Silver Award: Proposal

Silver Award: Proposal

The Girl Scout Silver Award™, the highest award a Girl Scout Cadette can earn, gives you the chance to do big things and make your community better in the process.
This Project Proposal is to be used by you (and/or your team)—a registered Girl Scout Cadette in grades 6 to 8—with assistance from your adult Girl Scout volunteer supervisor, troop/group leader, and project advisor (optional) to gain approval for your Silver Award project idea BEFORE continuing your project.

This form will help you think through the details of your project, helping make sure you have a plan in place that will set you up for success early on. Let’s get started!

How to complete this form:
1. Familiarize yourself with Silver Award guidelines: review the Cadette Workbook for Earning Your Silver Award and complete any council training on your local council’s webpage.
2. Read the Silver Award Project Proposal questions ahead of time and think about your answers. If you are working in a group, fill it out together! You can work with a team of up to three other Cadettes or on your own. One form should be completed per project.
3. Complete and submit the Silver Award Project Proposal. Approval is necessary BEFORE the project may continue.
A few friendly reminders:
- If one or more members of the Silver Award team are in 8th grade, the Proposal must be submitted by March 1.
- If one of more members of the Silver Award team are in 8th grade, the project and Final Report must be submited by September 1 (following 8th grade graduation) so that the committee can review and approve prior to the September 30 national deadline.
- Take photos and/or video to document your project along the way—you’ll be asked to share them in your Final Report!
- The Final Report will require updating and reflecting on your approved Project Proposal. Keep a copy of this Project Proposal so you can answer the questions more easily.
- When the Silver Award project winds down, the outcome may not be exactly as planned. That’s OK! Girl Scouts earn the Silver Award as long as award requirements have been met. What Girl Scouts learn in the process about themselves and the world around them is what’s most valuable. Look at any unexpected twist as a learning opportunity.
- If your project ends up significantly changing from your current Project Proposal, please contact your Committee Mentor and Staff Member to let them know and they will advise you on next steps.
Troop Number (enter 0 if you are a Juliette)
How many Cadettes are involved in your Silver Award Team? (max 4)*
Team Members (max 4, click Add Team Member to enter details for all team members)*
Group Member #1

First NameLast Name
Group Member #2

First NameLast Name
Group Member #3

First NameLast Name
Group Member #4

First NameLast Name
Grade(s)

678
Your adult support team:

Adults are an essential part of your support system!

Girl Scout Volunteer: To meet Girl Scout youth-to-adult ratio, you'll need at least two registered and approved adults to help with team supervision, Silver Award procedures, use of troop funds, managing guidelines for project donations or money-earning activities. Girl Scout staff may communicate with the listed adult to coordinate details about your project and the Silver Award process.

Project Advisor: A project advisor is optional for the Silver Award and is selected by the Silver Award team. This adult has some level of knowledge, skills, epxertise or access to resources that can help with your project.

Highest Awards Committee Mentor: This person is assigned by Council Staff. If you requested a brainstorming session, you may have already met your Mentor. If not, you'll meet this person at your proposal session. A Council Staff member and the Mentor make up your mentorship team.
Girl Scout Volunteer*

First NameLast Name
Girl Scout Volunteer email*
Project Advisor (optional)

First NameLast Name
What organization does the Project Advisor represent, or what expertise will they provide to the project?
What county do you live in?*

Tips for writing a great proposal!
1. Explain your project as if you are speaking to someone who needs all the details.
2. Reread your answers to check for spelling and grammar.
3. Answer in a complete sentence. It's a great idea to repeat the question - for example if the question is "What is your project about?", you should reply "My project is about...."
The following questions ask about the 3 required elements of a Silver Award Project: Leadership, Root Cause, and Sustainability.
Silver Award Project Title*
Proposed Start Date

