Perimenopause and menopause affect over 1 billion women worldwide. Yet, more than 90% of women were never taught about menopause in school and 60% only began researching the condition after they started getting symptoms. Despite progress made in recent years, perimenopause and menopause are still seen as taboo topics, with many women feeling isolated and helpless as they go through the transition. Fortunately, charities are working hard to dispel the myths surrounding menopause and support women to feel more empowered. So, we had to ask: What are the best charities for perimenopausal and menopausal women?

The best charities for perimenopausal and menopausal women are The North American Menopause Society and the International Menopause Society. Charities like the Society for Endocrinology and The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists also do research to better manage menopause symptoms.

Whether you want to ensure that every woman going through menopause or perimenopause has access to the healthcare they need, prevent isolation in menopausal women with the establishment of support groups, or improve public knowledge surrounding the topic, there is a charity for you. Keep reading to learn more about what the best charities for perimenopausal and menopausal women are all about, how they work, and what your best way would be to make a contribution.

Here’s What All the Best Charities for Perimenopausal and Menopausal Women Have in Common

The charities on this list were chosen based on their mission, impact and transparency ratings, and achievements.

They operate predominantly across North America and the UK, supporting women who are struggling with the symptoms of perimenopause and menopause.

Many of the charities on this list focus their efforts on providing well-researched information to perimenopausal and menopausal women to help them make the best choices for their own health and well-being.

Other charities provide support and training to clinicians and scientists to advance the field of endocrinology to find better support and treatment for women going through menopause.

Yet, they all share the same goal: to open up the conversation about perimenopause/menopause and better support women going through the transition.

These Are the 9 Best Charities for Perimenopausal and Menopausal Women in 2024

Below are our favorite charities for perimenopausal and menopausal women (you can click on their link to directly jump to their section in this article):

Best Charities for Perimenopausal and Menopausal Women

The North American Menopause Society

International Menopause Society

Wellbeing of Women

Menopause Cafe

National Women’s Health Network

Society for Endocrinology

The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists

SeekHer Foundation

The Loveland Foundation

(At the end of this article we’ll also share our six-step approach on how you can select the best charity to support.)

The North American Menopause Society: Promoting Women’s Health at Midlife and Beyond

The North American Menopause Society (NAMS) was founded in 1989 by a group of scientific experts, including Dr. Utian and Isaac Schiff, to better understand menopause and healthy aging. Today, the charity is recognized as the leading resource on all aspects of menopause. 

The North American Menopause Society holds a 4-star rating from Charity Navigator.

“Dedicated to promoting the health and quality of life of all women during midlife and beyond through an understanding of menopause and healthy aging.”

North American Menopause Society

The North American Menopause Society acts as an online information resource for any woman going through perimenopause and menopause. For example, they offer a Menopausal Guidebook, which is a comprehensive discussion of menopause by a range of healthcare experts. They also provide a search database for women to find qualified menopause practitioners in their area. Furthermore, the charity supports healthcare professionals through annual meetings, research pilot funding, and mentorship programs, and offers NCMP Certification for practitioners and scientists to identify clinicians with menopause expertise.

Today, The North American Menopause Society supports women to navigate menopause through their network of 2,900 leaders in the field, including experts in sociology, psychology, medicine, and epidemiology. More than 1,000 healthcare providers now hold their prestigious NCMP Certification and the charity runs the world’s leading website on menopause. For example, in 2018, they released guidelines for evaluating and treating perimenopausal depression, as well as recommendations for the management of genitourinary syndrome in menopausal women. 

You can donate directly to The North American Menopause Society through their website. You can also support the charity by purchasing items from their online shop or you can join as a member if you are a healthcare professional. 

International Menopause Society: Promoting Education and Research on Midlife Women’s Health

The International Menopause Society was founded in 1978 by a group of menopause healthcare advocates to promote and support best practices for women going through the perimenopause/menopause transition. Today, the charity is dedicated to ensuring that every woman has easy, evidence-based access to information surrounding female aging. 

