Financial Assistance
Philosophy
Girl Scouts San Diego (GSSD) is committed to ensuring that all Girl Scout members can participate in Girl Scouting, regardless of socioeconomic status. Financial assistance is part of our organization’s continued investment in providing leadership experiences for girls and adults. Our Financial Assistance process has been updated to be more equitable and consistent for our members.
All information submitted during the financial assistance application process is kept strictly confidential and is not shared with troop leaders, volunteers, or anyone outside of the Financial Assistance Committee.
Guidelines
- Financial assistance applications are carefully considered; amounts offered are based on the level of financial need as well as available funds in the annual financial assistance budget.
- Financial assistance is provided on a sliding scale; recipients may be responsible for paying any remaining costs not covered by the assistance.
- Apply only once for financial assistance during a membership year (Oct. 1-Sept. 30). Once approved, your eligibility status will be applicable for the entirety of that membership year. Financial assistance is not automatically renewed for the next membership year.
- Requests for retroactive or reimbursement of funds will not be considered.
- When a Girl Scout family applies for financial assistance, their application is carefully reviewed to determine eligibility and the level of support needed.
- Based on this review, a specific percentage of financial aid will be awarded. The approved assistance will be applied towards the following eligible expenses:
- Council-sponsored programs, e.g., camp***, weekend camp programs, events/workshops hosted by Girl Scouts San Diego*
- Council-sponsored training*
- GSUSA uniform (sash, vest, tunic)
- GSUSA insignia (council ID, flag, troop numbers, insignia tab, membership pin, WAGGGS pin)
- GSUSA membership dues**
- GSUSA Destinations
- Financial assistance funds must be used within the designated timeframe. Unused funds will be forfeited and do not roll over to future events or programs. Additionally, failure to attend an event or activity for which financial assistance was applied—without prior notification—may result in the loss of future financial assistance eligibility.
- Recipients who have a remaining balance after financial assistance has been applied have 15 business days from that date to complete final payment. If payment is not received within that timeframe, individuals may be removed from the program or event. If you anticipate any difficulties meeting the payment deadline, please contact Customer Care at customercare@sdgirlscouts.org or 619-610-0821 as soon as possible to discuss alternative arrangements.
- Financial assistance for membership:
- Priority is given to individuals registering as Girl Scout members for the first time.
- Note for renewing members: Girl Scout troops are encouraged to participate in fall product and cookie programs and budget for financial assistance for girl membership registration, activities, program fees, awards/recognitions, and adult leadership enrichment.
Qualifications
- To verify income, each parent/guardian in the household must submit at least one of the following forms of documentation. If you would like to submit the forms in-person or are unable to provide any of the documents listed below, please contact Customer Care at customercare@sdgirlscouts.org or 619-610-0821.
- Two most recent pay stub
- Social Security Income Award Letter (Please make sure to completely block out your Social Security numbers)
- State Disability Insurance Award Letter
- Unemployment Insurance Statement
- Proof of Alimony/Child Support
Income Verification
By asking for income verification, we can ensure that support goes to the families who need it most, and that we’re able to help as many people as possible in the most fair and consistent way. We want to make sure every family has a fair chance to access programs and support. By understanding each family’s needs, we can:
- Provide assistance where it is needed most
- Stretch our resources to help more families
- Ensure our process is transparent and equitable for everyone
Application Process
- Complete one form per household to apply for financial assistance.
- Applications must be submitted at least 30 days prior to the event/workshop for which the applicant is requesting financial assistance. Please allow 2-3 weeks for processing. For summer camp requests, processing may take up to two weeks.
If you have questions or concerns, please contact our Customer Care team at 619-610-0821 or customercare@sdgirlscouts.org
*To request financial assistance for a council-sponsored event or training, you must first register for the event through gsEvents. At checkout, select "Apply for Financial Aid" under "Choose payment options." This will reserve your spot while your request is being reviewed.
**To request financial assistance for Girl Scout membership, complete membership registration. At checkout, under "Choose a payment type" select "Financial Aid" in the drop-down menu.
***To request financial assistance for Girl Scout Camp, register for your selected camp at sdgirlscouts.org/camp. Select “payment plan” and pay the deposit to hold your spot. Complete the financial assistance application.
Questions?
Contact Customer Care, 619-610-0821
