Girl Scouts Heart of the South

What Girl Scouts Heart of the South does

Girl Scouts Heart of the South is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit and regional council of Girl Scouts of the USA (GSUSA), headquartered at 825 Valleybrook Drive, Suite 102, Memphis, TN. The council serves girls in grades K-12 (Daisy through Ambassador) and adult volunteers across 59 counties spanning Arkansas, Mississippi, and Tennessee, delivering programs through a troop- and service-unit-based community network, three council retail shops, and two council-owned residential camps: Camp Fisherville (72 acres, Collierville, TN; capacity 70) and Camp Tik-A-Witha (310 acres, Van Vleet, MS; capacity 196, ACA-accredited). Core programs include annual Membership, the Girl Scout Cookie Program (run December–February with fulfillment assigned to Little Brownie Bakers), the Fall Product Program, Badges/Journeys, Highest Awards (Bronze, Silver, Gold), summer camp, council patch programs, Girl Scout Travel, and The Possibility Place community-partnership hub.

The technology stack is built almost entirely on shared national Girl Scout infrastructure: MyGS (member portal), gsLearn (training), the Digital Cookie e-commerce platform (vanity URLs, online storefront), eBudde Booth Scheduler (cookie booth logistics, integrated with Cookie Locator), the Volunteer Toolkit (troop planning, attendance, badge tracking), Sterling Volunteers for background screening, and Juicer.io for social feed aggregation on the council site. The council layers Google Classroom on top of gsLearn for volunteer training (CAMP Skills, Camporee Coordinator, Program Aide, Explore Outdoor courses). No proprietary AI/ML, APIs, mobile app, or differentiated data assets are described; technology is positioned around ease-of-use and interoperability rather than defensibility. Compliance posture includes COPPA, CCPA, GDPR-monitored practices, ACA accreditation at Camp Tik-A-Witha, and stated SOC 2 Type 2-style controls (TLS encryption, physical/electronic safeguards).

The business model blends subscription, transactional, and donation revenue. Membership dues of $25/year per girl and adult member provide baseline council and national dues revenue. Transactional revenue is dominated by the annual Cookie Program and Fall Product Program (magazines, nuts, chocolate, candy via vendors including Little Brownie Bakers, ABC Bakers, Ashdon Farms, Trophy Nut, and M2 Media Group) — approximately 70% of cookie proceeds stay local with the council and troops. Donation and fundraising revenue comes from personal contributions, planned giving, lifetime memberships, and signature events (Trefoils & Trailblazers, Dessert First, Women of Distinction). Go-to-market is community-led and event-driven: recruitment relies on word-of-mouth through existing members and volunteers, supplemented by social media (Instagram, LinkedIn, YouTube, Pinterest, Facebook), a monthly email newsletter (Heartstrings), council events (e.g., National S'mores Day across Memphis, Tupelo, Grenada, Jackson), and cookie booth activations. Customer segments are horizontal: girls K-12 (primary), adult volunteers, and families/caregivers.

Name

Girl Scouts Heart of the South

Legal name

Girl Scouts Heart of the South

Website

https://girlscoutshs.org

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Girl Scouts Heart of the South is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit regional council of Girl Scouts of the USA, serving girls in grades K-12 and adult volunteers across 59 counties in Arkansas, Mississippi, and Tennessee through membership, cookie and Fall Product programs, camps, badges, and Highest Awards.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Youth Development Nonprofit Services

NAICS

Child and Youth Services (62411), Civic and Social Organizations (8134)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Youth Mentoring & Positive Youth Development Nonprofits (BPAGADAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Student Mentoring & Peer Support Programs (EDAJALAL), Life Skills & SEL Camps (Confidence, Executive Function, Social Skills) (EDAMALAO)

Keywords

• Youth development programs
• Girl leadership training
• Cookie fundraising program
• Outdoor camping education
• Volunteer nonprofit services

