Nominate a Volunteer for a National Award

Girl Scout volunteers are truly committed to facilitating amazing experiences for our Girl Scouts. One of the most meaningful ways to show your appreciation for a Girl Scout volunteer is to nominate them for a National Award. These awards are typically given in the fall.

Nominate a Volunteer for a National Award toggle arrow

The awards listed below are presented at regional council-sponsored ceremonies in the fall and include all national awards with established criteria developed by GSUSA, as well as some GSOSW awards.

To nominate a volunteer, complete the online Volunteer Awards Fall Submission Form #502 and attach the required letters of endorsement. Nominations for service performed between October 1, 2025, and August 31, 2026, are due by August 31, 2026.

Nominations do not have to be pre-approved at the service unit level. However, please inform the service unit manager of your intent to nominate a candidate to prevent duplicate nominations. A service unit is welcome to coordinate all submissions as long as the deadline is still met. All nominees should be in good standing with GSOSW.

Letters of endorsement should include the following information:

Describe the service performed by the candidate, including details about who it served (group, individual, or geographic area), date(s), duration and location, and what resources were needed or accessed to complete it.
What made the service exceptional beyond the expectations of the candidate’s current volunteer position (if applicable)?
Describe the impact on those who benefited from the service.
How did this service promote or model leadership for girls, adults, or both?
How is the endorser familiar with the candidate’s performance and contribution to GSOSW?

Download the National Volunteer Award Endorsement Letter Template to get a head start on your nominations. (Note: This Word document will download automatically. You may edit it using Word, Google Docs, or another compatible program.)

The GSOSW Volunteer Awards and Recognition Committee reviews and approves nominations for these awards. Awardees and nominators will be notified in early fall with an invitation to their regional ceremony.

Please note that the Awards Committee reviews and evaluates all qualifying criteria to determine the nominee's eligibility. The committee may deny or alter the award for which the candidate was nominated to better reflect the service performed.

Which award? How to Decide toggle arrow

The GSOSW Awards Committee has created a reference sheet that can help you easily determine which award is the best fit for a volunteer or Girl Scout supporter. For detailed descriptions of each national award and its criteria, see below.

National Awards

Volunteer of Excellence

This award recognizes those volunteers who have contributed outstanding service while partnering directly with girls in any pathway to implement the Girl Scout Leadership Experience through the use of the national portfolio or who have contributed outstanding service in support of the council’s mission delivery to girl and adult members.

Criteria (developed by GSUSA):

The candidate is an active, registered adult Girl Scout.
The candidate has successfully completed a term of service and all requirements for the position.
The candidate has performed beyond expectations for the position to deliver the Girl Scout Leadership Experience to girls using the nation program portfolio, OR
The candidate’s performance has been beyond the expectations of the position and has supported council’s mission delivery goals in one or more of the following functional areas: Membership Development/Community Cultivation, Volunteer Relations and Support, Program, Leadership and Governance, Fund Development, and Council Support Service (such as IT, Customer Service, Merchandising, MarComm).
The candidate actively recognizes, understands, and practices the values of inclusive behavior.

Submit two (2) letters of endorsement.

NEW! Download the National Volunteer Award Endorsement Letter Template to get a head start on your nominations. (Note: This Word document will download automatically. You may edit it using Word, Google Docs, or another compatible program.)

This recognition may be awarded multiple times in subsequent years, but it must be for different accomplishments or acts of service.

Appreciation Pin

This award recognizes an adult member who delivered outstanding service to at least one geographic area, service unit or program delivery audience.

Criteria (developed by GSUSA):

The candidate is a registered Girl Scout adult volunteer or staff member.
The candidate has provided outstanding service to a geographic area or program delivery audience in a way that furthers the council’s goals.
The service goes beyond the expectations for the position.

Submit two (2) letters of endorsement.

This recognition may be awarded multiple times in subsequent years, but it must be for different accomplishments or acts of service.

Honor Pin

This award recognizes an adult member who has delivered outstanding service to two or more geographic areas or program delivery audiences.

Criteria (developed by GSUSA):

The candidate is a registered Girl Scout adult volunteer or staff member.
The candidate has provided outstanding service to two or more geographic areas or program delivery audiences in a way that furthers the council’s goals.
The service goes beyond the expectations for the position.

Submit three (3) letters of endorsement.

This recognition may be awarded multiple times in subsequent years, but it must be for different accomplishments or acts of service.

Thanks Badge

This award recognizes an adult member whose performance is truly outstanding and benefits the total Girl Scout council or the entire Girl Scout Movement.

Criteria (developed by GSUSA):

The candidate is a registered Girl Scout adult volunteer or staff member.
The candidate has provided outstanding service that benefits the total council or the entire Girl Scout organization.
The service is so significantly beyond expectations that no other award is appropriate.

Submit four (4) letters of endorsement.

This recognition may only be awarded once. To honor the candidate again, see below for Thanks Badge II.

Thanks Badge II

This award recognizes an adult member who has already received the Thanks Badge and who has continued to contribute in extraordinary ways that benefit the total council or the entire Girl Scout organization.

Criteria (developed by GSUSA):

The candidate is a registered Girl Scout adult volunteer or staff member.
The candidate has received the Thanks Badge.
Since receipt of the Thanks Badge, the candidate has provided distinguished service by continuing to perform at the same high level for an extended period of time, OR increasing their sphere of influence, OR using their skills and talents to move into other fields of endeavor.
The service benefits the total council or the entire Girl Scout organization.
The service is outstanding and is so significantly beyond expectations that no other award is appropriate.

Submit four (4) letters of endorsement.

This recognition may only be awarded to an individual once.

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