Thread: Girl scouts - what do I charge?

Two Girl Scout troupes have called me in the past week about coming out to one of their meetings to do a demonstration, class, and presentation on belly dance. (It helps fulfill one of their international or multicultural badges, I think.)

I have no idea how to price something like this - both leaders asked how much I'd charge, so they expect me to get paid. But I can't imagine that a girl scout troupe could afford my usual hour-long demo and lesson rate.

I'd be happy to offer a discounted/charity rate as a former Girl Scout and because I love to work with children, but I don't want to underprice myself either.

Anyone have any knowledge, info, opinions, insider notes on Girl Scouts and how much they usually pay for a presenter?

I was a girl scout for thirteen years. The budget is not big. Each girl brings a couple bucks dues each week and there is the funds raised from selling cookies and magazines (they sell more stuff now though, nuts I think, and I think the magazine sales are no more). There are trips that they go on that need to be paid for, camping and end of the year "big" trip. After that I'm not sure how much money is left, but it's not a huge amount.

But my info is five years old, so it may have changed since.

When I was a girl scout (10 years ago), for every $3.50 box of cookies we sold we got somewhere around 25 cents...uniforms and badges are outrageous (someone is making a killing on these little girls). I don't think they have much. But I've done a few of these, and I think the most I got was $40 (gas money). But its much more rewarding than what money could ever provide!

If you decide to do it pro bono, I'm sure there's a way to track it as a charitable donation for tax purposes.

I was a GS for 12 years and even a leader for a year and yes, the available funds are very, very puny.

Just remembered that some troupe mates and I did a GS gig several years ago and we did it for free.

By the way, when I was a GS I would have LOVED for a dancer to come to one of our meetings or events!!!!!

When I was a girl scout, a box of cookies cost 50 cents. Many moons ago....

Regards
Priscilla

Originally Posted by amity

When I was a girl scout (10 years ago), for every $3.50 box of cookies we sold we got somewhere around 25 cents...uniforms and badges are outrageous (someone is making a killing on these little girls). I don't think they have much. But I've done a few of these, and I think the most I got was $40 (gas money). But its much more rewarding than what money could ever provide!

Originally Posted by jessedan

When I was a girl scout, a box of cookies cost 50 cents. Many moons ago....

Me too. Sheesh.

Maybe they can pay you in Thin Mints? ..l;, Seriously, I love GS cookies, even though they keep getting smaller as the price goes up. My daughter just joined this year, and I would love to do something like this, but she'd likely die of embarassment.

I don't believe they have much of a budget for presenters, either. Maybe you could ask them what they normally pay to bring someone in. If it's rather low, say as you did in your OP, "I normally charge $X for this sort of thing, but I'd be happy to offer a discounted/charity rate as a former Girl Scout and because I love to work with children". Then meet them at or near their price. I wouldn't do it for free if they would normally pay someone.

I was just talking to a dancer yesterday who mentioned dancing for Girl Scout mother/daughter functions and charges her full party lesson rate.

I think if you're dancing for an individual troupe at their regular meeting, the budget is probably pretty limited. As a former girl scout, you might want to offer a non-profit discount to an individual troupe.

But if you're dancing at an event that's sponsored by the local Council, you can ask full price. the Council has donations, grants, and the majority of the proceeds from cookie sales, books, uniforms, pins, badges, etc etc etc. They're not broke!

FYI about the tax thing: Services provided are not deductible. If you give them hipscarves, yes. Otherwise, it only counts in your heart and not on paper.

What about opening it to parents and kids and offering it as a fundraiser? Charge it like a normal class, free for the girls or a mother/daughter/sister discount. Girls keep half, you keep the other?

Mmmm GS cookies...

I did this once and received a $40 gas money stipend that I actually wasn't even expecting.

If you give them a deep discount, be sure to give them a receipt that indicates what your normal price is, and that it has been waived for a lower fee as a charitable contribution. It helps people understand why the belly dancer will go dance for the girlscouts for $40 bucks gas money, but at Uncle Joe's birthday party, it costs $150.

Sedonia

Oh, if only they'd pay me my weight in Samoas!

These are great ideas and feedback, thanks so much guys. It is for the chapter and not a Council event.

I really like the ideas of having it be a fundraiser, or charging a non-profit rate (Laura2, perfect way to say that, thank you!)

i've done several teaching gigs for scouts and they paid my regular rate; the groups where a lot bigger for that then i normally allow, but i was fine with that...

I did a one-hour lesson for a girl scout troupe, and I decided on a per-student price of $10, with a $100 minimum. They came to my studio, and I did not get into costume or do any performing, just a lesson. Between the girls themselves and then a few parents who decided to particpate (including one of the dads!) I did just fine, as well as doing my part for the scouts. ..g.:

The girl scouts pay 2.00 a week for meeting dues and 10.00 to initially register. Individual troupes do not have much money at all. The fundraiser money has to cover a lot of activities so they may only be able to offer gas money, if anything at all. Personally, I would do it for free. What a wonderful chance to teach girls at a young age to appreciate different forms of artistic expression. If it were a girl scout council function, I would probably charge a discounted party rate since they are much larger than an individual troupe.

thin mints, samoas,trefoils(do they still make trefoils?) Yum! went up to senior level. I had so many badges my mom thght my sash would fall off me. I would offer a discount rate. But the knowledge the girls will get from you doing this is priceless.

Alrana

Well, if these are girl scouts in a disadvantaged area, maybe doing it for free would be thoughtful. But I have a 9-year old son, and as a parent I expect to pay fees for activities that he does. I don't expect people to teach him classes for free just because the organization he is doing it with doesn't have a lot of funds itself. If my son was in Boy Scouts and I was told that they had a field trip to take a special science class and that the fee per child would be ten bucks, I wouldn't bat an eye. Schools ask the parents to pay a fee for field trips, etc. It doesn't strictly come out of the school budget. I'm sure the parents pitch in for the various activities the Girl Scouts line up, as the parents are actively involved in lining up these activities. Just another perspective!