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Girl Scout Service Centers - Girl Scouts of Greater Atlanta

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Collaborating with Donors and Other Organizations<br />

We rely on donations from parents, individuals, local businesses, organizations, corporations, foundations, United Way and government<br />

agencies to ensure <strong>Girl</strong> <strong>Scout</strong>ing remains available and a�ordable for all families. Community organizations, businesses, religious<br />

organizations, and individuals may be in-kind donors by providing troop meeting places, volunteering their time, providing activity<br />

materials, or loaning equipment. These contributions can then be recognized by arranging for the girls to send thank-you cards,<br />

inviting the donor to a meeting or ceremony, nominating them for a <strong>Girl</strong> <strong>Scout</strong> award or working together on a Take Action project.<br />

<strong>Girl</strong> <strong>Scout</strong> troop, individual and service unit projects should be funded through approved money-earning activities and dues. <strong>Girl</strong>s<br />

get the most out <strong>of</strong> their experience when they earn the resources needed to reach their goals. Should additional resources be<br />

needed, in-kind donations <strong>of</strong> goods and services may be solicited by adult volunteers. Please note that soliciting cash donations<br />

for local projects is not allowed. Should you have questions about local project funding, please contact your membership specialist.<br />

In order to meet Annual Fund goals, volunteers are encouraged to solicit donations from parents �rst, then their local community.<br />

Adult volunteers may solicit local businesses and individuals to make contributions to the <strong>Girl</strong> <strong>Scout</strong> Annual Fund. A local business is<br />

de�ned as a business whose primary customer base is con�ned to a local area or neighborhood (e.g., your physicians group, bakery<br />

and car dealership). As a courtesy to those with whom GSGATL maintains relationships, we ask local volunteers not to solicit<br />

certain donors. Contact the Fund Development Department to determine if an individual or business is a current donor by calling<br />

770-702-9177.<br />

When soliciting donations from a local source, you may be referred to a regional, district or corporate o�ce. Should this occur, please<br />

stop and contact your membership specialist or GSGATL’s Fund Development Department for guidance and assistance. This is done<br />

to ensure that no business is being solicited multiple times in a year and that we remain in compliance with our 501(c)3 status, as<br />

determined by the Internal Revenue <strong>Service</strong> (IRS).<br />

Due to the strict IRS and reporting standards, volunteers may not apply for grant funding <strong>of</strong> any kind. Generally, a grant requires<br />

a formal application to be submitted. If asked to complete more than a simple donation request form or to submit an IRS Tax<br />

Determination Letter, please contact your membership specialist or the Fund Development Department. Volunteer <strong>Service</strong> Grants<br />

or Matching Gifts from your employer are not considered grants and can be applied for at any time. These gifts will be credited to<br />

your Annual Fund goal.<br />

Local restaurants may be approached at the service unit level to host a <strong>Girl</strong> <strong>Scout</strong> Night to promote membership, product sales and<br />

local community projects. Oftentimes, a restaurant will donate a percentage <strong>of</strong> the sales from the evening. These funds will be<br />

credited to your Annual Fund goal. Please note that it is not within <strong>Girl</strong> <strong>Scout</strong> standards for girls or volunteers to sell tickets, gift cards<br />

or coupons and that <strong>Girl</strong> <strong>Scout</strong>s cannot endorse a restaurant or product.<br />

When collaborating with any other organization, keep these additional guidelines in mind:<br />

� Avoid fundraising for other businesses and organizations:�����������������������������������������������������������������<br />

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��������<br />

� Steer clear <strong>of</strong> political fundraisers:��������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������<br />

�����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������<br />

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������������������������������<br />

� Be respectful when collaborating with religious organizations:�����������������������������������������������������������<br />

�����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������<br />

� Avoid selling or endorsing commercial products:����������������������������������������������������������������������������<br />

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106 Volunteer Essentials

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