactus-Pine Council agrees with GSUSA that these women embody the commitment to leadership that we strive to teach girls. The women featured in our program resources are meant to inspire girls from all walks of life, and GSUSA is open to suggestions for future editions of our materials. If members have concerns regarding GSUSA’s materials, the national organization and Girl Scouts–Arizona Cactus-Pine Council will do their best to address those concerns.
Did GSUSA post or remove posts from social media in 2020?
In October 2020, GSUSA acknowledged the selection of Senator Kamala Harris as VP Candidate and the appointment of Amy Coney Barrett to the U.S. Supreme Court on social media, as this is consistent with a tradition of recognizing women who have risen to the top of their field and broken barriers. Both posts were taken down because our national colleagues felt the conversation turned severely negative, unproductive, and ultimately violated their social media community guidelines.
In hindsight, GSUSA acknowledged that there was a misjudgment of the divided social atmosphere at the time, and removing the posts added to the destructive spiral and took away from the conversation we want to be having about supporting girls. They are developing a renewed and refocused social media strategy and content review process to ensure our nonpartisan mission is at the forefront.
Does Girl Scouts have a relationship with Planned Parenthood?
No. Girl Scouts of the USA—which includes Girl Scouts–Arizona Cactus-Pine Council—does not have a relationship or collaboration with Planned Parenthood nor provide any financial support to them. Furthermore, as a 501(c)3 non-profit organization, we are not allowed to support any other organization financially.
We believe that health and sexuality are private matters for girls and their families. Girl Scouts of the USA and all Girl Scout Councils are nonpartisan, nonpolitical organizations that do not take a position on reproductive rights or any other political issue.
Why is there a video of Kathy Cloninger mentioning Planned Parenthood in 2004?
The clip is from a 15-year-old interview with now-retired GSUSA CEO Kathy Cloninger. Cloninger was relatively new to Girl Scouts and the resulting media relations at the time. She simply misspoke and represented the organizations’ "partnerships" incorrectly. We believe she was attempting to clarify a decision of the local Council in Waco, TX (which is no longer in existence), in response to allegations the group Pro-Life Waco was asserting about them at the time. The last part of Cloninger’s answer has lived on as “evidence” for critics but has long been debunked by trusted, third-party, fact-checking sources, including:
What is Girl Scouts’ position on sexual orientation about joining or volunteering for Girl Scouts?
Girl Scouts believes sexual orientation is a private matter for girls and their families to address. As an organization, Girl Scouts upholds diversity and inclusiveness and does not discriminate or recruit on the basis of race, religion, ethnicity, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, national origin, or physical or developmental disability.
What is Girl Scouts’ stance on human sexuality, birth control, and abortion?
The Girl Scout organization does not take a position or develop materials on these issues. We believe girls and their families best decide these matters, and we have guidelines in place for those who wish to broach these topics at the troop level. We feel our role is to help girls develop self-confidence and good decision-making skills that will help them make wise choices in all areas of their lives.
Did an Arizona Girl Scout earn her Gold Award for pro-choice activism in 2018?
No. Several false and misleading stories related to an Arizona girl’s Girl Scout Gold Award project about women’s health have been picked up and disseminated by various websites.
The rumor was officially debunked by the third-party fact-checker, Snopes.com.
The Girl Scout Gold Award project mentioned in these stories is still in the planning stages (March 2019, at the time of the false reports) and focuses on health access and education in partnership with El Rio Health, a federally-funded non-profit health center, and the YWCA in Tucson. The capstone of her Gold Award project is a community health fair, where attendees will learn about topics within women’s health: the HPV vaccine, how to seek help in response to intimate partner violence, and the basics of keeping their bodies healthy, from pap smears to self-breast examinations. Her health fair will not cover abortion in any way, and it was never her intention to broach the subject.
