Period poverty is a global issue that affects around 500 million people, particularly in developing countries. Period poverty is not simply a lack of access to menstrual hygiene products, it also carries a social stigma that prevents 1 in 10 menstruating youth from attending school during ‘that time of the month.’ Fortunately, charities around the world are working to end the stigma that surrounds periods and ensure that everyone has access to period products whenever they need them. So, we had to ask: What are the best charities that combat period poverty?

The best charities that combat period poverty are PERIOD and Days for Girls. Other charities such as Huru International and ZanaAfrica also focus their efforts on distributing menstrual products to people in poor communities across Africa. 

Whether you want to ensure every person has access to affordable period products, educate adolescents on menstrual health, or simply normalize menstruation in society, there is a charity for you. Keep reading to learn more about what the best charities that combat period poverty are all about, how they work, and what your best way would be to make a contribution.

Here’s What All the Best Charities That Combat Period Poverty Have in Common

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

They operate all over the world, from North America to Africa, fighting for menstrual equity.

The majority of the charities on this list distribute free menstrual products to people in need, whether that’s the homeless, refugees, or those on a low income.

They also provide menstrual health education in communities and schools to normalize periods. In addition, some of these charities advocate for better menstrual equity legislation to end period poverty for good.

Yet, through different means, they all share the same goal of combating period poverty.

These Are the 9 Best Charities That Combat Period Poverty in 2024

Below are our favorite charities that combat period poverty (you can click on their link to directly jump to their section in this article):

Best Charities That Combat Period Poverty

PERIOD

Days for Girls

Dignity Period

The Pad Project

Huru International

Helping Women Period

ZanaAfrica

ActionAid

Bloody Good Period

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

PERIOD: The Menstrual Movement 

PERIOD was founded in 2014 by two high school students, Nadya Okamoto and Vincent Forand, to address the fact that many people didn’t have access to the products they needed during their period. Today, the charity works to end period poverty through service, education, and advocacy. 

PERIOD holds a Platinum Seal of Transparency from GuideStar. 

“Striving to eradicate period poverty and stigma through advocacy, education, and science.”

PERIOD

PERIOD is a youth-led movement working to end period poverty by distributing menstrual products to grassroots organizations and businesses across the US. They also conduct and publish scientific reports and studies showing the prevalence of period poverty and advocate for legislative and societal change. In addition, they run Youth Champion Awards to recognize the impact and dedication of youth volunteers working to advance menstrual equity in their own communities. Furthermore, they partnered with the Thurman Perry Foundation to run a comprehensive workshop about period poverty in US correctional facilities. 

Since their founding, PERIOD has distributed products to cover over 5 million menstrual cycles. For example, in 2022, they covered over 1 million menstrual cycles through the distribution of sanitary wear and their advocacy efforts led to the advancement of 62 menstrual equity policies in 31 states, including two federal bills. Today, the charity consists of thousands of activists in 400 chapters across 44 states and 32 countries. 

You can donate directly to PERIOD through their website. You can also support the charity by attending one of their awareness events or by purchasing items from their online shop. 

Days for Girls: Turning Periods into Pathways

Days for Girls was founded in 2008 by Celeste Mergens to provide sanitary wear to children in a Kenyan orphanage in the wake of post-election violence. Today, the charity is working to eliminate the stigma and limitations associated with menstruation around the world. 

Days for Girls holds a 4-star rating from Charity Navigator and a Platinum Seal of Transparency from GuideStar.

“We increase access to menstrual care and education by developing global partnerships, cultivating Social Enterprises, mobilizing volunteers, and innovating sustainable solutions that shatter stigma and limitations for women and girls.”

Days for Girls 

Days for Girls provides period kits to vulnerable women and girls around the world. These kits contain reusable, washable sanitary pads as well as care & use guides, underwear, washcloths, and a carry pouch. In addition, they run a number of menstrual health education courses for disadvantaged communities. For example, their Men Who Know online course equips men, boys, and social entrepreneurs with the knowledge they need to support menstruating family members or friends. Furthermore, the charity advocates and provides technical assistance to government bodies so they can create and implement policies that support menstrual health. 

Since their founding, Days for Girls has impacted the lives of over 3 million women, girls, and people with periods across 145 countries. They now run 119 social enterprises and 272 chapters in 31 countries. For example, in 2022, the charity distributed nearly 300,000 period kits to women and girls in need and reached 307,000 people with their menstrual education programs. 

You can donate directly to Days for Girls through their website. You can also support the charity by volunteering or by purchasing items from their online shop. 

Dignity Period: Dignity Through Menstrual Health

Dignity Period was founded in 2014 by Lewis and Helen Wall and their friends Mike and Lynn Coatney to combat the challenge of menstrual hygiene in Ethiopia. Today, the charity distributes reusable sanitary products to vulnerable girls across Ethiopia and the US. 

Dignity Period holds a 3-star rating from Charity Navigator.

“We’re on a mission to end period poverty, giving those who menstruate dignity. Period.”

Dignity Period

Dignity Period gives girls and women the tools they need to manage their periods and continue their education without disruption. For example, they distribute female hygiene packs to schools across the US and Ethiopia containing reusable sanitary products. Each washable pad is the equivalent of 240 tampons or disposable pads. In the Tigray and Afar regions of northern Ethiopia, the charity also runs education programs in schools about menstrual periods and provides informative leaflets to be taken home to family members. Furthermore, they conduct research studies to better understand the impacts of period poverty on women and girls. 

Since their founding, Dignity Period has supplied 179,000 people with free reusable menstrual pads across Ethiopia and the US. They have also educated 336,000 men and boys about menstrual health in Ethiopia and prevented 3.4 million disposable period products from ending up in landfills. For example, in 2023, the charity delivered 5,000 reusable period kits in Seattle through a new partnership with Compass Health, equating to 1.2 million disposable products. 

You can donate directly to Dignity Period through their website. You can also support the charity by fundraising or volunteering. 

The Pad Project: A Period Should End a Sentence, Not a Girl’s Education

The Pad Project was founded in 2013 by a group of students and teachers to educate the public on period poverty. Today, the charity works with like-minded organizations to ensure every woman and girl has access to suitable period products when they need them. 

The Pad Project holds a Gold Seal of Transparency from GuideStar.

“To create and cultivate local and global partnerships to end period stigma and empower all menstruators worldwide.”

The Pad Project

The Pad Project works with local grassroots organizations and nonprofits to fund the placement of pad machines, as well as the implementation of menstrual hygiene workshops and washable pad programs in disadvantaged communities around the globe. In addition, they provide grants to school districts and organizations across the US to purchase bulk menstrual supplies. Moreover, they have partnered with This is L. to make period care products free from synthetic pesticides and dyes more widely available through a grant scheme. 

Since their founding, The Pad Project has distributed over 520,000 menstrual products to women and girls in the US and internationally. They have also implemented 8 washable cup and menstrual cup programs in Sierra Leone, the Bahamas, Ghana, Guatemala, Kenya, Pakistan, Tanzania, and Uganda. In addition, the charity has reached 11,750 people through their education workshops and installed 12 pad-making machines in India, Nepal, Kenya, and Sri Lanka. 

You can donate directly to The Pad Project through their website. You can also support the charity by joining one of their campaigns or by becoming a Pad Project Ambassador. 

Huru International: No Girl Should Be Limited by Her Period

Huru International was founded in 2008 in Nairobi by Lorna Macleod when she was working on HIV prevention and noticed the significant barriers faced by local girls and women to manage their periods. Today, the charity distributes safe period care products and education to vulnerable girls across East Africa.

Huru International holds a 4-star rating from Charity Navigator and a Platinum Seal of Transparency from GuideStar.

“To support girls and young women who don’t have access to menstrual pads and health education throughout East Africa.”

Huru International

Since their founding, Huru International has distributed over 2.2 million sanitary pads and 3,000 hygiene kits to girls in need across East Africa. In addition, they have educated 475,000 young women and girls on sexual and reproductive health. They have also helped more than 300 women build their career prospects and currently employ over 100 local men and women at their sanitary wear production and packaging site in Nairobi, Kenya. 

You can donate directly to Huru International through their website. You can also support the charity by holding a fundraiser or by joining their community of monthly donors. 

Helping Women Period: Providing Menstrual Products to the Homeless

Helping Women Period was founded in 2015 by Lysne Tait and Amy Stephenson to end period poverty in Michigan. Today, the charity is dedicated to providing free menstrual products to homeless people in need or those on low incomes. 

Helping Women Period holds a Platinum Seal of Transparency from GuideStar. 

“To provide no cost menstrual products to those experiencing homeless or low-income disparity.”

Helping Women Period

Helping Women Period distributes free period products across Michigan, with a focus on reaching people experiencing domestic violence as well as the homeless and BIPOC communities. They work to end period poverty through advocacy, education, and by partnering with like-minded organizations. For example, they collaborate with food pantries, schools, shelters, and charities that detail what their clients require, so Helping Women Period can provide them with those products. 

Since their founding, Helping Women Period has distributed period products to more than 4 million menstruators in need across Michigan. Furthermore, their work has been featured in multiple leading magazines including Teen Vogue and Forbes. For example, in 2023, the charity delivered over 2 million period products, including pads, tampons, wipes, and panty liners. Furthermore, in 2018, they established 15 drop-box locations to allow people in need to access menstrual products whenever they need them. 

You can donate directly to Helping Women Period through their website. You can also support the charity by hosting your own Period Supply Drive or by purchasing their merchandise. 

ZanaAfrica: No Girl Should Be Limited By Her Period

ZanaAfrica was founded in 2007 by Megan White Mukuria to expand access to sanitary pads and reproductive health education among adolescent girls in Kenya. Today, the charity is working hard to ensure that all girls in Kenya have more control over their bodies, decisions, and futures. 

According to their financial report, ZanaAfrica spent 79% of their expenditure on charitable activities, 3% on fundraising, and 13% on administration. 

“We equip adolescent girls in Kenya with the tools they need to safely navigate puberty and unlock their potential.”

ZanaAfrica

ZanaAfrica delivers Nia sanitary pads and underwear to underprivileged girls across Kenya. The unique packaging of the sanitary pads also contains the Nia HealthLink which consists of a chatbot and a confidential helpline that provides answers to reproductive health and women’s rights questions for free. They also offer a 25-session facilitated health and life skills curriculum to local schools and have launched their Uwezo Initiative to train local teachers. Furthermore, the charity has created a series of youth-focused print magazines, called Nia Teen, to improve the health and confidence of adolescents across Kenya. 

Since their founding, ZanaAfrica has remained dedicated to ending period poverty in Kenya. For example, since 2013, they have supported over 100,000 girls with pads and underpants to help them manage their periods with dignity. Furthermore, in 2019, the charity trained more than 40 local teachers and 3 curriculum support officers in Western Kenya to expand the reach of their reproductive health programs in schools. Moreover, in 2021, they trained 85 community partner organizations through their online course, covering topics such as teenage pregnancy, mental health, and puberty. 

You can donate directly to ZanaAfrica through their website. You can also support the charity by requesting a speaker to visit your community and share solutions to achieving gender equality. 

ActionAid: No One Should Be Held Back Because of Their Period

ActionAid was founded in 1972 by Cecil Jackson-Cole to support vulnerable children in India and Kenya. Today, the charity is tackling the root causes of poverty around the world, including period poverty. 

According to their financial report, ActionAid has spent 85% of their expenditure on charitable activities and 16.5% on fundraising. 

“To achieve social justice, gender equality, and poverty eradication.”

ActionAid

ActionAid provides training on how to make reusable sanitary pads in some of the world’s poorest regions in Africa and Asia. They also distribute health kits, containing menstrual products, wipes, and soap to women in conflict and disaster zones. Furthermore, the charity is working with local communities in Nepal to end the harmful practice of period-shaming, called chhaupadi, through advocacy and education.

Every year, ActionAid reaches over 15 million vulnerable girls and women in more than 40 countries worldwide. For example, they have distributed menstrual products in a wide range of crises and disasters, including the Nepal earthquake of 2015 and the food crisis of 2017 in East Africa. In Malawi, the women taking part in their reusable sanitary pad sewing training courses have so far made 3,000 pads that have been distributed to 600 girls in need. 

You can donate directly to ActionAid through their website. You can also support the charity by sponsoring a vulnerable child or by purchasing items from their online shop.

Bloody Good Period: Fighting for Menstrual Equality

Bloody Good Period was founded in 2016 by Gabby Jahanshahi-Edlin to provide period products to people in need across the UK. Today, the charity works to ensure that asylum seekers, refugees, and otherwise displaced people have unrestricted access to high-quality period supplies. 

According to their financial report, Bloody Good Period spent 75% of their expenditure on charitable activities and 25% on raising funds. 

“We fight for menstrual equality and the rights of all women and people who bleed, so that no one is held back by their period or society’s warped perception of the menstruating body.”

