Cookie Program Glossary
ABC Bakers – is one of two bakers licensed by Girl Scouts of the USA (GSUSA) to provide cookies for the annual Girl Scout Cookie Program.
Automated Clearing House (ACH) – is the electronic transfer of funds from one bank account to another via computer-based systems, without the direct intervention of bank staff. This is used to process payments to and from Troops and Council during the Cookie Season.
Case- term used for a container (case) of 12 packages of Girl Scout Cookies.
Cookie Booth – a stationery sale of Girl Scout cookies at an approved public location.
Cookie Finder – is a database of Booth Sale locations, dates & times that connects customers to cookies. Potential customers can type in their zip code, and the finder displays all the current and future active booth site locations within a certain radius. Booths must be entered into Smart Cookies to appear in Cookie Finder.
Cookie Permission Form - form giving permission for a Girl Scout to sell cookies and acknowledging caregiver responsibility to pay for all cookies ordered on their behalf.
Cookie Share- Packages of cookies purchased by customers that Girl Scouts Heart of New Jersey, GSHNJ, will deliver to the military or other nonprofits on behalf of our troops. The Girl Scouts collect the money but do not physically take possession of the cookies.
Council Booths – select booth locations (such as Walmart, NJ Transit, others) are negotiated and set up by Council in the GSHNJ footprint. Council booths are shared with local SUCM where the store is located first. Remaining dates/times are then available for any GSHNJ Troop to select.
Crossover Patch – Girl Scouts that have set up their avatars and sent 15+ emails during the previous Fall Product Program sale AND sold 175+ packages of cookies during the current Cookie Program sale, are eligible to earn the avatar Nut/Cookie Crossover Patch.
Cupboards (Planned or Walk-In) – staffed cookie storage locations (North Branch, Westfield, and Newark service centers) where volunteers can pick up cookie restock orders. Only the Cookie Manager(s) or Leader(s) have the ability to place a cupboard order in Smart Cookies.
Delivery Agents- are the transport companies that handle product delivery for Girl Scout councils.
Digital Cookie - is an application used primarily by participants to sell cookies to customers online, track progress towards a goal, and manage sales.
Digital Cookie Troop Site – the digital cookie troop site is similar to a Girl Scout’s individual site but feeds back to the troop sales in Smart Cookie instead of a specific Girl Scout. This allows for credit card sales at a booth. Cookies can be divided between the participating Girl Scouts after sales are made.
Digital Order Card (DOC) order – is a general term to describe all prepaid orders placed in Digital Cookie.
Direct Ship- are Girl Scout cookie orders that will directly ship to customers. Orders are placed through Digital Cookie.
DOC Conversion – troops have their parents convert their Girl Scout’s entire paper order card to a single DOC Girl-Delivery order. Must be ordered and approved by the last day of the Initial Order period.
Early Reward or Initial Order Reward - rewards Girl Scouts or troops earn based on their first order (Initial Order) placed with their council.
Fab 500 – following cookie season, Girl Scouts who have sold 500+ cookies and opt-in to receive rewards, are invited to a celebration at one of the GSHNJ camp facilities for a day of activities, fun, and celebration.
Girl-Delivery – a prepaid credit card ordering option on Digital Cookie, where the customer places an order and then the Girl Scout delivers once they have cookies available. Caregivers should ONLY approve orders they can physically deliver in-person, otherwise they should reject the order and ask the customer to use another shipping option.
Goal Getter Period (February 1 – April 13) including Booths (March 7 – April 13) - order taking continues via shipped orders, more paper orders, and booths. Orders are filled by using troop inventory from troop extras after the Initial Order (IO), booth inventory, or by placing a planned order (cupboard order).
gsLearn - an online learning site that allows volunteers to watch and track all Council trainings, both online and in person.
Initial Order (IO) Period (January 2-27) – the first order the council places with its baker for cookies, which includes girls' orders and troops’ orders. Girl Scouts use the paper order form to take pre-orders and use Digital Cookie (DC24) to take prepaid credit card Girl-Delivery and shipped orders. Initial Order cookies come in one bulk delivery for the troop late February at a Megadrop.