Through our Highest Awards, including the Girl Scout Gold Award, girls are empowered to identify an issue in their community about which they are passionate—in this case, access to healthcare—and take action to create a sustainable solution to that challenge. Girl Scouts does not take a position on or develop materials about human sexuality or reproductive health; we believe girls best discuss these matters with their parents or guardians. Rather, Girl Scouts remains focused on bringing girls the single best leadership development programming in the world and preparing girls to find their voices and tap into their incredible leadership potential on their way to becoming tomorrow’s leaders.
Does Girl Scouts–Arizona Cactus-Pine Council (GSACPC) allow transgender children to join Girl Scouts?
Girl Scouts values diversity and is an inclusive organization welcoming K-12 girls of all religions, nationalities, and backgrounds. Girl Scouts does not discriminate or recruit on the basis of race, religion, ethnicity, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, national origin, or physical or developmental disability.
Our Council is committed to providing an emotionally and physically safe environment for girls. When contacted by a parent/guardian of a transgender child, our staff will work with the family to ensure the welfare and best interests of the child are a top priority.
Do Girl Scouts support families of faith?
Yes. Girl Scouts supports girls from all backgrounds and beliefs. While Girl Scouts is a secular organization that refrains from teaching religious or spiritual beliefs or practices, we encourage girls and families to connect their Girl Scout activities to their spirituality how they see fit. We also greatly value our longstanding partnership with religious organizations across many faiths that share the values of the Girl Scout Promise and Law and help provide religious awards for girls to earn in Girl Scouting.
We encourage girls to develop connections to their spiritual and religious beliefs by earning recognitions provided by their faith communities and by earning the My Promise, My Faith pin, which helps a girl deepen the connection between the Girl Scout Law and her faith. We support the right of faith leaders to verify that the program delivered to girls in their places of worship is consistent with their faith’s teachings.
Are Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts part of the same organization?
No, Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts are two completely different organizations, each with a Congressional Charter. Only registered Girl Scouts sell Girl Scout Cookies.
Program
Girl Scouts is often described as being “girl-led.” Are parents/guardians involved in their girls’ program participation?
Girl Scouts can be described as being “girl-led” because each girl in kindergarten through 12th grade is given the opportunity to voice her opinion about what types of activities and community service her troop will do. Through the Girl Scout Leadership Experience (GSLE), girls gain important decision-making, task-managing, and goal-setting skills.
It’s important to know that parents or guardians make all decisions regarding program participation. Parents, many of whom serve as troop volunteers, are actively engaged in Girl Scout programs and are well aware of what their girls are doing. Girl Scouts of the USA directs all councils—and volunteer troop leaders—to get written parental permission for any locally planned program that could be considered sensitive.
Does Girl Scouts have a relationship with Boy Scouts of America?
Boy Scouts of America is a separate organization from Girl Scouts of the USA. While some service units in Girl Scouts–Arizona Cactus-Pine Council share programming activities with local Boy Scouts, the two organizations are independent nonprofit corporations governed separately.
Only registered Girl Scouts sell Girl Scout Cookies. Non-registered members cannot sell cookies or benefit from proceeds. This is a safety and liability policy and is of the utmost importance in guaranteeing Council can support situations that may arise while selling cookies.
What is Girl Scouts’ relationship with WAGGGS (World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts)?
Girl Scouts of the USA (GSUSA) is one of 145 member organizations in WAGGGS, a group that promotes mutual understanding and cross-cultural opportunities for girls around the world. Each member organization creates its own programs and pursues advocacy efforts based on the needs and issues affecting girls in its individual country. GSUSA does not always take the same position or endorse the same programs as WAGGGS (similar to the U.S. being a part of the United Nations). Membership dues from girls and adults are NOT used to pay WAGGGS annual membership fees. Individual girls are NOT members of WAGGGS; GSUSA is a member organization of WAGGGS.
Does Girl Scouts of the USA (GSUSA) and, therefore, Girl Scouts–Arizona Cactus-Pine Council (GSACPC) present a political stance in its materials and/or programs?
