Written by: Miles Bilka, Marketing Manager, Nonprofit Leadership Alliance
For a young Girl Scout, earning a new badge means trying something new! But the reality is, we know it represents so much more. Each one marks a new skill learned, a challenge met, or a moment of growth. From robotics and entrepreneurship to mental wellness, badges are how Girl Scouts build confidence and connection with their community.
But behind the scenes, someone has to design those experiences. Someone has to make sure they’re not only fun, but also impactful. That’s where Amanda Kline, Advanced Certified Nonprofit Professional (ACNP) comes in. As the Girl Experience and Research Administrator at the Girl Scouts of Eastern Iowa and Western Illinois, Amanda helps shape the experiences youth have as they earn those badges. “Last year, we held 367 events between us and community partners,” she said.
Her team designs large-scale educational experiences with the support of outside experts. For example, the Daisy First Experience, a one-hour kickoff program for new kindergarten and first-grade Girl Scouts. “We do the same one-hour program… at 11 different venues over our whole area.” Amanda helped build the infrastructure that gives every new Girl Scout the same welcoming experience.
Events just like this span across one-third of Iowa and seven counties in Illinois. They’re fun, educational, and most importantly, accessible.
A group learning about nuclear energy while touring the Quad Cities Constellation Nuclear Power Station.
Building a Culture of Utilizing Data
Amanda joined the Girl Scouts to be a data analyst. She started in program planning, putting her experience to work creating meaningful events. She tracked budgets, outcomes, and participation across dozens of communities. But she couldn’t ignore what the numbers were showing her… or what her team was missing.
Over time, she became the unofficial go-to for staff who needed numbers to make decisions. “I spent my first eight years trying to convince our CEO that we needed a full-time data person,” Amanda explained. “And I wrote my literature review in graduate school basically making the point that we can’t afford not to have one.” Eventually, the organization created a dedicated role to reflect the impact Amanda’s work was already having.
Take summer camp, for example. She surveys campers while they’re still on-site, then follows up with caregivers right after they return home. The insights get compiled and sent to the program lead every week, not just at the end of the summer. This constant feedback loop allows staff to make improvements while camp is still in session, not after the season ends. “We’re streamlining things. We are improving recruitment. We are improving fundraising. And we’re making people’s lives easier while we do it.”
Fellow CNP, Gina Weekley, joined the Girl Scouts of Eastern Iowa and Western Illinois and Quad Cities Community Foundation to train staff on building an inclusive culture for both youth and adults.
A Lifelong Learner
Amanda models what it means to be a lifelong learner. “I’m in so many of those trainings because I’m a big nerd, and I’m never happier than when I’m in school.”
Amanda earned her Certified Nonprofit Professional (CNP) credential at the University of Northern Iowa in 2021 while earning her Masters of Arts in Philanthropy and Nonprofit Development. Two years later, she went even further, earning her Advanced CNP in 2023, motivated by a desire to bring more intentionality to her work. “Absolutely worth it,” she said.
For Amanda, the CNP program helped solidify her understanding of nonprofit operations and helped connect her work to a broader mission. “Even if you’re in a small org, someone needs to know how to use data. And someone needs to understand nonprofit systems. The CNP helps you get there.”
Today, Amanda is using those skills to improve programming, shift internal culture, and ultimately, help more Girl Scouts thrive! The ripple effects of her work are felt in camp cabins, school gyms, and community centers across Iowa and Illinois.
Her advice? “Start where you are. Get curious. Build from there”.
Inspired by Amanda’s story? Join the national movement of purpose-driven professionals with the Certified Nonprofit Professional (CNP) credential!
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