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GSSEM's Latest White Paper Examines How Experiential Programs Impact Girls' Financial Skills
Investment in experiential learning can bring about significant individual and societal outcomes, such as increased adult financial well-being and long-term public cost savings.
February 12, 2026
GSSEM Girl Scouts are gearing up for the booth sales portion of the annual Cookie Program. While many look forward to savoring the flavors inside the box, cookie lovers should know that with every purchase and every bite, they are helping Girl Scouts build brighter futures for themselves and others.
Girl Scouts of Southeastern Michigan’s latest white paper, Making Financially Confident Decision Makers Who Are Real World Ready, explores the role of financial literacy education in youth development and how hands-on financial literacy programming, like the Cookie Program, leads to skilled, competent, real-life, and workforce-ready young women.
Within the field of financial education, experiential and practice-based financial learning programs consistently show better outcomes than lecture-based programs. Experiential programs like the annual Girl Scout Cookie Program allow girls to engage in real-world financial experiences.
Leading up to the beginning of cookie sales, Girl Scouts learn about money management, people skills, business ethics, goal setting, and decision making. Once cookie sales begin, youth practice these skills through real-life transactions and sales management. Selling cookies gives girls soft skills and helps them build technical skills through hands-on use of digital payment services and online selling platforms. These experiences help girls become financially literate and play a key role in helping girls be ‘real-world ready’ as they build important life skills that contribute to workforce readiness, financial well-being, and, for some, entrepreneurial confidence.
Research consistently supports that investments in children’s development, especially childhood education and skill-building, create benefits into adulthood, such as improved educational attainment, stronger workforce participation, and higher lifetime earnings. It is especially important for funders to invest in girl-centered models that have demonstrated positive outcomes. Programs that create opportunities for girls to practice economic decision-making and that encourage girls to take financial risks can address early confidence gaps and support girls in becoming financially literate women. Philanthropic support for this type of programming makes significant differences in individuals’ lives, something that leads to widespread economic improvements.
GSSEM Girl Scouts are selling cookies now through early April. To learn more about Girl Scout Cookies, visit www.gssem.org/cookies.