According to their financial report, the International Menopause Society spent 47.5% of their expenditure on awareness events and programs, and 49% on support costs.

“We bring together the world’s leading experts to collaborate and share knowledge about all aspects of aging in women.”

International Menopause Society

The International Menopause Society offers professional toolkits, evidence-based research articles through their Climacteric Journal, and an online library of resources to support healthcare experts working to improve support for women going through perimenopause and menopause. For example, their IMPART training courses offer comprehensive practitioner training for healthcare professionals in managing acute and long-term menopausal symptoms, as well as effective treatments. In addition, the charity has launched menopause.org, a public website that provides reliable menopause information from the world’s leading experts, translated into multiple languages. 

Since their founding, the International Menopause Society has remained committed to promoting and supporting evidence-based research to improve the healthcare of women going through perimenopause and menopause. For example, their IMPART training is the first educational initiative focused on menopause that is internationally applicable to healthcare professionals working in midlife women’s health. Furthermore, their World Congress event in 2022 was attended by 1,700 healthcare experts and they also offered 22 bursaries to promising Young Scholars in the same year. 

You can donate directly to the International Menopause Society’s Endowment for Education and Research through their website. You can also support the charity by attending an event or participating in World Menopause Day.

Wellbeing of Women: Changing the Lives of Women

Wellbeing of Women was founded in 1964 by a group of respected obstetricians and gynecologists, including Will Nixon, to improve women’s reproductive health. Today, they are the only UK-based charity funding all women’s reproductive and gynecological health, including issues surrounding perimenopause and menopause. 

According to their financial report, Wellbeing of Women spent 76.6% of their expenditure on charitable activities and 23% on raising funds. 

“From period problems and starting a family, to menopause and gynecological cancers, we are here for women’s gynecological and reproductive health.”

Wellbeing of Women

Wellbeing of Women supports women with health issues surrounding infertility, menopause, and menstruation through research, education, and advocacy. For example, their Let’s #Chat Menopause campaign features films of women sharing their experiences to open up a public conversation about this taboo topic. In addition, they offer funding to scientists who are researching every aspect of women’s health from periods to endometriosis and run the Menopause Xplored initiative, which is a free virtual reality menopause workplace training program for small to medium-sized businesses.

Since their founding, Wellbeing of Women has donated more than $86.5 million to women’s health research across 605 projects. Furthermore, 2,600 employees have signed their Menopause Workplace pledge. For example, they are researching the use of ovarian tissue transplants as an alternative to Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) to prevent early menopause in women who have had surgery to remove part or all of their ovaries. Moreover, in 2023, they launched their Health Collective to identify barriers to treatment and healthcare for marginalized populations. 

You can donate directly to the Wellbeing of Women through their website. You can also support the charity by fundraising or volunteering. 

Menopause Cafe: Getting the Whole World Talking About Menopause

Menopause Cafe was founded in 2017 by Rachel Weiss to set up safe spaces for people to open up about perimenopause and menopause. Today, the charity runs and supports menopause cafes around the world to promote conversations surrounding menopause. 

According to their financial report, Menopause Cafe spent 81% of their expenditure on charitable activities and 0.2% on administration.

“At a Menopause Cafe people gather to eat cake, drink tea, and discuss menopause.”

Menopause Cafe

Menopause Cafe organizes pop-up cafes around the world to raise awareness of menopause and get people talking about it. Companies and volunteers can host their own Menopause Cafe as long as they have a confidential space and the cafe is run as a non-profit establishment using the model created by the charity. These spaces facilitate open discussions between participants rather than set agendas, and they are open to anyone both online and in person. In addition, the charity runs an annual Menopause Festival, known as #FlushFest, to raise money and awareness for menopause. 

Since their founding, Menopause Cafe has continued to provide confidential spaces to help women open up about the struggles of menopause. For example, in 2023, the charity’s volunteers set up 360 cafes, online and face-to-face, with 3600 participants. Their worldwide cafes are now based across various countries including North America, Canada, the UK, Switzerland, Spain, and Scotland. In the same year, #FlushFest was attended by 161 participants who were able to speak openly about perimenopause and menopause. 

