Share Program

What is Share?

Share brings Girl Scouting to more girls! Together, we can ensure more girls have opportunities to make the world a better place. Because of the generous philanthropy of our Girl Scout community — including volunteers and caregivers — we can make the Girl Scouting experience for girls who wouldn't otherwise have the opportunity.

These funds can help ensure that every girl can participate in Girl Scouts, regardless of her ability to pay. Share funds directly impact families who would cannot afford:

GSUSA Annual Membership Dues

GSUSA Uniforms (sash, vest) and Insignia (membership pins, etc.)

Council-sponsored programs & events (Incredible Race, Operation Wing Scout, etc.)

2027 Share Patch

Congratulations to Persephone 'PJ' P. from the Encinitas Service Unit, Girl Scout Troop 1098, our 2027 Share Patch contest winner!

Share Patches are available at the Balboa and Escondido Program Center stores.

For questions about donations, contact give@sdgirlscouts.org.

For inquiries about service units and Share events, reach out to customercare@sdgirlscouts.org

Share Patch Design Contest!

Each year GSSD holds a contest for the Share patch design of the following year. The contest will open in the spring!

Share Patch Program

At Girl Scouts San Diego, Philanthropy is the bridge that welcomes many girls into her Girl Scouting journey. The Share Program teaches girls the importance of supporting communities they care about.

Learning about Philanthropic activities aligns with the goals of Girl Scouting in these ways:

Girls discover when they understand themselves and their values and use their knowledge and skills to explore the world.

Girls connect when they care about, inspire and team with others locally and globally.

Girls take action when they do something to make the world a better place.

When Girl Scouts learn about philanthropy and support a larger mission, they discover and connect with the lives of their sister Girl Scouts before taking action to support them.

We encourage Service Unit volunteers to promote this Share patch earning opportunity for Girl Scouts in grades 3-6 via Troop Leaders or Independently Registered Girl Scouts. Learn more here.

Please note: Share patches can be earned as they have in the past through Troop or Service Unit events, described in a later section. The program described above is a new learning opportunity!

Support a Service Unit's Goal

Volunteer Resources for Download

Why is Share important and why should I support a Share program within our Service Unit? toggle arrow

40% of our girl members throughout San Diego and Imperial counties live in low-income households. Girl Scouts is available to all of them, regardless of ability to pay. Philanthropic support makes this possible.

Your support of the Share program promotes accessibility to all girls who want to participate in the girl-led programming that only Girl Scouts can offer.

If families ask about financial aid, please direct them to our financial aid resources. All members are welcome to apply confidentially.

Who are Share patches for? toggle arrow

Share patches are tokens of appreciation for all who support council via the Share program. Girls who earn the Share patch (see above) should receive a Share patch regardless of if their family gives support to the Share program. Her learning about Philanthropy and the importance of Philanthropy as a Girl Scout earns her a patch to add to her vest or sash!

Share patches are also for adult donors who support the program.

Donors via MyGS membership/event registrations and JustGiving Service Unit donation pages will be sent a Share patch in the mail from council.

Service Unit or Troop volunteers who plan on leading the Share Patch earning activity for girls or are planning a Service Unit-organized Share fundraising event should request patches from council ahead of time. To request Share patches, please reach out to customercare@sdgirlscouts.org

How can I support Share as a volunteer? toggle arrow

Volunteering as a Service Unit Share Coordinator is what you make it! Ways you can support the program include:

Set up and promote your Service Unit donation page Learn more here.

Organize and promote a Service Unit Share event.

Encourage Troop Leaders and caregivers of Individually Registered Girl Scouts to earn the Share patch.

Ensure Share patches are available to any troop leader or caregiver who will be implementing the Share patch earning activity.

Encourage the many other ways families can support Share including:

Making a donation when registering for membership or a Girl Scout event through MyGS.

Signing up for Daisy's Circle, Girl Scouts San Diego’s monthly giving program.