Headquarters

HQ city

Memphis

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Annual Membership Dues: Annual membership dues of $25 per member (girls and adults). This provides baseline revenue for council operations and national Girl Scout membership.
2. Girl Scout Cookie Program: The premier entrepreneurship program where Girl Scouts sell cookies. Approximately 70% of proceeds go to local council and troops, with remainder going to the baker. Cookie sales typically run December through February.
3. Fall Product Program: Friends and family sale program featuring magazines, nuts, chocolate, and candies. Provides startup money for troops at the beginning of the Girl Scout year.
4. Donations and Fundraising: Personal contributions, planned giving, lifetime memberships, and fundraising events (Trefoils & Trailblazers, Dessert First, Women of Distinction) support council programs and financial assistance.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Girl Scouts Heart of the South is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit regional council that delivers youth leadership programming to girls in grades K-12 across 59 counties in Arkansas, Mississippi, and Tennessee. Core offerings include annual membership, troop-based leadership development, badge and journey curricula, the annual Girl Scout Cookie Program and Fall Product Program (entrepreneurship fundraisers), summer residential and day camps at two council-owned properties, and Highest Awards (Bronze, Silver, Gold) recognition. Adult volunteers deliver programming through local troops organized into service units.

Product overview

Girl Scouts Heart of the South is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit council serving girls in grades K-12 and adult volunteers across multiple states. The organization offers a portfolio of interconnected programs centered on leadership development, entrepreneurship, and outdoor experiences. The core Girl Scout Membership Program provides access to troop activities, badges and journeys, and highest awards (Bronze, Silver, Gold). The flagship Cookie Program and Fall Product Program teach entrepreneurship skills while funding troop activities. Summer camp programs at Camp Tik-A-Witha (310 acres in Mississippi) and Camp Fisherville (72 acres in Tennessee) offer outdoor education. Volunteer support includes training via Google Classroom and gsLearn, the Volunteer Toolkit for troop management, and MyGS member portal. The Digital Cookie platform enables online cookie sales, while eBudde Booth Scheduler manages booth logistics. Additional offerings include council patch programs, Girl Scout Travel, and The Possibility Place community partnership hub.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Girl Scout Membership Program Annual membership program for girls in grades K-12 (Daisy, Brownie, Junior, Cadette, Senior, Ambassador) and adult volunteers, providing access to troop meetings, badge and journey programs, camps, and leadership activities.
• Girl Scout Cookie Program Annual cookie sales program teaching entrepreneurship skills (goal setting, decision making, money management, people skills, business ethics). Approximately 70% of proceeds fund troop activities and council programs; sales typically run December through February.
• Fall Product Program Friends-and-family sales program offering magazines, nuts, chocolate, and candies that provides startup money for troops at the beginning of the Girl Scout year.
• Camp Tik-A-Witha 310-acre ACA-accredited residential camp in Van Vleet, MS featuring a 20-acre lake, swimming pool, challenge course, rock climbing tower, zip line, archery field, equestrian facilities, and accommodations for 196 guests. Hosts the Elizabeth Gwin Special Session for children with disabilities.
• Camp Fisherville 72-acre year-round camp in Collierville, TN with pond, open fields, and wooded areas offering hiking, archery, canoeing, backpacking, and tent camping. Lodge capacity 30; total camp capacity 70.
• Summer Camp Programs Overnight and day camp programs open to girls entering grades 1-12 (including non-members), staffed with counselors, food staff, healthcare managers, and specialty instructors for horse and adventure programs.
• Badges and Journeys Program Leadership awards and badge programs covering STEM, outdoors, life skills, entrepreneurship, and civic engagement, with girls earning pins displayed on uniforms.
• Highest Awards (Bronze, Silver, Gold) The Girl Scout Bronze Award (Juniors), Silver Award (Cadettes), and Gold Award (Seniors and Ambassadors) are the highest honors, requiring Take Action projects that create sustainable community impact and carry college scholarship eligibility.
• Volunteer Training Programs Training delivered via Google Classroom and gsLearn covering required certifications (Child Abuse Prevention, First Aid/CPR), troop leadership, CAMP Skills, outdoor skills, Gold Award guidance, and enrichment courses.
• MyGS Member Portal Online member portal providing account management, volunteer training access via gsLearn, the Volunteer Toolkit, event registration, membership renewal, and Girl Scout Cookie Program management tools.
• Digital Cookie Platform Digital e-commerce platform enabling Girl Scouts to sell cookies online through personalized storefronts with vanity URLs, preparing girls for the digital marketplace under safety guidelines.
• Volunteer Toolkit Web-based resource for troop leaders to plan meetings, track attendance, manage badges and Journey achievements, email parents, view rosters, and access council resources via desktop and mobile.
• Council Patch Programs Council-specific patch programs including the Super Troop Program, Community Partner Programs, Girl Scout Travel, and commemorative patches such as the America250 five-patch collection.
• The Possibility Place Council activity hub connecting girls with community partners for mentorship, skill-building workshops, leadership development, and special programming opportunities.
• Girl Scout Travel Travel program enabling Girl Scouts to explore new destinations and develop leadership skills through organized trips ranging from local excursions to national and international experiences.