Jurisdiction- the geographic area over which a Girl Scout council’s authority extends.
Lemonade Stand Style Booth - is a booth in a residential neighborhood with the permission of the homeowner, follow all HOA or town ordinances. Must be entered in Smart Cookies with street name ONLY. Do NOT include address or last name since this will appear in the Cookie Finder.
Megadrop – a bulk delivery in which the Troop Cookie Manager(s) and/or Leader(s) pick up the entire troop’s Initial Order (IO) at a designated time, date & location. Signup in Smart Cookies required.
Operation Jersey Cares (OJC) – the organization that takes the packages of cookies purchased by customers and delivers to the military troops. The Girl Scouts collect the money but do not physically take possession of these donated cookies. See also, Cookie Share.
Opt-out - Junior, Cadette, Senior, and Ambassador troops can opt-out of receiving physical rewards to receive higher proceed amounts (Girl Scouts will still receive patches).
Package - term for a single container of cookies.
Paper Order – are traditional paper order forms used to collect orders and deliver cookies at a later date. The “check when order paid” box is critical to keep track of customers who prepay or still owe payment.
Per Girl Average (PGA)- The average number of packages Girl Scouts sell for a troop. Girl Scouts with zero sales and not participating in selling will NOT count against the PGA for a troop.
Registered Member- a member of the Girl Scouts by paying annual dues or is a paid lifetime member.
Retail Price - The price the customer pays for a single package of cookies. Price is determined by the Council and cannot be changed.
Rewards, Recognitions, & Incentives - merchandise or cookie credits given to acknowledge a Girl Scout’s efforts in the cookie program. Rewards are based on the number of packages sold during the cookie program. **See the current reward sheet for a full list of rewards offered.
Service Unit - a regional grouping of troops, usually one or more neighboring towns.
Service Unit Cookie Manager (SUCM) - is a volunteer role responsible for overseeing and managing the Girl Scout Cookie Program within a specific Service Unit (see definition). The SUCM acts as the primary liaison between the council and the individual troop cookie managers, ensuring that the cookie program runs smoothly and successfully at a local level.
Smart Cookies - is an application used by troops for cookie business management tasks like sourcing additional cookies for the troop and allocating cookie sales.
The Five Skills - Goal Setting, Decision Making, Money Management, People Skills, and Business Ethics are the key skills that Girl Scouts participating in the Girl Scout Cookie Program learn that will help them in business and in life.
Tough Cookie – is a patch the troop earns collectively. The Cookie Manager completes a form at the end of the season if the troop collectively met requirements.
Troop Cookie Manager (CM) – is the troop’s go to person or persons for managing the cookie program along with the troop leaders. Parents should always go to their Troop Cookie Manager for help first.
Troop Proceeds - The portion of cookie earnings that a troop keeps and spends on the items that its members decide to fund, such as trips or community service projects.
Turning Off Girl-Delivery – AFTER Initial Order (IO), if the whole troop is done with Girl-Delivery orders for the season, Girl Delivery can be turned off. Council will share a form with troops to request the whole troop's Girl Delivery be turned off. Alternatively, parents can turn off Girl-Delivery on the My Cookies Tab, scroll down flip to inactive, and click save/update delivery setting at the bottom. The site will still be live for shipping and donations.
Unpaid Funds Form - is submitted for delinquent parent payments to the Troop bank account for paper orders. Notifies Council that a Troop Leader/Cookie Manager is having issues collecting money from a parent which could cause the troop account to go into overdraft etc. The form documents which troop, which parent, how much, first attempt, second attempt, etc. It's a way to let Council know there's a problem before Council starts doing ACH pulls.
Walkabout Week – an informal activity for individual Girl Scouts and/or troops completes during March 9-16. Girls can decorate something that “rolls” and go door-to-door in a residential neighborhood to sell some cookies, upload photos, and earn a fun patch.