Did you know your volunteer hours could translate into a donation from your employer to Girl Scouts San Diego? Volunteer grants are an easy and powerful way to extend your impact beyond your time. Use the tool below to see if your employer has a donation program in recognition of your volunteer hours.

Can’t find your company on the list? Check with your HR team to see if they offer a volunteer grant program!

What is a Service Unit donation page and what are the benefits of setting one up? toggle arrow

GSSD Council is piloting an easier and more efficient way for volunteers to set and reach their Share fundraising goal. Learn more here.

Get real-time updates on your progress to your yearly goal! This will include any donations made via MyGS, retail, or third-party designated gifts (matching gifts from employers, etc.) in addition to gifts made through your donation page.

The visual aid provided by your unique donation page will encourage and motivate families to donate and help reach your goal.

You can reach families with a direct link via Rallyhood and other Service Unit/Troop communications. While promoting the Share program in person is effective and encouraged, you will be able to reach more people who you don’t regularly interact with in person.

Donations from caregivers who support girls in your Service Unit earning the Share patch can be immediately counted towards your Share goal.

Eliminates the need for you as a volunteer to collect donations via venmo, cash, etc. This is highly discouraged.

Allows you to share the importance of the program and local impact with more folks in your circle.

By not setting up a unique Service Unit donation page, you lose the ability to get real-time updates of donations to your Share goal. Instead, council staff can provide updates upon request, and the data will reflect donations made through the end of the previous month.

The ease and efficiency that the donation page provides will encourage more folks to support this important initiative.

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Each spring/summer, our council puts out the call for local artwork to inspire the next Membership Year’s Share patch. At the request of Service Unit representatives, we will send you Share patches at no cost to promote girls earning Share patches, family giving, and Service Unit-organized Share events. To request Share patches, please reach out to customercare@sdgirlscouts.org

GSSD staff will also assist with trouble shooting any barriers to creating a Service Unit-specific donation page. While this process is initiated and owned by Service Unit volunteers, council staff are a great resource for answering any questions and assisting in the process of setting up your page. Please contact give@sdgirlscouts.org or call 619-610-0839.

All donations to the Share program are tax deductible. The GSSD philanthropy team will be sending all post-donation communications, including an official tax receipt via email.

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Setting Your Share Goal

Gifts received between Oct. 1 and Sept. 30 of the following year (in line with the Girl Scout Membership Year) will count towards your goal.

We recommend the following Share goals based on the size of your Service Unit:

If your SU consists of less than 20 troops, we recommend...

A Share fundraising goal of $250.

A goal that 50 girls earn the Share patch.

If your SU consists of 20 to 39 troops, we recommend...

A Share fundraising goal of $500.

A goal that 200 girls earn the Share patch.

If your SU consists of 40 to 59 troops, we recommend...

A Share fundraising goal of $750.

A goal that 360 girls earn the Share patch.

If your SU consists of greater than 60 troops, we recommend...

A Share fundraising goal of $1,000.

A goal that 420 girls earn the Share patch.

If your Service Unit has participated in Share in the past, we recommend setting a goal in line with what your group has achieved in the past. For example, if your Service Unit raised $375 last year, try a goal of $400 this year.

If you reach your goal early in the Membership Year and feel like you have more capacity to support, you can always increase it!

What if we don’t reach our goal?

There is no consequence for not reaching your Membership Year fundraising goal or number of girls earning the Share patch. The goal is that your families and volunteers feel encouraged to help reach an ambitious, but reasonable, goal to support their sisters in Girl Scouting. Any donations your Service Unit raises for Share are greatly appreciated.

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There is a long history of Service Unit-led events that are immensely successful in helping reach Share goals! Events have raised anywhere from $100 to $750.

Popular events include Holiday Craft Bazaars, themed competitions, movie nights, etc. Your options for hosted events are only limited by the creativity of your Service Unit team!

Questions? Contact Give@sdgirlscouts.org