Volunteer Recognitions

We appreciate all our volunteers and feel they deserve to be recognized for their contributions!

We always want to encourage you to informally acknowledge and show your appreciation for volunteers who work with our girls, but we want to formally give them a pat on the back and let them know that we know they are the hearts and hands of Girl Scouts.

Informal Recognition for Volunteers

Informal recognition is the day-to-day appreciation—the intangible benefits and heartfelt ways of saying “Thank you.” These sincere expressions of appreciation are based on specific contributions and are given in a timely manner. Informal recognition is powerful and effective because they make people feel valued by a personal touch.

Consider:

A Welcome or Thank you card
Showing interest in the person’s life beyond Girl Scouts “What are you passionate about beyond Girl Scouts?”
A Shout-out at the Service Unit Meeting or on the Service Unit Facebook group
Complimenting the person’s work to the Service Team
Sending a letter of appreciation to the person’s work supervisor/company
Look them in the eye and say, “Thank you so much (name) for (be specific). Your service is invaluable.

Formal Recognitions

Unlike informal recognition which is given as often as possible, formal recognition is the periodic presentation of tokens of honor and appreciation. Formal recognition is given to an individual or group of volunteers, and it generates a sense of connectedness among the group and to the larger organization.

Nominations are for outstanding service are based on what we all know best: The Girl Scout Mission of building girls of courage, confidence and character who live by the Girl Scout Promise and Law.

Nominations and endorsements are due by Feb. 13, 2026. It is your responsibility to submit the required endorsements by this deadline.

Webform for Formal Volunteer Award Nominations.
Webform for Formal Volunteer Award Endorsements.
Webform for SUs to submit their TWO Volunteer of Excellence nominations.

The Appreciation Pin, Honor Pin, Thanks Badge, Thanks Badge II and Black Diamond Pin are awarded during our Annual Meeting Weekend. The Volunteer of Excellence Award is presented at the Service Unit Level.

The following is a summary of the GSBDC official adult awards. Detailed descriptions of each award, along with nomination criteria, examples of potential award candidates, and the appropriate forms can be found below. To see our full list of awards and view our previous award recipients, visit https://girlscouts.info/adultrecognitions.

Volunteer of Excellence Award toggle arrow

This award recognizes 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 Program Portfolio or who have contributed outstanding service in support of the Council's mission delivery to girl and adult members.

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 national program portfolio, or
The candidate's performance has been beyond the expectations of the position and has supported the 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.

A nomination form is completed and submitted, along with the appropriate supporting paperwork as defined by the council, to the recognition committee or the appropriate service-delivery team. The recognition committee or service-delivery team approves or denies the nomination.

This award is usually given at Service Unit recognition events. Please allow 3 weeks to receive the pins from the council after submission.

Webform for Volunteerof Excellence Nomination: https://bit.ly/2HAKf0p

Appreciation Pin toggle arrow

The Appreciation Pin also recognizes an individual's exemplary service in support of delivering the GSLE, but for this pin, the impact is within one geographic area of service.

Be a registered Girl Scout adult
Have significantly contributed to meeting one or more council goals in membership growth and retention, fund development, or increased community visibility in one geographic area
Actively recognize, understand, and practice the values of inclusive behavior

A nomination form is completed and submitted, along with two endorsements on the endorsement forms, to the recognition committee. The recognition committee approves or denies the nomination and then sends the decision to the council board for confirmation.

Webform for Volunteer Award Nomination: https://goo.gl/9DH4Zj

Honor Pin

The Honor Pin recognizes an individual's exemplary service in support of delivering the Girl Scout Leadership Experience; this support has had measurable impact on two or more geographic areas of service to reach and surpass the mission-delivery goals of the Council.

Be a registered Girl Scout adult
Have significantly contributed to meeting one or more council goals in membership growth and retention, fund development, or increased community visibility in two or more geographic areas
Actively recognize, understand, and practice the values of inclusive behavior

Webform for Volunteer Award Nomination: https://goo.gl/9DH4Zj

Thanks Badge toggle arrow

The Thanks Badge honors an individual whose ongoing commitment, leadership, and service have had an exceptional, measurable impact on meeting the mission-delivery goals and priorities of the entire Council or the entire Girl Scout Movement.