You can donate directly to Menopause Cafe through their website. You can also support the charity by hosting a Menopause Cafe in your area or attending an awareness event. 

National Women’s Health Network: Quality, Comprehensive, and Equitable Healthcare

The National Women’s Health Network was founded in 1975 by a group of passionate advocates to establish a women’s health initiative and protest for more transparency around prescription drugs. Today, the charity advocates for women’s rights and women’s health, including those going through perimenopause and menopause. 

The National Women’s Health Network holds a 4-star rating from Charity Navigator.

“Improving health by strategically shaping policy, expanding access, and providing accurate, unbiased information.”

National Women’s Health Network 

The National Women’s Health Network works to advance policies and healthcare systems that affect the health of women through advocacy across the US, including women suffering from perimenopause or menopause. They also run a Health UNLOCKED podcast which features information and real-life stories about pressing topics, such as menopause, to empower women to take control of their own health. Furthermore, the charity offers articles and webinars to improve awareness and knowledge surrounding women’s health. 

Since their founding, the National Women’s Health Network has remained dedicated to improving women’s health across the US, including perimenopausal and menopausal symptoms. For example, their Dying from Red Tape campaign helped to save healthcare coverage for thousands of women by opposing ‘work requirements’. This was a massive win for menopausal women who often experience symptoms that affect their work capacity. Furthermore, an article written by the charity entitled ‘Age, Weight, and My Sex Drive’ was cited in the popular editorial HealthDigest about how to increase libido naturally. 

You can donate directly to the National Women’s Health Network through their website. You can also support the charity by telling your own story to inspire others or by volunteering. 

Society for Endocrinology: Advancing Hormone Research

The Society for Endocrinology was founded in 1937 by Sir Charles Dodds Bart, Sir Frank Young, Lord Zuckerman, and Sir Alan Parkes to promote the field of endocrinology. Today, the charity is a membership organization that supports nurses, clinicians, and scientists who work with hormones, including patients suffering from menopausal symptoms. 

According to their financial report, the Society for Endocrinology spent 59% of their expenditure on raising funds and 41% on charitable activities. 

“We bring together the global endocrine community to share ideas and advance our discipline.”

Society for Endocrinology

The Society for Endocrinology works with policymakers, clinicians, scientists, and the public to encourage informed health decisions surrounding hormones, such as those regarding perimenopause and menopause. For example, they offer grants, events, and training to their members at every stage of their careers to improve clinical practice in endocrinology. In addition, they act as an authoritative source on hormones for the public through their You and Your Hormones website. For example, they offer public information on issues such as premature ovarian insufficiency, Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT), and hot flashes. 

Today, the Society for Endocrinology consists of over 2,800 scientists, clinicians, and nurses working to advance the field of endocrinology and improve outcomes for menopausal and perimenopausal patients. For example, in 2022, the charity prompted 350 media articles to bring endocrine issues to the forefront of public awareness and their Online Skills Academy supported 2,000 attendees across all webinars. In the same year, they promoted career development by awarding 260 grants to promising scientists, totaling more than $550,000. Furthermore, their award-winning ‘Hormones: The Inside Story’ podcast reached over 50,000 streams. 

You can leave a legacy in your will for the Society for Endocrinology through their website. You can also support the charity by purchasing their merchandise.

The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists: Making a Difference in Women’s Health

The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists was founded in 1951 by a group of physicians as a membership organization for obstetrician-gynecologists. Today, the charity utilizes their network of experts to improve women’s health around the globe, including those going through perimenopause or menopause. 

The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists holds a 4-star rating from Charity Navigator and a Bronze Seal of Transparency from GuideStar. 

“Working to improve and strengthen women’s health care around the world with programs dedicated to global health, social issues, advocacy, and more.”

The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists

The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists produces practical guidelines for healthcare professionals to improve women’s health, including those going through perimenopause or menopause. They also offer career support such as student loan financing and coding workshops. In addition, they provide online evidence-based information for people going through menopause, such as management of symptoms, and digital pamphlets on a wide range of issues that affect women’s health. Furthermore, they advocate for the improvement of the Women’s Preventive Services Initiative to broaden access to services without having to pay an additional charge or co-insurance. 

