Volunteer/Troop Support

About half of troop leaders feel that Girl Scouts provides the support they need to be successful.

❖ 52% of troop leaders agree or agree a lot that Girl Scouts provides the support they need to be successful.

Change in TL Feelings of Support by Council (2017-2018)

❖ About 20% of troop leaders overall say that they did not receive the support they needed or requested.

❖ Councils vary widely in the percentage of troop leaders who feel well-supported. Range: 21-70%.

❖ In the last year, about 1/4 of councils have seen gains in troop leaders’ feelings of support; over 1/3 have seen declines.

Large decline (>=10%)

Decline (-3 to -9%)

No change (-2 to 2%)

Top drivers of support are (1) training and (2) staff that make troop leaders feel important and valued.

Girl Scouts provides the training I need to be a successful troop leader.

The staff at Girl Scouts make me feel that I am important and valuable.

Key Drivers of Troop Leader Support

Satisfaction with Service Unit support.

Using Girl Scout program materials makes my job easier.

In Girl Scouts, my opinions seem to count.

A Supported Volunteer = A Retained Volunteer

A Supported Volunteer = A Retained Volunteer

• Communication: Staff to volunteer, volunteer to volunteer, council to volunteer. Timely, concise, positive!

• Preparation: The volunteer should have the knowledge and skills needed to serve. Required training should not be overwhelming. Diverse learning opportunities including face to face, on demand, experiential, informal – peer to peer.

• Tools and Resources (VTK, web, social media, service centers, camps, etc.): Easily accessible tools and resources to make the volunteer job easy and fun; orientation to the tools and resources.

• Community: Ensure volunteer feels connected to and supported by a community and can foster parent/caregiver engagement.

• Appreciation: Say thanks genuinely in many ways throughout the year. Cultivate an attitude of gratitude among council staff so volunteers feel appreciated year-round!

My Work Made A Difference!

Satisfied with Experience