Girl Scouts strives to remain neutral on political topics. Girl Scouts also does not discriminate with regard to the women it chooses to highlight in its materials. Journey books feature women from many walks of life, of all ages and origins, who have worked as leaders in their respective fields to make a difference in the world. Girl Scouts–Arizona Cactus-Pine Council agrees with GSUSA in that these women embody the commitment to leadership that we strive to teach girls. The women featured in our program resources are meant to inspire girls from all walks of life, and GSUSA is open to suggestions for future editions of our materials. If members have concerns regarding GSUSA’s materials, the national organization and Girl Scouts–Arizona Cactus-Pine Council will do their best to address them.
How are Girl Scouts practicing safety related to COVID-19?
Our first priority is always the health, safety, and well-being of our girls, volunteers, staff, and Girl Scout families. As we continue to monitor the spread of COVID-19, we feel that, as an organization, we are obligated to try to mitigate the spread of the virus in our community and help our members stay healthy. Following the CDC's guidelines and guiding principles, we have developed a phased approach to reopening facilities and safe participation in programs, including the iconic cookie program. We believe it is more important than ever to continue working towards our mission by providing girls with emotionally supportive connections and a sense of normalcy while also helping build resilience during this time. See all our detailed COVID-19 responses and updates.
Cookies
Why should girls participate in the Girl Scout Cookie Program?
When girls sell cookies, they learn goal setting, decision-making, money management, people skills, and business ethics—skills essential to leadership, success, and life. Plus, it’s a dynamic leadership experience that provides girls and troops the ability to raise their own funds for the exciting programs, projects, and trips they dream up.
Does GSUSA receive profits from Girl Scout Cookies?
No, GSUSA does not benefit from the sale of cookies. One hundred percent of cookie proceeds earned in our Council stay in our Council to support local girls.
Where does the cookie money go?
All proceeds generated from the Girl Scout Cookie Program stay within our Council to support Girl Scouting in Arizona. Each package of cookies costs $6, except Toffee-tastics and Girl Scout S'mores, which cost $7 per box. Cookie proceeds stay local to:
- Fund Take Action projects benefiting the community, as well as amazing girl-led adventures for troops.
- Help our Council provide Girl Scout programs in STEM, the outdoors, life skills, and entrepreneurship, as well as camps, leadership training, and more!
- Cover the costs of running the Girl Scout Cookie Program, including the costs of cookies, materials, and logistics.
The $6 a Box Breakdown:
Cookie Program Costs – $1.44
- Cost of cookies and program operations
Troop Proceeds & Rewards – $1.47
- Girl and Service unit rewards
- Troop proceeds – used for field trips, travel, camp, events, community service projects, program supplies, books, membership
High-Quality Programs & Properties – $1.49
- Maintain our four Girl Scout camps and program sites
- Council-sponsored girl and volunteer events/programs in areas of Outdoors, STEM, Entrepreneurship and Life Skills
Girl & Volunteer Services – $1.60
- Financial Assistance for dues, programs and camperships
- Girl recruitment, recognition and retention
- Volunteer recruitment, training, recognitions and resources
Why are the cookies sold by Girl Scouts–Arizona Cactus-Pine Council’s cookies different from other councils OR why don’t we have a certain cookie in our line-up?
The cookie lineup varies from Girl Scout Council to Council because there are two licensed bakers for Girl Scout Cookies. Our Council uses Little Brownie Bakers that provides this awesome lineup. ABC Bakers is the second bakery used by other councils around the country. That’s also why similar cookie flavors have different names depending on where (or, which bakery source) you buy them!
What happens to unsold cookies?
All decisions about cookie inventory are made at the local level. Our Council has a well-developed strategy for managing our inventory and leftover products. We order cookies as precisely as possible. All undamaged cookies that remain unsold are used at council program events or donated to food banks and soldiers overseas via our Cookies for the Community donation program.
Does Girl Scouts–Arizona Cactus-Pine Council allow Girl Scouts to conduct booth sales in front of adult-oriented businesses?