MonthDayYear
Date
Proposed Completion Date

MonthDayYear
Date
The issue the project will address is... (Please include a 3-4 sentence description. See the Cadette Workbook for Earning Your Silver Award, Step 4.)*
It matters because...(Please include a 3-4 sentence description. See the Cadette Workbook for Earning Your Silver Award, Step 4).*
My target audience who will benefit from the project is... (Please include a 1-2 sentence description. See the Cadette Workbook for Earning Your Silver Award, Step 4).*
Who (or what organization) does your project benefit?
What community members, groups, clubs, or organizations will help you with specific tasks that need to be done for your project?
Community members who I/we contacted or partnered with to research the issue and find the root cause... (See Cadette Workbook for Earning Your Silver Award, Step 3). Click Add Row for each additional community member.*
A root cause of the issue is... (Please include a 3-4 sentence description. See the Cadette Workbook for Earning Your Silver Award, Steps 3 and 4).*
How will you create a plan to make your project sustainable? (Check the boxes that apply. See the Cadette Workbook for Earning Your Silver Award, Step 5)*

Create a permanent solution that can be used after the project is complete.Educate and inspire others in the community or within Girl Scouts to be a part of the change.Advocate to change a rule, regulation, or a law and encourage others to join.
Specifically, my team will plan to make the project sustainable by... (Please include a 3-4 sentence description. See the Cadette Workbook for Earning Your Silver Award, Step 5).*
What are the individual roles and responsibilities of the Silver Award candidates on your team?
Please provide a description of your team's leadership. (See the Cadette Workbook for Earning Your Silver Award, Steps 2 and 5). Click Add Team Member for each team member.*
Describe the steps involved in putting your plan into action, including the resources that you will need.

Project Finances

Silver Award projects sometimes require money or nonmonetary donations of goods. If your project requires this, then please estimate supplies/donations needed and potential costs. A budget worksheet with actual supplies and costs will be required with the Final Report. (See the Cadette Workbook for Earning Your Silver Award, Step 5 and the template pages.

Silver Award projects may be funded by the troop treasury or contributions from family members. If you will be conducting a money-earning activity (asking individuals or businesses for donations or fundraising such as a bake sale or car wash), you need to complete a Money-Earning Application, found on the Girl Scouts of Kansas Heartland website.
Estimated Supplies Needed*
We understand that we need to print and use the Silver Award Budget Worksheet. This will be submitted with the Final Report.

Yes
Check Yes to indicate you are aware that each individual team member should spend approximately 50 hours working on their Silver Award project and will maintain a time log. (See the Cadette Workbook for Earning Your Silver Award, Step 6 an the template pages).*

Yes
Try It!

The following questions are about the 2 optional elements of a Silver Award Project. While they aren't required, incorporating these elements will make your project stronger and more impactful.
Describe how you will try to make your project measurable by sharing the goal your team set to measure your project's success... (See the Cadette Workbook for Earning Your Silver Award, Step 5)
Describe how you will try to make a national or global link... (See the Cadette Workbook for Earning Your Silver Award, Step 5)
How will your project be sustainable?
How do you plan to tell others about your project?
We understand that many of the ways that we could share my story will require additional approval. Before publishing information to the public, including news interviews and articles, we will contact the council.

Yes
We - the Girl Scout Cadette(s) and the GIrl Scout Volunteer - agree and understand that the Silver Award Project:
- Cannot be just a collection or donation drive. Donations may be part of a larger Silver Award project.
- Cannot be a fundraiser for another organization, program, or individual.
- Is not simply volunteering time for another organization in an already existing project.
- Cannot be done by multiple teams. Only one team (1-4 Girl Scout Cadettes) may collaborate on each Silver Award project.
- Is a Take Action Project, not a community service project - even if the community service project is very large and takes a lot of time and hard work.
Before sharing our story via news interviews or articles, we'll contact the Council for advice and support.
I, the Girl Scout Cadette, have read and understand all the requirements and guidelines specific to the Girl Scout Silver Award as outlined by the Cadette Workbook for Earning Your Silver Award and council-specific requirements. I am aware of all deadlines for the Girl Scout Silver Award. (Each team member may sign in the same signature box)*

Clear
I, the Girl Scout Volunteer, recognize it is the Cadette(s)' responsibility to fulfill the requirements for the Girl Scout Silver Award including all deadlines. I am aware of the requirements and guidelines outlined by the Adult Guide for Earning the Silver Award and council-specific requirements and believe this project aligns with those requirements.*

Clear
Should be Empty: