CHAPTERS
In over 40 U.S. states and over 20 countries, PERIOD. chapters work to advance PERIOD.’s mission of eradicating period poverty and stigma in their local communities.
FIND A CHAPTER NEAR YOU
PERIOD. Chapters are local, youth-led clubs or students groups working to advance PERIOD.’s mission to end period poverty and stigma in their own communities. Chapter leaders work to build community relationships, advance access to free period products in public places and schools, and boldly educate others on menstrual health.
Chapter Applications will be open from July 1 - August 14 2026.
Once your application is reviewed, you will receive an email from the PERIOD. team with following steps.
Here's how to start a PERIOD. Chapter, and what you need to know before you apply.
HOW TO START A PERIOD. CHAPTER
We welcome any group of three or more to apply as a new chapter. We have three types of chapters:
- School: Chapter leadership is primarily based in an educational institution, such as middle school, high school or college.
- Community: Chapter leadership is primarily based in a particular town or city. Cannot be associated with a state or entire country.
- Organization: Chapter leadership is based in an established organization or company. You must have a pre-existing company or organization, reside in the United States, and be under the age of 25.
It’s up to you! Sometimes, Chapters host period product drives to donate products to local community shelters or food banks. Sometimes Chapters host intersectional educational events for fellow students. Sometimes students meet with legislators, testify at legislative hearings, or sign petitions for federal period policies.
We believe PERIOD. Chapter leaders are experts in their own communities - working to build community partnerships, advance access to free period products in public places and schools, and boldly educate others on menstrual health.
Yes, you can start a Chapter outside the U.S.! We have Chapters located around the world. Global Chapters have full access to the online tools and resources available to all U.S. based Chapters. Please note, however, that we are unable to ship period products internationally.
Youth under 18 years old are required to have a PERIOD. Chapter Advisor. A Chapter Advisor is a trusted adult in your community available to support you and your Chapter.
We anticipate that running a Chapter will require at least 5 hours every month. This accounts for planning, officer meetings, club attendance, and any other program related activities that your Chapter hosts during that month. This is not a hard and fast time requirement, but a good starting point as you consider starting a Chapter. The monthly time commitment will likely vary depending on the time of year/season. For example, school Chapter leaders might have several weeks of break between school semesters.
PERIOD. Chapter applications are open twice a year! They open in the summer and in the winter.
This summer, Chapter applications will be open from July 1 - August 14 2026.
To start a Chapter, we ask that you have three folks committed to serving as Chapter leaders (or officers). Change takes place with and through community. We believe that our Chapter model functions best when activism grows beyond individual to collective action. Having three folks on board is also the most sustainable option to ensure a lasting impact and overall success of your Chapter.
1.Fill out the application (allow 10-15 minutes to complete!)
2.Schedule an informal Interview with our national staff
3.Receive your official PERIOD. Chapter approval and register your Chapter in our global network!
*Note: Only fully registered Chapters are considered active PERIOD. Chapters.
Who can start a Chapter?
- We welcome any group of three or more to apply as a new chapter. We have three types of chapters
- School: Chapter leadership is primarily based in an educational institution, such as middle school, high school or college.
- Community: Chapter leadership is primarily based in a particular town or city. Cannot be associated with a state or entire country.
- Organization: Chapter leadership is based in an established organization or company. You must have a pre-existing company or organization, reside in the United States, and be under the age of 25.
What do Chapters do?
It’s up to you! Sometimes, Chapters host period product drives to donate products to local community shelters or food banks. Sometimes Chapters host intersectional educational events for fellow students. Sometimes students meet with legislators, testify at legislative hearings, or sign petitions for federal period policies.
We believe PERIOD. Chapter leaders are experts in their own communities - working to build community partnerships, advance access to free period products in public places and schools, and boldly educate others on menstrual healt
Can you start a Chapter outside the U.S.?
Yes! We have Chapters located around the world. Global Chapters have full access to the online tools and resources available to all U.S. based Chapters. Please note, however, that we are unable to ship period products internationally
Age requirement
All chapter leaders must be 25 years old or younger to apply for and lead a PERIOD. chapter.
Advisor requirement
Any chapter leader under the age of 18 is required to have an advisor before registering a chapter. A Chapter Advisor is a trusted adult in your community available to support you and your Chapter.
Advisors may include:
- A teacher
- Faculty member
- Parent/Guardian
Co-Lead requirement
All chapters are required to have at least one co-lead before applying.
This may be a:
- Co-President
- Vice President
- Other leadership partner
If you are starting a school chapter, your co-lead must attend the same school as you.
Time commitment
We anticipate that running a Chapter will require at least 5 hours every month. This accounts for planning, officer meetings, club attendance, and any other program related activities that your Chapter hosts during that month. This is not a hard and fast time requirement, but a good starting point as you consider starting a Chapter. The monthly time commitment will likely vary depending on the time of year/season. For example, school Chapter leaders might have several weeks of break between school semesters.
The required team
To start a Chapter, we ask that you have three folks committed to serving as Chapter leaders (or officers). Change takes place with and through community. We believe that our Chapter model functions best when activism grows beyond individual to collective action. Having three folks on board is also the most sustainable option to ensure a lasting impact and overall success of your Chapter.
Check your school's policies
If you are creating a school or campus-based chapter, make sure to review your institution’s requirements for starting a student organization. Some schools may require:
- A minimum number of members
- An advisor
- Constitutions or registration documents
- Additional approval processes
- Please note that school requirements may differ from PERIOD. Chapter requirements.