Girl Scouts cannot booth at any location that may negatively impact the cookie program experience for girls and volunteers, and/or negatively impact our brand. Therefore, girls cannot sell in or in front of establishments that they themselves cannot legally patronize, including marijuana dispensaries. This policy has not changed even with the passing of AZ Prop 207. Please email pprogram@girlscoutsaz.org if you are unsure whether a location is girl-appropriate. Remember, all self-scheduled booths must be entered into eBudde for Council approval.
Can girls use electronic bulletin boards like Craigslist to sell cookies?
No. The safety of girls is very important, especially online. Girl Scouts and their families should never post identifying information (full names, phone numbers, etc.) on public-facing online sites.
Girls may only use the internet to market the Girl Scout Cookie Program to family and friends – people the girl or her family know personally. When using social media platforms, the account should be set to private.
Public online forums are not approved locations for individuals to post Girl Scout Cookie Program promotions. These include, but are not limited to: Nextdoor, Offer Up, Let Go, Market Place, eBay and Craigslist. Public Facebook pages or personal pages set for public view are the same as public online forums. Personal Facebook accounts with appropriate privacy settings may be used to share information with Facebook ‘friends’, but not to sell cookies or take orders.
All online cookie sales should be sold through Digital Cookie. Digital Cookie allows girls to design personalized online storefronts to share their cookie program goals and invite customers to support them. Customers must receive an email from a Girl Scout; they are unable to go directly to a girl’s storefront. These online storefronts will share cookie and service project goals and customers can see a picture or video of their favorite Girl Scout.
Are there GMOs in Girl Scout Cookies?
Yes, currently there are genetically modified agricultural crops (GMOs) in Girl Scout Cookies. Our bakers determine whether to use GMOs in Girl Scout Cookies based on a range of market-related factors and depending on the specific cookie recipe.
Girl Scouts listens to its customers and work with our trusted bakers, who are industry leaders, to develop recipes for these sweet treats using ingredients that will produce the best-tasting and highest-quality cookies, while simultaneously addressing industry trends, scientific trends, and of course, consumer preference. As an organization, we continue to defer to required federal guidelines as they relate to our products.
Why is palm oil used in Girl Scout Cookies?
Palm oil is an ingredient found in the majority of baked snacks sold in the United States. GSUSA's licensed bakers tell us it continues to be necessary to use palm oil in our cookies to ensure their shelf life, to bring you the highest quality products, and to serve as an alternative to trans fats. While we continue to explore other alternatives, at this time, there are no viable or readily available alternatives on the market.
A December 2020 Associated Press article about the palm oil industry that included specific references to Girl Scouts bakers using palm oil to make Girl Scout Cookies has renewed concerns around the use of this ingredient. The article focused on the poor working conditions, including child labor, in the palm oil industry around the world and raised new information about mixed sources in products.
Girl Scouts of the USA, our Council, and our baker believe child labor has no place in the production of Girl Scout Cookies. We have worked with, and continue to work with, our bakers to increase the transparency and sustainability of our production lines and ingredient sourcing. If certain suppliers are not following safety and ethical standards, we rely on our baker and the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO), of which our baker and Girl Scouts of the USA (GSUSA) are affiliate members, to take action quickly.
The Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) is an organization of growers, buyers, manufacturers, conservationists, and interested parties who are striving to develop and follow best practices to produce and source environmentally responsible, socially beneficial, and economically viable palm oil.
Furthermore, our Council’s baker, Little Brownie Bakers (LBB) is managed by Ferrara, a related company of the global manufacturer Ferrero Group, that received the highest certification level afforded by the World Wildlife Fund for sustainable practices. LBB’s goal is to achieve 100% RSPO-segregated certified palm oil for all Girl Scout Cookies it produces.
Why can't you use something different?
The world’s food supply is intricately tied to the use of palm oil, so we believe promoting proper manufacturing principles is the most responsible approach to how Girl Scouts and Girl Scout Cookie development is advanced. While we continue to explore other alternatives, at this time, there are no viable or readily available alternatives on the market.
