As the Girl Scouts of the USA enters its centennial year, the organization named one of the 10 nonprofits to Watch in 2012 by The Chronicle of Philanthropy.

The premier leadership development program for girls was highlighted because Girl Scouting has a new national CEO, Anna Maria Chavez; is planning a nationwide fundraising effort; and will launch a Year of the Girl initiative to promote leadership opportunities for all girls.

“Today’s girls have access to life-changing experiences that inspire them to envision a world without limits,” Girl Scouts of the Green and White Mountains’ CEO Patricia K. Mellor, said.

“The Girl Scout program offers opportunities and experiences they can’t get anywhere else, from wilderness survival and environmental awareness, to science, technology, engineering, community service, and high adventure, among many others.”

The Girl Scout Cookie program, the pre-eminent financial literacy program for girls, is taking place across New Hampshire and Vermont, with 21st-century features, including a Cookie Locator “app.”

Go to www.girlscoutsgwm.org and click on Cookie Locator to find a cookie booth sale near you.

Or call the Cookie Hotline, 888-474-9686, ext. 201, and leave a message to order.

Through the cookie program, girls learn five essential life skills: goal-setting, decision-making, money management, people skills, and business ethics. Girls can earn their own “Cookie Dough” to pay their way to camp and other Girl Scout programs and opportunities.

On March 12, Girl Scouts will celebrate the 100th anniversary of the day that founder Juliette Gordon Low met with 18 girls in Savannah, Ga., to start a program to prepare them for active citizenship and to support themselves.

Girl Scouting recently rebranded itself, tweaking the traditional trefoil logo, and rolling out new badges including ones on Internet safety, geocacheing, science and technology, and financial empowerment.

Girl Scouts of the Green and White Mountains, headquartered in Bedford, is a chartered member of Girl Scouts of the USA, dedicated to building girls of courage, confidence and character, who make the world a better place.

The Council serves 15,600 girls across New Hampshire and Vermont, thanks to 5,300 trained and dedicated volunteers. See www.girlscoutsgwm.org or call 888-474-9686 to register, volunteer, or reconnect.

To learn more about the 10 Nonprofits to Watch in 2012 or The Chronicle of Philanthropy, visit http://philanthropy.com/article/10-Nonprofits-to-Watch-in-2012/130213.