When do applications open?
PERIOD. Chapter applications are open twice a year! They open in the summer and in the winter. Visit period.org/chapters to see when applications are open or learn more.
Advisors play a vital role in supporting student leaders by offering guidance, continuity, and encouragement while empowering youth to lead!
Your role as an advisor
- Support and mentor youth leaders
- Provide guidance and institutional knowledge
- Help ensure continuity year to year
- Serve as an additional point of connection between the Chapter and PERIOD.
How to support your chapter
- Answering questions and offering advice when needed
- Attend occasional meetings or check-ins (as available)
- Help students navigate challenges or transitions
- Connect student leaders to PERIOD staff and resources when needed
The time commitment
We anticipate your role as an advisor to require 1–3 hours per month. Time may vary depending on the Chapter’s needs and activity level. Reminder: Advisors must be located in the same state as their Chapter.
Resources
Chapter newsletter: Make sure you and the rest of your Chapter leaders are signed up to receive the monthly Chapter newsletter.
PERIOD.'s general newsletter: Sign up to stay informed of PERIOD's monthly newsletter for organization wide updates!
Follow us on Instagram: Stay connected on Instagram for organizational updates and see what fellow Chapters are up to!
Contact us at Chapters@period.org
PERIOD. @ Abington Heights High School, PA
"Let's get period products in high schools all across Pennsylvania!"
PERIOD. @ Abington Heights High School were invited to meet with Pennsylvania's First Lady, Lori Shapiro to discuss period poverty and ways to further period product access in high schools across the state as their chapter has experience providing products to fellow students since 2018!
Photo Courtesy of PERIOD. @ Abington Heights High School, Pennsylvania
PERIOD. @ Bihar, India
"Breaking taboos, one period at a time!"
PERIOD. @ Bihar partnered with WeTheChange to present a Menstrual Health Workshop with 36 girls from 5th-8th grade. Together, they viewed "Hello Period" an informational animation on periods, distributed a comic on menstruation from Menstrupedia, and held a Q&A on period products, myths, and stigma!
Photo Courtesy of PERIOD. @ Bihar, India
PERIOD. @ Flow Forward Foundation, KS + PERIOD. @ Overland Park, KS
"Thank you to all of our members, volunteers, panelists, founders, and community for allowing this event to happen."
PERIOD. @ Flow Forward Foundation and PERIOD. @ Overland Park teamed up alongside nonprofit organizations, Giving Hope & Help and URGE Kansas to host a Menstrual Hygiene Day service event in their community! Together, they packed 10,000+ period products that were donated to local domestic violence shelters.
Photo Courtesy of PERIOD. @ Overland Park, Kansas
PERIOD. @ Abington Heights High School, PA
"Let's get period products in high schools all across Pennsylvania!"
PERIOD. @ Abington Heights High School were invited to meet with Pennsylvania's First Lady, Lori Shapiro to discuss period poverty and ways to further period product access in high schools across the state as their chapter has experience providing products to fellow students since 2018!
Photo Courtesy of PERIOD. @ Abington Heights High School, Pennsylvania
PERIOD. @ Bihar, India
"Breaking taboos, one period at a time!"
PERIOD. @ Bihar partnered with WeTheChange to present a Menstrual Health Workshop with 36 girls from 5th-8th grade. Together, they viewed "Hello Period" an informational animation on periods, distributed a comic on menstruation from Menstrupedia, and held a Q&A on period products, myths, and stigma!
Photo Courtesy of PERIOD. @ Bihar, India
PERIOD. @ Flow Forward Foundation, KS + PERIOD. @ Overland Park, KS
"Thank you to all of our members, volunteers, panelists, founders, and community for allowing this event to happen."
PERIOD. @ Flow Forward Foundation and PERIOD. @ Overland Park teamed up alongside nonprofit organizations, Giving Hope & Help and URGE Kansas to host a Menstrual Hygiene Day service event in their community! Together, they packed 10,000+ period products that were donated to local domestic violence shelters.
Photo Courtesy of PERIOD. @ Overland Park, Kansas
PERIOD. @ Abington Heights High School, PA
"Let's get period products in high schools all across Pennsylvania!"
PERIOD. @ Abington Heights High School were invited to meet with Pennsylvania's First Lady, Lori Shapiro to discuss period poverty and ways to further period product access in high schools across the state as their chapter has experience providing products to fellow students since 2018!
Photo Courtesy of PERIOD. @ Abington Heights High School, Pennsylvania
PERIOD. @ Bihar, India
"Breaking taboos, one period at a time!"
PERIOD. @ Bihar partnered with WeTheChange to present a Menstrual Health Workshop with 36 girls from 5th-8th grade. Together, they viewed "Hello Period" an informational animation on periods, distributed a comic on menstruation from Menstrupedia, and held a Q&A on period products, myths, and stigma!
Photo Courtesy of PERIOD. @ Bihar, India
PERIOD. @ Flow Forward Foundation, KS + PERIOD. @ Overland Park, KS
"Thank you to all of our members, volunteers, panelists, founders, and community for allowing this event to happen."
PERIOD. @ Flow Forward Foundation and PERIOD. @ Overland Park teamed up alongside nonprofit organizations, Giving Hope & Help and URGE Kansas to host a Menstrual Hygiene Day service event in their community! Together, they packed 10,000+ period products that were donated to local domestic violence shelters.
Photo Courtesy of PERIOD. @ Overland Park, Kansas
