SPOKANE, Wash. — The Spokane County Republican party recently posted a question on its page "Do you know where the Girl Scouts spend their cookie money?"
Its question was followed by multiple links suggesting Girl Scouts have joined with Planned Parenthood, and the non-profit benefits from some of the cookie revenue.
To verify this, we talked to the Eastern Washington and Northern Idaho Girls Scouts CEO Brian Newberry and Paul Dillon with Planned Parenthood of Greater Washington and North Idaho.
In one link posted by the Spokane County Republican Party, it claims a girl's troop keeps an average of 10 to 20 percent of the money. And an average of 65 to 75 percent of the money collected by all local troops goes to the local council. Girl Scouts of USA will also collect a royalty payment based on its licensed trademark for every box.
CEO Brian Newberry said, "Girl scout cookie revenue stays with the girls here."
He points to the organization's break down of "how the cookie crumbles."
Just over 50 percent of girl scout cookie revenue stays local. The local council uses these fund for programs, events and training locally.
Nearly 12 percent of the fund goes to its Troop to Troop program benefiting local troops.
Girl Scout leaders said 6.8 percent is allocated to individual girl scouts in rewards such as trips and other programs.
About 25 percent goes to the cost of producing the cookies and about four percent is carved out for volunteer training and transportation of the cookies.
But does any of the money end up in the hands of Planned Parenthood?
"I categorically stand up and say that our organization has no partnership with planned parenthood," Newberry said.
KREM asked the same of the local Planned Parenthood office.
Paul Dillon, Vice President of Public Affairs said the non-profit has no history of funding from Girls Scouts.
So, we can verify that money collected through girl scout cookie sales stays local and none of the money is given to Planned Parenthood.