America’s Girl Scouts aren’t safe from price hikes

Be prepared… to pay a lot more money over the next few years if your daughter’s a keen Girl Scout.

On Saturday, the Girl Scouts of the USA’s National Council gathered virtually to vote on a proposed 240% membership fee price hike, eventually settling on a two-step increase of 160% over two years. Though the cost of being a member will stay flat at $25 in 2025, it will rise to $45 for 2026 and then $65 the year after that, as the 112-year-old organization looks to get on top of its flagging finances after projecting a $5.6 million loss for 2024.

You might imagine that the ~$800 million seasonal business of selling Thin Mints and Samoas would keep the national movement firmly out of the red, especially given their rising price points. However, all of the cookie revenues go directly to the local councils and troops, who reportedly rely on the sweet treats to provide roughly 70% of their own operating revenues. The national Girl Scout organization doesn’t see any of the cookie dough and makes most of its money through membership dues, gifts and donations, and merchandise sales. 

Despite counting around 2 million adult and girl members, member fees and other revenues haven’t been enough to keep the operation from posting losses that run into the millions over the years. While Girl Scouts of the USA notched almost $120 million in sales last year, various costs such as supporting local councils, developing programs, funding learning opportunities for adult members, and promoting the Girl Scout brand all weighed heavily on its bottom line, resulting in a loss of $4.4 million in FY 2023.