For the past several years, units in Nova Scotia received a fixed GUS (Guaranteed Unit Share) from cookie sales of $11.00 per case and this Spring it was increased to $12.00 per case. Starting this Fall with our Mint Cookie Campaign, the Guaranteed Unit Share will be tiered based on both the number of youths in the unit and the number of cases sold. Units will be eligible to receive between $12.00 per case to $14.25 per case.
Cookies are our number one form of fundraising and in recent years our cookie sales have declined. Our hope is that with this tiered profit system, units will be encouraged to increase their cookie sales. The Ordering window is now open for Mint cookies, please consider this new tiered system when placing your orders.
Below is an FAQ that hopefully answers most of your questions.
What is the Tiered Cookie Sales incentive program and how does it work?
Currently, Guiding units in Nova Scotia receive $12.00 for every case of cookies sold. Starting in Fall 2024, the unit portion for each case will no longer be "fixed" at $12.00. Instead, the unit portion for each unit will be based on your unit’s average “case-per-youth" rate, as measured on the invoice date for the cookie campaign. Keep reading below to learn about the new cookie selling tiers and payment amounts.
What are the sales “tiers” and payment amounts for this program?
Here are the new payment tiers and payment amounts that will go into effect, starting in the fall 2024 cookie campaign:
Click on the thumbnail below for the full-size table.
When will this start?
The Tiered Cookie Sales Incentive program will go into effect with the Fall 2024 Mint cookie campaign. We are telling units now so that as they begin to plan their Guiding year activities and expenses, they can keep in mind that the unit allocation portion may change depending on their average case-per-youth level.
We will encourage all Cookie Orderers to keep the Tiered Cookie Sales Incentive program in mind, when placing their unit's Fall 2024 Mint cookie order. (The ordering website will open May 27, 2024).
Why was this new program created? How will Guiding units benefit from this?
This program was created so that we can support units in raising additional funds for unit activities through the sale of cookies, reducing their need to rely on other types of fundraisers. Units can now be rewarded with a higher allocation amount from each cookie case when they achieve a higher case-per-youth level during the cookie campaign. Cookies sales are a highly effective way to raise money for unit activities, as compared to many other types of fundraisers.
How can I calculate my unit’s average case-per-youth rate?
The calculation is quite simple. Take the number of cases you have ordered for the current campaign (including surplus cases ordered before the invoice date). Then, divide this number by the number of youths registered in your unit (do not include Guiders or Unit Assistants).
- # of cases sold by invoice date (including surplus cases sold)
- ÷ # of youths registered in IMIS for your unit
- = your case-per-youth average
Example: 45 cases ordered ÷ 10 youths registered (current Guiding year) = 4.5 cases per youth is your average value per case revenue to unit.
Does this mean that the selling price of cookies is changing? Will National and Nova Scotia Council now be receiving a higher allocation from each cookie case?
No. The selling price of cookies will remain the same. However, as Unit Allocation increases, Area and Province allocations will be reduced. District and National allocations will remain the same:
- Units –From $12 to $14.25 per case based on unit case per youth average
- Area - $6.00 to $5.00 per case based on unit case per youth average
- Nova Scotia Council - $12.00 to 10.75 per case based on unit case per youth average
- District Council remains at $3.50 per case
- National Council - $38.50 per case
Has the National or Provincial Office set an official mandatory number of cookies a youth must sell during the Guiding Year? What can I tell parents about their requirement to sell cookies?
There is no official mandatory amount a youth must sell during the Guiding Year. However, cookies are GGC’s primary source of fundraising, and all members are encouraged to participate.
How can I sell more cookies, so I can earn the higher per-case allocation rate offered by this new program?
We are encouraging all units to “think outside the cookie box”. Try holding a Cookie Drive Thru or try door-to-door selling on a unit meeting night. Speak with other units in your community to find out what they are doing. Consider joining forces with another unit (for example Pathfinders and Sparks) and holding a group sale.
I always have families return unsold boxes/ cases at the end of the cookie campaign. How will this affect my unit’s average case per youth?
It is not uncommon to have at least one family ask to return cookies at the end of the campaign. A great way to avoid this is by setting an unsold box/case return date for your families. Any boxes/cases returned can then be sold during one last group sale before the end of the campaign. Also make sure your families know the importance and benefits of selling cookies and what your unit is intending to use the funds for during the Guiding Year.
Will our unit’s Try Now, Join Later youths be included in our total registration number?
No. Only youth members registered in your unit will make up your total registration number. Try Now, Join Later youths will not be included in your youth numbers as they relate to this program.
How am I supposed to determine the number of cases I need to order for fall cookie campaigns when I don’t know how many youths will be registered in my unit?
Here are some things to consider, when determining your fall cookie order amount (in fall 2017 and beyond):
- Your unit capacity
- Your previous year sales
- Your previous year youth registration numbers
- Have you taken advantage of the availability of surplus cookies? (Note – you must order surplus before the campaign invoice date, for these cases to count toward your case-per-youth rate for the campaign)
- If you order too many cookies, group sales are a great way to move a large number of cases in a short period of time
What if a parent doesn’t pay us for cookies, will this affect our average?
Nova Scotia Council is developing a new delinquent cookie process to address this. It should be in place by Fall 2024.
Who can I contact if I have questions about this program and how it will affect my unit?
Please contact our NS Cookie Advisor at ns-cookies@girlguides.ca.