Quantifiable outcome

• Approximately 70% of cookie proceeds stay with local council and troops
• +1 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration6 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Little Brownie BakerscoreOthersLicensed commercial baker by Girl Scouts of the USA producing Girl Scout Cookies. Provides cookie products for the council's Cookie Program. Girl Scouts Heart of the South is assigned to Little Brownie Bakers for cookie fulfillment.
• ABC BakersminorOthersLicensed commercial baker by Girl Scouts of the USA producing Girl Scout Cookies. Alternate baker used by some Girl Scout councils.
• Ashdon FarmsminorOthersVendor for the Fall Product Program providing magazine subscriptions, nuts, chocolate, and candy products.
• Trophy NutminorOthersVendor for the Fall Product Program providing nut products.
• M2 Media GroupminorOthersVendor for the Fall Product Program providing online tools and activities for Girl Scouts.
• American Red CrosscoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerProvides CPR and First Aid certification courses for volunteers through the council at discounted pricing. Also provides Wilderness First Aid Basics curriculum. All Girl Scout troops require at least one adult with First Aid/CPR certification.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• 4-H (National 4-H Council): National youth development organization delivered through cooperative extension and community clubs. Comparable mission around leadership, citizenship, and STEM/outdoor skill-building for K–12 youth.
• YWCA USA: National nonprofit focused on eliminating racism and empowering women, with youth leadership and camp programs. Comparable mission alignment around girls' empowerment and youth development across regional affiliates.
• Camp Fire: National youth development nonprofit with a comparable mission of building confidence and leadership through outdoor and program-based activities. Operates similar camp and club/troop structures nationwide.
• Boys & Girls Clubs of America: National youth services organization providing after-school programming, leadership development, and character-building activities. Comparable nonprofit youth-development mission with a different delivery model (club-based vs. troop-based).
• Boy Scouts of America (Scouting America): National youth development organization offering similar troop-based leadership, outdoor, and badge programming for a co-ed youth audience. Comparable mission, volunteer-driven delivery, and camp-based experiential offerings.

Emerging players

• Trail Life USA: Faith-based scouting alternative offering outdoor adventure, leadership, and troop-based programming for boys. Comparable troop/outing/badge model and serves as an adjacent competitor for family youth-program engagement.

Direct peers

• Jack and Jill of America, Inc. National membership-based organization serving children ages 2–19 with leadership, cultural, and educational programming. Directly comparable in serving girls/young women in grades K–12 through local chapter-based community engagement.
• Girl Scouts of Middle Tennessee: Adjacent Girl Scouts council serving middle Tennessee. Direct peer operating the same troop/cookie/camp model in overlapping geography, comparable scale, and shared national platforms (Digital Cookie, MyGS).
• Girl Scouts of Eastern Oklahoma: Girl Scouts council serving eastern Oklahoma and parts of Arkansas. Operates the same membership/cookie/camp programming under the same national GSUSA umbrella with comparable mid-size council scale.
• Girl Scouts of the Mississippi Valley: Girl Scouts council serving western Tennessee, Mississippi, and surrounding areas. Direct peer with overlapping service territory, identical cookie/camp/membership model, and shared national platform stack.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCUYYjOqEeHUFQDA4kpu5IAA
• Facebookfacebook.com/girlscoutshs
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/girl-scouts-heart-of-the-south
• Instagraminstagram.com/girlscoutshs
• Pinterestpinterest.com/girlscoutshs

Compliance5 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Girl Scouts Heart of the South