Gold Award Scholarship

Gold Award Girl Scouts can earn a $5,000 scholarship.

Congratulations on becoming a Gold Award Girl Scout! You have created lasting change in the world while earning the highest award in Girl Scouting.

Now that you’ve earned a Gold Award, did you know that you can apply for a national scholarship for your post-secondary education? The GSUSA Gold Award Scholarship recognizes and provides financial support to one Gold Award Girl Scout per council and one from USA Girl Scouts Overseas.

Scholarship recipients must have completed a Gold Award project that demonstrates extraordinary leadership and measurable, sustainable impact and addresses an issue of national and/or global significance.

The 2026 scholarship program has closed. Check back in 2027 for updated program details.

Eligibility

Gold Award Girl Scouts who are high school seniors or recent high school graduates can apply for the 2026 program. Specifically:

current high school seniors who earned or will earn anytime before April 1, 2026
recent high school graduates who earned in their senior year after March 31, 2025

To confirm your eligibility (Gold Award approval date), please contact your council.

Notes on Eligibility toggle arrow

Girl Scouts who applied in a previous year are not eligible to re-apply.
To be eligible, all Gold Award Girl Scouts must have their final report approved in the GoGold web app within the eligibility date range.
Gold Award Girl Scouts who are not yet in 12th grade will have the opportunity to apply in their senior year.

Recipient Benefits

$5,000 scholarship
Official award letter
Recognition in local and national Girl Scout promotions, including on the Gold Award Girl Scouts Class webpage

Application Information

How To Apply toggle arrow

The below information is related to the 2026 scholarship program which has closed. Check back in 2027 for updated program details.

Apply between March 13 - April 14, 2026. All applicants will receive status updates in June 2026.

In addition to providing demographic information, a headshot with photo release, and confirmation of Gold Award status, each applicant will answer four questions in either video or written format about their Gold Award.

Application Questions toggle arrow

In either video (3 minutes or less) or written (500 words or fewer) format, answer four questions about your Gold Award separately:

Please summarize your Gold Award project. Summarize your project in a narrative describing the root cause, how your project addresses it, the resources you leveraged, and how you achieved your goal. Be sure to indicate how you displayed leadership, detailing 1) how you led a team to accomplish your goals and 2) how you involved appropriate community members in your solution.
Please describe how your project had measurable and sustainable impact. Share the information or data you collected throughout your project and how you used it to measure your project’s impact on your issue. Be sure to share your actual results. Then, share how your project carries on or continues to have impact beyond your involvement.
Please describe how your project had a local connection to a national or global issue. Why does your project matter? Explain how your project meaningfully addressed an issue that is relevant nationwide and/or worldwide. Be sure to include your research and cite any sources.
Please describe the impact completing your Gold Award project has had on you. Be sure to include what new skills you may have gained, what qualities you have learned about yourself, and how these discoveries will help you in the future.

How will applications be evaluated? toggle arrow

Complete applications will be evaluated using GSUSA’s national rubric on the degree to which the applicant/their Gold Award project:

Identified and addressed a root cause of their issue with a robust project plan.
Had measurable and sustainable impact and a connection to a larger national or global issue.
Used the resources available to them to increase their project’s reach or expand its impact.
Led a team and engaged the community they served in their solution when relevant.
Reflected on the impact completing their Gold Award project had on them.

Frequently Asked Questions

If selected, where can I apply my scholarship funds? toggle arrow

Scholarships will be applied to tuition, fees, books, and supplies required for coursework at accredited institutions in the United States and abroad. These institutions include two-year colleges, four-year colleges, vocational schools, and technical schools. Students may transfer from one institution to another and retain the award. Scholarships may not be applied to room and board and cannot be used to purchase a laptop if not required for all students attending the institution or course.

Who selects the recipients? toggle arrow

An independent selection committee will narrow down each council’s applicants to up to three finalists, then each council will nominate their finalist to Girl Scouts of the USA for approval. One Gold Award Girl Scout per council and from USA Girl Scouts Overseas (up to 112 total) will receive a $5,000 scholarship.

Decisions are final and are not subject to appeal. No application feedback will be given.

How are recipients notified, and the funds issued? toggle arrow

Scholarship recipients will receive a notification email in June instructing them to complete their online acceptance form. The form will confirm the enrollment info for their academic institution (accredited institution of higher learning) for scholarship disbursement. Recipients will also select their preferred dispersal year: July/August 2026 or July/August 2027.

Note: Scholarship award funds will be sent directly to the recipient’s college/university via check.

If selected, what are my commitments? toggle arrow

When selected, scholarship recipients agree to:

Sign and return all required documents.
Respond to requests to represent Girl Scouts through public relations, web/social, speaking engagements, or other related opportunities.
Represent Girl Scouts to the best of their abilities and uphold the Girl Scout Promise and Law at their accredited institution of higher learning.

I completed my Gold Award and did not use the GoGold web app. Can I still apply for this scholarship? toggle arrow

The below information is related to the 2026 scholarship program which has closed. Check back in 2027 for updated program details.

You can apply, but first you will need to resubmit your application in GoGold. Please keep in mind that the final report needs to be approved by your council in GoGold no later than March 31, 2026, and you must meet the eligibility criteria above. Contact your council for more information.

Are there other opportunities available for Gold Award Girl Scouts? toggle arrow

Absolutely! You are a terrific candidate for scholarship opportunities, including scholarships aimed specifically at Gold Award Girl Scouts. Be sure to check out the Scholarships for Girl Scouts webpage for a roundup of these opportunities.

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