What corrective actions is GSUSA taking to prevent child labor?
To be very clear, child labor has no place in the production of Girl Scout Cookies. If certain suppliers are not following best practices, we expect our bakers and the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO), of which GSUSA is an affiliate member, to take action quickly to rectify those exceptions.
Our baker, LBB, provided the following statement in our ongoing recent conversations around the emerging information and the progress we need to see: “We condemn child labor and any exploitation of workers and take all allegations of abuse seriously. We work closely with our suppliers and partners to ensure that our Global Supplier Code of Business Conduct and human rights policies are followed and correct or terminate suppliers not in compliance. As a socially responsible company, we aim to secure a 100% deforestation-free and exploitation-free palm oil supply chain, and we are working hard to make the complex shifts necessary to achieve this goal.”
LBB aims to achieve 100% RSPO-segregated certified palm oil for all Girl Scout Cookies it produces. LBB is managed by Ferrara, a related company of the global manufacturer Ferrero Group, which received the highest certification level afforded by the World Wildlife Fund for sustainable practices and received the best ranking of all global manufacturers related to progress made towards this issue.
Does GSUSA belong to the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO)?
Yes, GSUSA is an affiliate member of RSPO, an organization of growers, buyers, manufacturers, conservationists, and interested parties who are striving to develop and follow best practices to produce and source environmentally responsible, socially beneficial, and economically viable palm oil.
Does Girl Scouts–Arizona Cactus-Pine Council have a policy to address the potential issue of counterfeit money being used at cookie booth sales?
We are appalled that anyone would use counterfeit money to steal from a Girl Scout. This crime takes away proceeds from Girl Scout Cookie sales that fund girl programs and projects in our community. These types of incidents underscore the relevancy of Girl Scouts, and programs like it, that teach values, principles, and ethics.
The Girl Scout Cookie Program is a Council-run business. All decisions on how the business is run are made with girl safety a top priority. Both GSACPC and Girl Scouts of the USA provide booth safety guidelines, and we rely on Troop Leaders and parents to uphold them. Our guidelines include a strict adult-girl ratio at booths as well as the recommendation not accept bills larger than $20 or large checks. The Council cookie program guide also suggests troops bring a counterfeit detector pen to booth sales, although it is not mandatory.
What is the cookie boycott, AKA the “cookiecott”? What is Girl Scouts’ response to cookie boycotts, and Girl Scouts’ position on social issues, such as Planned Parenthood?
With the increased media focus on Girl Scouts during the cookie season, a number of groups with hidden agendas see this as a chance to draw attention to their causes—at the expense of girls.
Although rare, we sometimes encounter people approaching girls/troops during the cookie program purporting false claims about Girl Scouts. We respect the customer’s right to their own opinion and make every effort to ensure the facts are communicated at the same time. These false claims take away from the girls and the important program pieces promoting positive learning. However, we think it is important to provide our supporters and the community-at-large with correct information.
In particular, false claims of a partnership with Planned Parenthood and accusations regarding controversial topics related to Planned Parenthood are two of the issues often raised. It's been nearly two decades since these rumors first surfaced. There was no partnership then and there is none now. Here are the facts:
- Girl Scouts of the USA (GSUSA) and GSACPC do not have a relationship with Planned Parenthood.
- Girl Scouts does not provide financial support of any kind to Planned Parenthood.
- Girl Scouts does not advocate on behalf of any cause or mission outside of the Girl Scout mission, which is to build girls of courage, confidence, and character, who make the world a better place. Girl Scouts does not take a position on abortion or birth control, nor do we endorse or provide funding to organizations that advocate on behalf of any political issues. We believe these are matters that are best discussed/handled within the family.
- 100% of our Council’s cookie proceeds stay with our Council to support our local Girl Scouting efforts.
Why do some people voice concern about Girl Scout Cookies? Why are there anti-Girl Scout social media posts and websites?
