Care to Share is a community give-back project where Girl Scout entrepreneurs collect monetary donations toward the purchase of nut, candy, magazines, or cookie packages for local organizations, such as food banks, military organizations, and hometown heroes during the Fall Product and Cookie programs. At the end of each product program, the Council purchases product program items to donate and distribute.
Care to Share donations are coordinated and distributed by the Council to ensure they have the greatest impact. Although individual troops do not select specific recipients, every contribution supports meaningful causes within our community.
The Process
During the Fall Product Program, all Care to Share donations that are received are distributed by our Fall product Program Partner: Ashdon Farms. Ashdon Farms currently donates Care to Share products to Operation Gratitude. Operation Gratitude is a nonprofit organization dedicated to expressing appreciation to U.S. military personnel, veterans, and first responders by delivering care packages filled with essential items, snacks, and heartfelt letters.
During the Girl Scout Cookie Program, all Care to Share donations are distributed by the Council. At the end of the program the Council works with our warehouses and cupboard clerks to distribute Girl Scout cookies to food banks, military organizations, and hometown heroes. In some cases, cupboard clerks may ask Girl Scout troops to help distribute these donations to specified organizations. Click here for list of organizations the Council is currently donating to. If you would like to request an additional organization, please email info@gsnorcal.org.
Tips vs. Donations
Girl Scouts may not accept cash tips or donations that benefit individual girls or troops during the Cookie Program or Fall Product Program. According to the Blue Book of Basic Documents, page 20, “Girls members may not engage in any direct solicitation for money”. Our Volunteer Essentials | Money Options for Funding, page 2, additionally states that “girls are not allowed to ask for donations to fund their Girl Scouts activities or benefit other organizations”. The Money Management module within the Troop Cookie Chair training track, on gsLearn, also provides brief information on how to handle when a customer insists on leaving a tip or change at a booth sale or walkabout. Those funds must be set aside exclusively to purchase additional Care to Share products. We recommend using a clearly labeled Care to Share Collection Jar for this purpose.
Care to Share Collection Jar
While Tip Jars are not permissible, Girl Scouts can have Care to Share jars on their table, as a means of striking up conversation about our Care to Share donation program. Girl Scouts should explain that any spare cash or money donated to the jar will be used for the sole purpose of purchasing more Care to Share packages of cookies.
Donations to a Troop
If you come across customers or anyone who may want to donate directly to your troop, but not looking to participate in the Girl Scout Cookie Program or Care to Share Program council has a process for this on our website. Please direct them to our website, to donate directly to support your troop. They can then enter the amount they wish to donate, to whom, and write a special message.
If you have additional questions the Care to Share Program, please contact the Entrepreneurship Program Team at info@gsnorcal.org.
Care to Share Resources
Care to Share in Action!
Check out our councils Care to Share Donation program in full swing when we partnered with the Berkley Food Network.
The Berkley Food Network seeks to create a Berkeley and Albany where no one goes hungry. Using an innovative, community-centered approach to food sourcing and distribution, they aim to provided easy and convenient access to healthy, high-quality free food for people who need it. Watch as our Girl Scouts help to stock the local pantry with delicious Girl Scout Cookies!
Last updated on October 16, 2025