Today, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists consists of over 60,000 members in 12 Districts, all working to improve women’s health, including those going through perimenopause or menopause. For example, a study published in 2013 found that the transdermal administration of estrogen in postmenopausal women can greatly reduce the risk of venous thromboembolism when compared to oral administration of estrogen, while still offering the same benefits. 

You can donate directly to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists through their website. You can also support the charity through planned giving or by connecting with them on social media.

SeekHer Foundation: Bridging the Gender Gap of Mental Health

SeekHer Foundation was founded in 2021 by Monica Mo. After suffering a mental breakdown, Mo recognized the need for an organization that focused on mental health issues unique to women. Today, the foundation supports women’s mental health through advocacy, including issues specific to women going through menopause and perimenopause. 

SeekHer Foundation is a charitable project supported by the Social Good Fund, which holds a 3-star rating from Charity Navigator. The fund also holds the Silver Seal of Transparency from GuideStar.

“When we power more women, we power more good.”

SeekHer Foundation

SeekHer Foundation pinpoints challenges that impact women’s mental health, including menopause and perimenopause, and identifies actionable solutions through advocacy campaigns, empowerment initiatives, and funding support. For example, their self-care advocacy campaign provides resources for women to prioritize their wellness. Furthermore, they have created online and offline communities to bring women together to talk about their issues in a confidential and friendly environment through their SeekHer Circle initiative. In addition, they offer mentorship programs to female healthcare practitioners to advance the field of female mental health and close the gender gap in quality care. 

Since their founding, SeekHer Foundation has remained committed to providing mental health support to women of all ages, including those going through perimenopause or menopause. For example, in 2023, they provided wellness resources to over 406,000 women and offered $427,950 in grants to female practitioners and women leaders. In the same year, they also ran 46 events and workshops to empower women to think of themselves in a positive light and ignited 522,000 vital conversations on women’s health and needs. 

You can donate directly to SeekHer Foundation via their website. You can also support the charity by starting a giveback initiative or applying to be a SeekHer Scholar.

The Loveland Foundation: Increasing Access to Mental Health Resources for Women of Color

The Loveland Foundation was founded in 2018 by Rachel Cargle to support mental health therapy for Black women. Today, the charity is a continuation of that effort, dedicated to the mental health of women of color nationwide, including those going through perimenopause or menopause.

According to their financial report, The Loveland Foundation spent 80% of their expenditure on their Therapy Fund, 16% on administration, and 4% on fundraising. 

“We are becoming the ones we’ve been waiting for.” The Loveland Foundation

The Loveland Foundation supports women of color and their mental health by increasing access to culturally competent therapy, including those going through menopause and perimenopause. For example, the Loveland Therapy Fund provides recipients with monetary vouchers to receive therapy from providers who specialize in minority mental health. These vouchers can be used with any licensed mental health therapist in the US, however, the charity also provides a directory of suitable services for patients who are unsure where to start looking. 

Since their inception, The Loveland Foundation has funded 18,462 therapy recipients, providing 152,604 hours of therapy for vulnerable women, including those going through menopause and perimenopause. Approximately 3,690 therapists serve voucher recipients every year. For example, in 2023, the charity covered the cost of over $3.2 million in therapy sessions to thousands of Black women, girls, and non-binary individuals. In the same year, they also provided wellness resources to 3,500 BIPOC therapists and more than 20,000 participants. 

You can donate directly to The Loveland Foundation through their website. You can also support the charity by starting a fundraiser via your social media profile. 

How Can You Select the Best Charities to Support?

The charities on the list are, we deem, the best charities for perimenopausal women. However, you may have a particular charity you want to support. Let’s look at what you can do to ensure your contribution has the most significant impact.

