Cookie FAQs

We encourage Troops to plan ahead and get more cookies from a cookie buffer a few days in advance of a booth. Cookie orders and appointments should be made on eBudde/eBudde app at least 24 hours in advance. Troops that unexpectedly need more cookies may pick up cookies from a cookie buffer as a walk-in, but please be patient as those with appointments will take priority. Cookie buffers are available on all islands and the exact locations of the cookie buffers for this season will be announced at a later date. Cookie buffers will be open on select days and times to be announced. Please check the Buffer Information section for map and most up-to-date schedule.

Troops should never abandon a booth site. The booth sites are published to the general public, so customers will be expecting the girls to be there.

No. Cookie flavors cannot be exchanged.

Damaged boxes of Girl Scout Cookies can be returned to the Cookie Buffer, in exchange for a good box of the same flavor. You will not be able to exchange the damaged box for a different flavor.

No. Cookies cannot be returned to the Cookie Buffer once they have been signed out to a troop. Once a troop takes the cookies, they are financially responsible for them.

No, Council will enter all buffer transactions into eBudde. If you don’t see your buffer transaction(s) in eBudde don’t worry — Council is working on entering all of them.

The net proceeds from Girl Scout Cookie sales stay local with Girl Scouts of Hawaii council and troops to fund activities for girls year-round as well as impactful girl-led community projects.

Cookie program revenue is a critical source of funding for Girl Scouts of Hawaii council to:

• Recruit and train volunteer leaders for each troop/group
• Provide the financial assistance needed to make Girl Scouting available for all girls
• Improve and maintain camp and other activity sites
• Keep event/camp fees for all members to a minimum
• Sponsor special events and projects

Additionally, Girl Scout troops can pool their proceeds to pay for necessary supplies, activities, and group travel. Girl Scouts may not earn proceeds as individuals. However, Girl Scout councils offer a wide variety of recognition items, program- and store-related credits, and travel experiences that girls are eligible to earn individually based on their sales. All troop proceeds and other rewards earned through participation in the Girl Scout Cookie Program must be used to enhance all girls’ Girl Scout experience.

First, it is imperative that you deposit any money collected as soon as possible. It is suggested that Troop Cookie Managers (TCMs) make a deposit each Monday, after a booth sale weekend. Parents and other adult volunteers should coordinate with the TCM on any deposits.

Girl Scouts of Hawai`i has “cookie accounts” at both Bank of Hawaii and First Hawaiian Bank. Pre-printed deposits slips are available at the Girl Scout office or refer to the Cookie Bank Deposit Instructions. DO NOT try to deposit your cookie money at one of these banks without the correct account number. Girl Scouts of Hawai`i has several accounts at these banks, so having the correct account number is ESSENTIAL. We highly recommend to NOT use night deposit drop boxes as there is no way to receive a receipt or double check the amount the tellers count. Troops will be responsible to cover any discrepancy the bank brings to our attention.

Be sure to write your Name, Troop number and Service Unit Name on your deposit slip. If you don’t provide this information, it’s nearly impossible to tell what troop should get credit for this deposit and your troop will not receive credit for this deposit.

“Gift of Caring” donations should be deposited SEPARATELY from money collected for sales of cookies. Be sure to write “GOC” on your deposit slip if the money is for “Gift of Caring”. Hold on to your receipts till the end of season. You may be asked by Council to provide the deposit receipts for proof of deposit. After you deposit the cookie money, be sure that the deposit is logged in eBudde in the payments tab.

YES! All of the cookie money deposits must be entered Troop Cookie Managers into eBudde under the PAYMENTS tab.

Each troop is responsible for entering their own deposits into the “Payments” tab in eBudde. Go to “Payments” tab. Click “Add Deposit.” A green line will appear at the bottom.

1. Bank: Choose the bank in which you made your deposit from the drop down menu.

2. Date: Enter the date you made your deposit.

3. Ref. Number: This is used for your reference. You can put anything you like here, or leave it blank.
Verified: Council will check this box once your deposit is successfully processed. It could take a week or so, but feel free to contact the Product Department if you have questions or concerns.

4. Amount: The total amount listed on each deposit slip. DO NOT combine deposits or separate deposit amounts. If the amount listed on the deposit slip does not match a deposit listed in your “Deposits” tab, it will not be verified.

5. Hit “Save” to save your work.

All Girl Scouts selling cookies should make it a practice to offer receipts to the purchasing public. Receipt books are issued during Cookie Training. Additional books are available at the Girl Scout office.

Bounced checks accepted for payment for cookies will be held against the account of the troop that accepted the check. This means that troop proceeds will not be paid until a replacement check is sent to Council, along with a $25 bank fee. Once payment is collected, including any fees, Council will credit the troop for the proceeds.  Checks should be made payable to: Girl Scouts of Hawai`i.

When earning rewards for your girls, it is important to understand how eBudde calculates. eBudde takes the numbers entered into the “Girl Orders” tab to automatically calculate the rewards each girl has earned. In other words, if you have not entered all the cookies each girl sold correctly in the “Girl Orders” tab, girls will NOT receive the correct rewards.

After you have entered all of the boxes sold under the “Girl Orders” tab, rewards can be submitted for an order to your SUCM/Council.

Cadette/Senior/Ambassador Girl Scout Troops may choose to receive additional proceeds in lieu of the individual reward prizes. Selecting this option in eBudde will opt the entire Troop out of ALL REWARDS, including patches and cookie dough program credit. In order for a troop to qualify for the C/S/A opt-out:

·         The ENTIRE troop must consist of ALL Cadettes, Seniors and/or Ambassadors

·         ALL girls must agree to the opt out and should be a girl-led decision

·         55%  of the Troop MUST have a Digital Cookie page set up