NEW YORK (AP) – As the Girl Scouts’ membership continues a sharp decline, its leaders are betting on technology to reverse the trend, including a major expansion of its year-old program enabling Girl Scout cookies to be sold via mobile apps and the girls’ personalized websites.
The Digital Cookie upgrade, announced on Tuesday, comes amid persisting challenges for the 103-year-old organization. According to figures provided to The Associated Press, youth membership for the fiscal year ending Sept. 30 was 1.88 million, down nearly 6.2 percent from 2014, and adult membership was 784,120, down 3.1 percent.
The total membership – now 2.66 million – is down more than 15 percent over three years, and down 30 percent from a peak of more than 3.8 million in 2003.
The Girl Scouts also are struggling in terms of financial support. The latest compilations by the Chronicle of Philanthropy show that the organization received $103.2 million in private donations in 2014, down from $194.6 million in 2006. Back then, the Girl Scouts ranked 83rd among U.S. charities for such donations; the Chronicle now ranks it 257th.
Some other major youth groups also face revenue and membership declines, due in part to societal trends. However, Anna Maria Chavez, CEO of Girl Scouts of the United States of America, contends that her organization is capable of rebuilding its ranks through technological improvements.