Be a registered Girl Scout adult
Have taken a leadership role at the council level in one or more of the following areas during the previous four years:
Increasing membership growth and retention
Increasing the percentage of adult-generated funding in the total council income
Increasing innovative program opportunities council wide
Developing broad participation in policy-influencing through the democratic process
Ensuring that inclusive behavior is recognized, understood, and practiced at all levels

A nomination form is completed and submitted, along with three endorsements on the endorsement forms, to the recognition committee. The recognition committee approves or denies the nomination and then sends the decision to the council board for confirmation.

Webform for Volunteer Award Nomination: https://goo.gl/9DH4Zj

Thanks Badge II toggle arrow

The Thanks Badge II honors previous Thanks Badge award recipients who have continued to provide exemplary service in a leadership role which resulted in a measurable impact benefiting the entire Girl Scout Movement.

Be a registered Girl Scout adult
Continue to have a role in contributing to the goals of the council in the areas of
Program
Membership
Fund Development
Volunteer Support

Webform for Volunteer Award Nomination: https://goo.gl/9DH4Zj

Black Diamond Pin toggle arrow

The Black Diamond Pin recognizes volunteers who have made a significant impact on Council goals; a service so outstanding and beyond expectations that no other award is appropriate. This award is only available to adults who have had an active membership at Girl Scouts of Black Diamond Council for at least six years.

Be a registered Girl Scout adult with Girl Scouts of Black Diamond Council and have contributed to the overall progress of the council initiatives in a way that provides significant progress toward the goals of the council.

Webform for Volunteer Award Nomination: https://goo.gl/9DH4Zj

How to Write a Great Nomination & Endorsement

Be Specific
- If the form asks you to describe a service provided that meets the qualifications of the award, be very descriptive.
- Uninformative Example: Victoria Volunteer should receive the award because she is always organized and is great with parent volunteers. We are all very fond of her and are willing to be under her leadership.
- Informative Example: Victoria Volunteer should receive the award because she is a great example of adult volunteer leadership to both girls and adults. Under the wing of her leadership, 10 parents are actively volunteering with troop functions. She recently delegated event preparation details to us while she was out of town for a few weeks. Because she sends regular troop volunteer emails about the bank account status, upcoming adventures, year to day troop goals progress, and continuing volunteer needs, we felt informed and organized to step up to the leadership challenge! Lisa is always paying thanks to our support to the troop. When she came back from her trip, she paid thanks to us at the Service Unit meeting. She organized a potluck in recognition of her troop volunteers who provide her with endless support. Other troop leaders at the meeting were taking notes on all of her great ideas!
Show Results
- Uninformative Example: Tonya Trainer provided an excellent training at our Service Unit meeting.
- Informative Example: Tonya Trainer not only provided excellent day camp training to volunteers at the local area meeting, but she was also called upon last minute when the assigned trainer became ill. Because of her volunteer service, 50 current girls and 20 new recruits had a chance to experience outdoor leadership skills at summer day camp.
Your nomination or endorsement should contain:
- Who is your nominee? Tell us why you are nominating this individual; how they went above and beyond; and why they should be selected for an award.
- What was the program/service? Tell us about the type of program or service that was contributed by the nominee.
- Who was affected? Tell us the troop(s), service unit(s), and/or area(s) that had an impact.
- What was the impact? Tell us the results of the program/service.

Initial Statement	Thoughtfully Consider:	Strong Nomination Statement:
"She has been a leader for a long time."	How many years? Through which levels?	"For 11 years, she has led a large troop from Daisies, persevering through the difficult middle school years, to their current level of Seniors."
"She is a great leader."	What kind of leadership qualities does she bring?What makes her stand out?	"She continually brings leadership opportunities to the girls. She encourages a girl-led approach by allowing girls to vote on and implement their activities."
"She always goes above and beyond."	Be specific. Tell a story about the great benefits those around her receive due to her efforts.	"Her troop voted to start a journey. Because she has never considered herself a 'creative soul' when it came to artistic endeavors, she recruited troop parents, artists, etc."