In short, it’s because they’ve been fed false information about Girl Scouts and the cookie program. As a large and visible organization, Girl Scouts is occasionally a target for outside groups with agendas. There is much false information available through the internet these days. It requires taking a pause and thinking for ourselves. We encourage everyone to be diligent about fact-checking and avoid blindly following unknown sources.
How do Girl Scouts combat false information online?
It’s always hard to prove a negative, and it continues to be an ongoing battle that GSUSA is leading for the Movement. Snopes.com and Factcheck.org are considered reputable, credible fact-checking sites. They have both debunked negative claims about Girl Scouts. Those who won’t believe these third-party fact-checkers or our official statements may not be convinced by a simple message or explanation. But we continue to share the correct information, our positions, and urge our volunteers and parents to prepare by reviewing facts and credible information for themselves.
On social media, Councils and GSUSA frequently report false content as misinformation to Facebook, Twitter and other sites, to have it pulled down. However, due to platforms’ sensitivity to censorship, it’s not as simple as it may seem. For example, Facebook now has a misinformation rule, but they are still wary of censoring any media posted and have prioritized political material. It would be helpful for members and supporters to report false information as they come across it as well – the higher the volume of complaints, the higher the reported content is positioned in the review queue.
Is Girl Scouts political?
No. Girl Scouts is non-partisan and non-political. In recent years it’s become increasingly difficult to appear so in our divided political environment. As GSUSA and Councils become more sensitive to the changing environment, the goal is to keep focused on our mission. Our organization aims to serve all girls and support the issues and causes important to them.
Did GSUSA post or remove posts from social media in 2020?
In October 2020, GSUSA acknowledged the selection of Senator Kamala Harris as VP Candidate and appointment of Amy Coney Barrett to the U.S. Supreme Court on social media, as this is consistent with a tradition of recognizing women who have risen to the top of their field and broken barriers. Both posts were taken down because our national colleagues felt the conversation turned severely negative, unproductive, and ultimately violated their social media community guidelines.
In hindsight, GSUSA acknowledged that there was a misjudgment of the divided social atmosphere at the time, and removing the posts added to the destructive spiral and took away from the conversation we want to be having about supporting girls. They are developing a renewed and refocused social media strategy and content review process to ensure our nonpartisan mission is at the forefront.
What if customers say they won’t support cookies because of the social media posts about Kamala Harris and Amy Coney Barrett?
We believe the divisive situation that arose from the aforementioned social media posts demonstrates that Girl Scouts is needed more than ever. Our hope is that a majority of cookie customers understand how the program and proceeds benefit not only girls in Arizona but the whole community and will continue supporting this important learning opportunity. We suggest respectfully reminding those who express concern of why the program is beneficial and encourage them to check out girlscoutsaz.org/support-cookies.
What’s the difference between Girls Scouts and Boy Scouts?
Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts are two completely different organizations. Only registered Girl Scouts sell Girl Scout Cookies. Girl Scouts serves girls in an all-girl, girl-led and supportive environment. And research shows Girl Scouts offer the best place for her to discover her full potential.
Why should I buy Girl Scout Cookies?
When you buy Girl Scout Cookies, you support Girl Scouts, and you power amazing experiences and life-changing opportunities for girls year-round—from awesome trips to community projects to outdoor adventures. Through your support, you help Girl Scouts build essential skills as they begin to think like entrepreneurs and learn to take the lead, both now and in the future. Girls gain these skills from working with others, setting goals, and connecting with customers. It's about the experience a girl has running her very own cookie business, gaining five essential skills (goal setting, decision making, money management, people skills, and business ethics) as she learns to think like an entrepreneur. Because proceeds from your purchase stay local, you also help create positive change in your community.
More FAQs regarding social issues can be found on Girl Scouts of the USA’s website. For in-depth information regarding the Girl Scout Cookie Program, view GSUSA’s cookie FAQs.
As always, please direct all media inquiries to GSACPC Marketing and Communications.
