Donor FAQs

Where Does the $25 I Paid in Dues Go?: The $25 Membership Dues goes directly to Girl Scouts of the USA., which provides activity insurance, marketing, training resources and national programming such as Digital Cookie. Foundations are more likely to support Girl Scouts; they take notice of the percentage of our membership who also donate to council.
What Does a Year of Girl Scouts Cost Council?: If your daughter participated in the Fall Product Sale and the Cookie Program, we thank you! Your daughter is developing the 5 skills (goal setting, decision making, money management, people skills and business ethics) and is raising funds to help support her troop and Girl Scouts Heart of the Hudson.

Girl Scouts Heart of the Hudson invests about $250 per girl, per year. Shop sales, Fall Product Sale and the Cookie program bring in about $185 per girl. Our goal is to generate the remaining support our programs need through multiple, diverse revenue streams, including donations, to ensure that girls today and tomorrow receive the best Girl Scouting has to offer.
What About the Money I Pay for Troop Dues?: Troop dues are determined by each troop and vary in amount and frequency. They may cover uniforms, books, materials and outings, but do not support Girl Scouts Heart of the Hudson in providing girl programs available throughout the year to Girl Scouts at every level, volunteer training, membership recruitment and the maintenance of our many facilities across our seven counties.
Do You Also Ask Businesses to Donate?: Our largest group of donors are the family, friends and alumnae of Girl Scouting because they know the tremendous impact it has on the lives of girls. When our members support Girl Scouts, corporations and foundations are more likely to support Girl Scouts. They take notice of the percentage of our membership who also donate to council.
GSHH Financial Reports: 2020-2021 Annual Report

2020 990 for Public DIsclosure

2019 990 for Public Disclosure
Donor Bill of Rights: Donor Bill of Rights

Philanthropy is based on voluntary action for the common good. It is a tradition of giving and sharing that is primary to the quality of life. To ensure that philanthropy merits the respect and trust of the general public and that donors and prospective donors can have full confidence in the not-for-profit organizations and causes they are asked to support, we declare that all donors have these rights:

To be informed of the organization's mission, of the way the
        organization intends to use donated resources, and of its
        capacity to use donations effectively for their intended
        purposes.

To be informed of the identity of those serving on the
        organization's governing board, and to expect the board to
        exercise prudent judgment in its stewardship
        responsibilities.

To have access to the organization's most recent financial
        statements.

To be assured that their gifts will be used for the purposes
        for which they were given.

To receive appropriate acknowledgement and recognition.

To be assured that information about their donations is
        handled with respect and with confidentiality to the extent
        provided by law.

To expect that all relationships with individuals representing
        organizations of interest to the donor will be professional in
        nature.

To be informed whether those seeking donations are
        volunteers, employees of the organization, or hired solicitors.

To have the opportunity for their names to be deleted from
        mailing lists that an organization may intend to share.

To feel free to ask questions when making a donation and to
        receive prompt, truthful and forthright answers.

The Donor Bill of Rights was created by the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP), the Association for Healthcare Philanthropy (AHP), the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE), and the Giving Institute: Leading Consultants to Non-Profits. It has been endorsed by numerous organizations.

For more information, please contact Kari Willis, Chief Philanthropy Officer at 914-747-3080 ext. 748 or kwillis@girlscoutshh.org.