• Check out the charity website. Charities that are worthy of your donations are transparent in their mission and their figures. Familiarize yourself with their history, mission, and values. Their website usually is the best place to start.
• Identify the charity’s mission. Without a goal, the charity is likely to fail. If the charity’s mission isn’t clear, it’s probably worth looking for a charity that does have a clear mission. 
• Check if the charity has measurable goals. An effective charity has clear goals. You want to know your donation will help the charity reach its goals. But if it doesn’t have targets, it’s likely to fail or squander your gift. The charity should be able to account for its spending and supply evidence of the work they do.
• Assess the successes or goals the charity has achieved. You wouldn’t invest in a business if it kept missing its targets. In the same way, charities are like this too. If no one is assessing a charity’s progress in reaching its targets, the chances are they’re not making a substantial positive change.
• Check the charity’s financials and stats. Trustworthy organizations will publish financial statements and reports each year. Some might be exempt from having to do so, but they should be able to provide them to public members who are interested in donating.
• Locate sources who work with or benefit from the charity. Word of mouth and first-hand experience of a charity’s work lets you know the charity’s quality. If you’re able to do so, check out the charity for yourself or speak to someone familiar with it. This way, your donation will go to the right place. 

How Can You Best Support These Charities?

After you’ve made your decision, it’s time for you to decide on how you’d like to help the charities you’ve chosen. Check how you can help – each charity runs specific programs that have unique aims. Find out what the aim of such programs is and whether they are right for you. 

Here are a few ways you can help your chosen charity:

• Donate money. You can find donation pages on the website of most charities. Your donation can be a one-time payment, or you can set it to be deducted regularly at different intervals. You can mostly pay via credit card, but some charities also take PayPal or Bitcoin payments.
• Buy their official merchandise. Charities can also raise money by selling merchandise. So, you can support them by buying the mugs, shirts, caps, pens, pencils, and any other such items they may be selling. Ideally, you should buy as much as you can to share and spread the word about the charity’s activities.
• Engage in volunteer work. As you’ve seen from our descriptions above, some charities engage in a lot of local and grassroots programs. You can help by taking on and organizing the program in your local area.
• Help their fundraising efforts. You can spread the word about the charity in your workplace, school, church, etc., and hold creative fundraising drives on social media or offline within your small circles.
• Share their stories. Most charities have compelling stories that you can share with your audience to attract more people to the cause.

Final Thoughts

Now it is up to you to select the charity that resonates most with you. And whichever charity you end up choosing and contributing to, we are sure that they will immensely appreciate your support. Hopefully, the information within this article has made this selection process a bit easier for you to support charities dedicated to perimenopausal women—based on the causes that matter most to you.

Stay impactful,

PS: Finally, I want to leave you with a thought-provoking TED talk from Dan Pallotta, a leading philanthropic activist and fundraiser, about what is wrong with the way we think about charities – and what we can do about it:

