Girl Scout fees could soon triple in price. Members say the eye-popping number is out of reach for many families

The Girl Scouts of the USA plans to raise prices, but not for their famous cookies. The National Board of Girl Scouts USA is proposing to raise membership dues by 240%, from $25 dollars a year to $85 per scout.

The Girl Scouts of the USA plans to raise prices, but not for their famous cookies. On Saturday, the 900 delegates of the Girl Scouts of the USA’s National Council will vote on whether to raise dues for the first time in eight years. The Board proposes raising membership dues from $25 dollars a year to $85 per scout – a hike of 240%. “The proposals are directly tied to supporting our local councils and improving program delivery for current and future members,” a Girl Scouts of the USA, or GSUSA, spokesperson said in a statement to CNN. Membership dues are the Girl Scout’s largest source of revenue, generating $38 million in 2023 from its nearly 2 million total members. But the organization is losing money, projecting operating losses of $5.6 million this year, so it’s looking for cash. However, some members believe the eye-popping number is too far out of reach for many families, potentially leaving girls across the country shut out. “It’s an enormous increase,” said Sally Bertram, a 30-year troop leader with the Girl Scouts of Western Ohio. “It’s like, what are you people thinking? You are going to run yourselves out of business.”