The year 2020 has been rough on most everyone. But the unfortunate truth is that 2021, and years after, will remain challenging.
Across Greater Iowa, girls have seen schools close, experienced disrupted routines, the pain of social injustice, and financial hardship. They’ve been distanced from friends, teachers, and many who love and care for them. The long-term pause on many social activities and routines have led to so much change and stress that girls are having a mental health crisis.
In a recent national survey, girls reported the highest rates of loneliness on record. In 2019 – months before COVID-19 hit – more than one in three girls in the U.S. said they felt extremely anxious daily. Even worse, suicide rates in girls ages 10-14 have increased nearly 13% since 2007.
Connection and community-building are core to Girl Scouting, and GSGI provides the resources to help girls and families when they feel alone.
Our Annual Fund provides security and stability for our organization, in turn providing security and stability for the Girl Scouts in Greater Iowa. This will never change. As school programming adapts, and families juggle the changes, your support provide a healthy outlet for girls to stay connected with their friends and community. More girls experience life-changing programs in Girl Scouts when our organization has the resources to provide programming. Without a secure Annual Fund, we run the risk of losing those resources, directly impacting the girls.
GSGI is 100% locally funded. A gift to our Annual Fund spreads across all departments and all council needs. A gift to our Annual Fund fuels our mission of building girls of courage, confidence, and character. A healthy Annual Fund helps to provide girls with girl-led, girl-only programming in the core areas of STEM, outdoors, life skills, and entrepreneurship. A gift to our Annual Fund is a gift directly to local Girl Scouts.
It’s important to us to support girls and volunteers during these trying times and eliminate any barriers to participating in Girl Scouts by showing love. During this membership year, we are offering free membership for all girls and adult volunteers. This act of love does not come without a true cost to our organization. The $25 annual membership fee, normally paid by all new and returning Girl Scout members, supports the cost of technology, liability insurance, materials, and research in girl programming. You can help eliminate the financial barrier for girls across Iowa to join Girl Scouts. Every $25 you donate to the Show Love campaign will fund the membership for one local Girl Scout. Donate to the Show Love campaign using this link or reach out to our team at philanthropy@gsiowa.org.
Your investment can go further when you sign up to become a GEM Donor (Giver Every Month)! When you become a GEM, you empower Girl Scouts of Greater Iowa to become sustainable in our commitment to girls across Iowa. Give each month effortlessly through our secure automatic withdrawal system, at any level you desire. Your investment powers our commitment to ensuring every girl reaches her fullest potential.
As a member of the GEM Club, donors receive special perks throughout the year. Upon signing up, each GEM receives a custom GEM patch.
When you become a GEM, you empower Girl Scouts of Greater Iowa to become sustainable in our commitment to girls across Iowa. We believe every girl has an important role to play. When girls succeed, so does society. Thank you for considering a monthly investment in our commitment to building girls of courage, confidence and character.
Looking for a more tangible way to support girls on their Girl Scout adventure? Head over to our Girl Scouts of Greater Iowa Amazon Wish List, which features a wide range of items - big and small - that will help us impact girls all across the council.
Girl Scouts of Greater Iowa hosts girls from across the state at two different camps each summer; Camp Tanglefoot in Clear Lake and Camp Sacajawea in Boone. With nearly 3,000 girls spending time at camp each year, it’s important to have high quality gear and supplies. Life jackets, grills, s’mores sticks, tents and hammocks. Yarn, craft paper, and paint. Boots, helmets and horse supplies. The list is endless and the opportunity for you to support thousands of girls in this unique way is easier than ever. Purchas an item from our Amazon Wish List and it will be automatically sent to Girl Scouts of Greater Iowa to be put to use immediately.
We appreciate your support in supplying our girls with the tools and gear they need to build courage, confidence and character.
By becoming a Dream Builder, you invest in supporting the Girl Scout mission of building girls of courage, confidence and character. As a Dream Builder, you commit to $5,000 to Girl Scouts of Greater Iowa over a span of five years.
Girls today want to be our future leaders. Girl Scouts gives girls the opportunities and resources to realize their potential, take on leadership roles and excel in our communities. Your commitment of $5,000 over a span of five years helps us support their journey in a sustainable manner.
Dream Builder names are added to the Dream Builder plaque in our Des Moines Leadership Center.
When you become a Dream Builder, you make a HUGE impact, and provide girls in Iowa with amazing opportunities to grow as leaders in their communities, to make the world a better place.
You can have a truly lasting impact on Girl Scouts in Iowa through a bequest - a gift from your estate - a transfer of cash, securities, or other property made through your estate plans.
This lasting gift will also grant you membership in the Juliette Gordon Low Society, where you will be recognized as a Girl Scout supporter for decades to come.
As a JGL Society member, you will be invited to attend special recognition and educational events. Other benefits include a subscription to the Society newsletter, listing as a Society member in select Girl Scout publications, access to digital resources, and a special membership lapel pin.
Once you have taken the steps to include Girl Scouts of Greater Iowa in your will or trust, fill out the Gift Notification Form so that we may recognize your incredible gift to Iowa's girls!
In March 1912, Juliette Gordon Low gathered just a few girls to begin the Girl Scouts. Juliette's outstanding leadership was matched by her stewardship when she converted the carriage house of her home into the first Girl Scout national headquarters, and she gifted the property to Girl Scouts in her will.
Juliette's bequest was the beginning of planned giving to Girl Scouts. In her memory, the Juliette Gordon Low Society was established to thank and honor friends of Girl Scouting who choose to make Girl Scouts part of their legacies and a beneficiary of their estate plans.
The Trefoil Times is an e-newsletter sent out to our donors, supporters and all-around champions of girls. It’s a sneak peek into the world of Girl Scouts in Iowa. From girl and troop stories to volunteer and donor stories, you’re sure to feel inspired after reading the newsletter each month. Subscribe to the Trefoil Times below!
To mail in a donation, please address
to:
Girl Scouts of Greater Iowa
10715 Hickman Rd.
Des Moines, IA 50322
To donate over the phone, please call 800-342-8389.