Bloody Good Period

Bloody Good Period distributes free period and menstrual health supplies to refugees, asylum seekers, and other displaced people around the UK, as well as those who can’t afford or access them. They also provide menstrual, sexual, and reproduction education sessions to asylum seekers and refugees which are led by medical professionals. Some of the topics they cover include contraception, breast screening, and period tracking. In addition, the charity advocates for the normalization of periods by promoting open conversations and encouraging people to use more direct language when talking about their periods. 

Today, Bloody Good Period partners with over 100 community partners across England and Wales to ensure every person has access to vital period products. Since their founding, the charity has reached 113 people through their education sessions and has seen a 330% increase in the number of people who know where to access their products. Furthermore, 50% of the people they have reached are now more likely to speak to their GP about any worrying symptoms. For example, in 2022, they provided more than 119,000 packs of menstrual products to people in need. 

You can donate directly to Bloody Good Period through their website. You can also support the charity by purchasing items from their online shop or by volunteering.

How Can You Select the Best Charities to Support?

The charities on the list are, we deem, the best charities that combat period poverty. 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 combating period poverty—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

• PERIOD: Home page
• GuideStar: PERIOD
• PERIOD: Better Together
• PERIOD: Period Poverty
• PERIOD: Youth Awards
• PERIOD: Publications
• PERIOD: Service Network
• PERIOD: Annual Reports
• PERIOD: Donate
• PERIOD: Events
• PERIOD: Shop
• Days For Girls: Home page
• Charity Navigator: Days For Girls
• GuideStar: Days For Girls
• Days for Girls: DFG Pads
• Days for Girls: Where We Operate
• Days for Girls: Life Changing Education
• Days for Girls: Men and Boys Are Crucial Partners
• Days for Girls: Policy and Advocacy
• Days for Girls: Our Mission
• Days for Girls: 2022 Annual Report
• Days for Girls: Donate
• Days for Girls: Volunteer
• Days for Girls: Merchandise Shop
• Dignity Period: Home page
• Charity Navigator: Dignity Period
• Dignity Period: About
• Dignity Period: Ethiopia
• Dignity Period: Our Research
• Dignity Period: A Decade of Dignity
• Dignity Period: What a Year!
• Dignity Period: Donate
• Dignity Period: Fundraise
• Dignity Period: Volunteer Opportunities
• The Pad Project: Home page
• GuideStar: The Pad Project
• The Pad Project: Our Mission
• The Pad Project: Our Programs
• The Pad Project: This is L. X The Pad Project
• The Pad Project: Donate
• The Pad Project: Take Action
• The Pad Project: Ambassador Program
• Huru International: Home page
• Charity Navigator: Huru International
• GuideStar: Huru International
• Huru International: Community Distributions
• Huru International: This is L.
• Huru International: Skills Development Program
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• Huru International: Donate
• Huru International: Fundraise For Girls
• Huru International: Join the Cycle
• Helping Women Period: Home page
• GuideStar: Helping Women Period
• Helping Women Period: About
• Helping Women Period: Our Partners
• Helping Women Period: Impact Report 2018
• Helping Women Period: Donate
• Helping Women Period: Period Supply Drive Toolkit
• Helping Women Period: Shop
• ZanaAfrica: Home page
• ZanaAfrica: Report for Tax Year 2022
• ZanaAfrica: Menstrual Health Management
• ZanaAfrica: Health and Life Skills Education
• ZanaAfrica: Our Programs
• ZanaAfrica: Social Behavior and Change Communications
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• ZanaAfrica: Donate
• ZanaAfrica: Request a Speaker
• ActionAid: Home page
• ActionAid: Trustees’ Report and Accounts 2017
• ActionAid: Period Poverty
• ActionAid: Periods in Humanitarian Disasters
• ActionAid: Chhaupadi and Menstruation Taboos
• ActionAid: Periods – All your questions answered
• ActionAid: About us
• ActionAid: Earthquakes in Nepal 2015
• ActionAid: Food Crisis in East Africa 2017-2023
• ActionAid: Menstrual Hygiene Day
• ActionAid: Donate
• ActionAid: Sponsor a Child
• ActionAid: Charity Gifts
• Bloody Good Period: Home page
• Bloody Good Period: Financial Statements
• Bloody Good Period: Delivery
• Bloody Good Period: Education
• Bloody Good Period: We Normalize Periods
• Bloody Good Period: Donate
• Bloody Good Period: Shop
• Bloody Good Period: Volunteer