Sources

• National Library of Medicine: An online survey of perimenopausal women to determine their attitudes and knowledge of the menopause
• UCL: Nine in ten women were never educated about the menopause
• North American Menopause Society: Home page
• Charity Navigator: North American Menopause Society
• North American Menopause Society: Menopause & Me
• North American Menopause Society: Menopause Guidebook
• North American Menopause Society: Find a Menopause Practitioner
• North American Menopause Society: Annual Meetings
• North American Menopause Society: Research Pilot Funding Program
• North American Menopause Society: Research Mentorship Program
• North American Menopause Society: MSCP Certification
• North American Menopause Society: About NAMS
• North American Menopause Society: Guidelines for the evaluation and treatment of perimenopausal depression
• North American Menopause Society: Management of genitourinary syndrome of menopause in women with or at high risk for breast cancer
• North American Menopause Society: Donate
• North American Menopause Society: Shop
• North American Menopause Society: Joining NAMS
• International Menopause Society: Home page
• Charity Commission for England and Wales: International Menopause Society
• International Menopause Society: Professionals
• International Menopause Society: Climacteric Journal
• International Menopause Society: Video & Podcast Library
• International Menopause Society: IMPART Registration
• International Menopause Society: For Women
• International Menopause Society: President’s Message
• International Menopause Society: Donate
• International Menopause Society: Events
• International Menopause Society: World Menopause Day
• Wellbeing of Women: Home page
• Charity Commission for England and Wales: Wellbeing of Women
• Wellbeing of Women: Research
• Wellbeing of Women: Education
• Wellbeing of Women: Campaigns
• Wellbeing of Women: Let’s #Chat Menopause
• Wellbeing of Women: For Researchers
• Wellbeing of Women: Menopause Xplored
• Wellbeing of Women: Our Impact
• Wellbeing of Women: Menopause Workplace Pledge
• Wellbeing of Women: Can ovarian tissue transplants prevent early menopause?
• Wellbeing of Women: Launch of the Health Collective
• Wellbeing of Women: Donate
• Wellbeing of Women: Fundraise for us
• Wellbeing of Women: Volunteer for us
• Menopause Cafe: Home page
• Menopause Cafe: Annual Report 2022-23
• Menopause Cafe: How to Host a Menopause Cafe
• Menopause Cafe: Menopause Festival
• Menopause Cafe: Donate
• Menopause Cafe: Events Map and Calendar
• National Women’s Health Network: Home page
• Charity Navigator: National Women’s Health Network
• National Women’s Health Network: The HEALTH Program
• National Women’s Health Network: The Network’s 12 Policy Pillars
• National Women’s Health Network: Your Health UNLOCKED
• National Women’s Health Network: Deep Dive Articles
• National Women’s Health Network: Upcoming Events
• National Women’s Health Network: Dying from Red Tape
• Health Digest: 14 Natural Ways To Boost Your Sex Drive
• Health Digest: Home page
• National Women’s Health Network: Donate
• National Women’s Health Network: Story Pitch Form
• National Women’s Health Network: Volunteer Interest Form
• Society for Endocrinology: Home page
• Charity Commission for England and Wales: Society for Endocrinology
• Society for Endocrinology: Spotlight on menopause
• Society for Endocrinology: Grants & Awards
• Society for Endocrinology: Events
• Society for Endocrinology: Clinical Practice
• You and Your Hormones: Home page
• You and Your Hormones: Premature ovarian insufficiency
• You and Your Hormones: Hormone Replacement Therapy
• You and Your Hormones: Why do hot flushes occur in menopause?
• Society for Endocrinology: Membership
• Society for Endocrinology: Annual reports and financial statements
• Society for Endocrinology: New podcast series reveals the truth about hormones and health
• Society for Endocrinology: Leaving a legacy 
• Society for Endocrinology: Shop
• American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists: Home page
• Charity Navigator: American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists
• GuideStar: American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists
• American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists: Resource Center
• American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists: Student Loan Refinancing
• American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists: Workshops and Webinars
• American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists: Menopause
• American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists: Management of Menopausal Symptoms
• American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists: Patient Education
• American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists: Women’s Preventive Services Initiative
• American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists: About Us
• American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists: Postmenopausal Estrogen Therapy Route of Administration and Risk of Venous Thromboembolism
• American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists: Donate
• American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists: Planned Giving
• American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists: Social Media
• SeekHer Foundation: Home page
• Social Good Fund: Home page
• Charity Navigator: Social Good Fund
• GuideStar: Social Good Fund
• SeekHer Foundation: SeekHer Shift
• SeekHer Foundation: Self-Care Advocacy
• SeekHer Foundation: SeekHer Circle
• SeekHer Foundation: SeekHer Scholars
• SeekHer Foundation: Our Impact
• SeekHer Foundation: 2023 Impact Report
• SeekHer Foundation: Donate
• SeekHer Foundation: Ways to Give
• SeekHer Foundation: Apply for our SeekHer Scholars Program
• The Loveland Foundation: Home page
• The Loveland Foundation: 2023 Annual Report
• The Loveland Foundation: Loveland Therapy Fund
• The Loveland Foundation: Frequently Asked Questions
• The Loveland Foundation: Impact
• The Loveland Foundation: Donate
• The Loveland Foundation: Become a Fundraiser