The Period Pantry

What The Period Pantry does

The Period Pantry Project is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt nonprofit organization founded in January 2020 by Jill Guinan and Melanie Saunders, headquartered in Columbus, Ohio (EIN: 84-4497678). It addresses period poverty in Franklin County by providing free menstrual products — pads, tampons, menstrual cups, discs, and washable pads — to any resident regardless of income, with no verification or appointment requirements. The organization distributes approximately 28 products per household monthly through two channels: no-contact home delivery on a location-based schedule, and bulk distribution via a network of 12+ community partner organizations including food pantries, refugee service centers, youth services, and public libraries. Bi-monthly library pickup events supplement these channels and reach individuals without stable addresses.

The underlying technology stack is intentionally lean and non-proprietary: PantrySoft handles beneficiary request management and fulfillment workflows, while Google Forms collects volunteer applications, partnership inquiries, and product drive coordination. There is no proprietary technology, no mobile application, and no AI/ML infrastructure — operations are coordinated through trained volunteers and standard logistics processes. Marketing and donor outreach rely on organic social (Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn), the organizational website, community word-of-mouth, and earned local press coverage, with no paid advertising.

The business model is a donation-funded nonprofit. Revenue streams include individual monetary donations (one-time and recurring, via the website and Columbus Foundation Giving Store), in-kind product donations (drop-off at three retail stations plus mail-in), corporate and foundation grants (notably Walmart Spark Good Grants and National Diaper Bank Network), retail affiliate programs (Kroger Community Rewards, Capital One Shopping), and merchandise sales via Teespring. The only disclosed funding event is a $2,500 grant from the National Diaper Bank Network in May 2023; aggregate annual inflow is not publicly disclosed. The organization has 1-10 employees, hundreds of volunteers, and is governed by a board that was expanded in early 2024.

Name

The Period Pantry

Legal name

The Period Pantry Project

Website

https://theperiodpantryproject.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2020

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Period Pantry Project is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2020 that provides free menstrual products to any Franklin County, Ohio resident via no-contact home delivery and a network of 12+ community partner organizations, funded entirely by donations and grants.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Menstrual Hygiene Nonprofit Services

SIC

Women's, Misses', Children's & Infants' Undergarments (2340)

akta.pro primary industry

Menstrual Pads (Disposable) (CRABAIAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Period Underwear (CRABAIAG), Menstrual Cups (CRABAIAE)

Keywords

• Menstrual product distribution
• Period poverty relief
• Community hygiene nonprofit
• Menstrual equity services
• Volunteer product delivery

Headquarters

HQ city

Columbus

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Individual Monetary Donations: Individuals can make one-time or recurring monthly donations via the organization's website or through the Columbus Foundation's Giving Store. Donations are used to purchase period products, packaging, and operational supplies.
2. Product Donations: The organization accepts donations of new, sealed menstrual products (pads, tampons, menstrual cups, washable pads) via mail or at local donation stations (Wild Cat Gift and Party, Sew to Speak, Body Mods by Michele). These donations are distributed directly to beneficiaries.
3. Corporate and Foundation Grants: The organization receives funding from corporate and foundation partners including Walmart Spark Good Grants. These grants support operational costs and product procurement.
4. Retail Rewards Programs: The organization participates in Kroger Community Rewards and Capital One Shopping, where a portion of qualifying purchases is donated to support operations.
5. Merchandise Sales: The organization sells merchandise through a T-shirt store (Teespring) featuring branded items to generate supplementary revenue.

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The Period Pantry Project provides free menstrual products (pads, tampons, menstrual cups, discs, and washable pads) to individuals in Franklin County, Ohio through no-contact home delivery and a network of community partner organizations. All services are barrier-free, requiring no income verification, appointments, or fees, and are powered entirely by volunteers.

Product overview

The Period Pantry Project is a single-service nonprofit organization offering one core program: free menstrual product distribution to individuals in need in Franklin County, Ohio. The organization operates a dual-channel distribution model combining direct no-contact home delivery (the primary service, managed through PantrySoft) with distribution through a network of community partner organizations. Supporting services include a product donation program accepting sealed menstrual supplies via local drop-off points and mail, a volunteer-driven period supply drive hosting program for community fundraisers, and a community resource referral database. All services are free, require no income verification, and are powered entirely by volunteers.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Menstrual Product Delivery Service Free no-contact home delivery of menstrual products (pads, tampons, menstrual cups, discs, and washable pads) to individuals in Franklin County, Ohio who need them. Requests are submitted through the PantrySoft portal and fulfilled monthly on a location-based delivery schedule. No income verification, appointments, or fees are required. Each household can receive a monthly supply of up to 28 products for up to 5 menstruators.
• Community Partner Distribution Program

Quantifiable outcome

• Provides monthly supply of 28 menstrual products per household request
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Riverview International CentercoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCommunity partner that distributes period products to their clients. Located at riverviewinternationalcenter.org.
• Bishop Griffin Resource Center and Food PantrycoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCommunity partner that provides prepackaged groceries and distributes period products via drive-thru. Located at bgrc-svdp.org.
• Little BottomscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCommunity partner that provides diapers, wipes, and period products to families. Located at littlebottoms.org.
• Victory Center of HopecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCommunity partner distributing period products. Located at victorycoh.org.
• Southwest Public LibrariescoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCommunity partner hosting bi-monthly pickup events and product distribution. Located at swpl.org.
• Hope Resource CentercoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCommunity partner providing period product distribution. Located at hopedealercommunity.org.
• Alliance for Period SuppliescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational partner providing alignment, resources, and network support for period supply organizations. Located at allianceforperiodsupplies.org.
• National Diaper Bank NetworkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational partner providing network support and alignment for hygiene product banks. Located at nationaldiaperbanknetwork.org.
• The Pad ProjectminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational organization aligned with period equity mission. Located at thepadproject.org.
• ARC IndustriesminorOthersOperational partner providing in-kind support. Located at arcind.com.
• Wild Cat Gift and PartyminorOthersLocal business hosting a product donation station. Located at wildcatgiftandparty.com.
• UFO Performance MarketingminorOthersMarketing partner providing in-kind promotional support. Located at uforocks.com.
• Canal WinchesterminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCommunity partner listed on homepage.
• LSS ChoicesminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCommunity partner organization listed on homepage.
• Huckleberry HouseminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorYouth services organization partner listed on homepage.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Days for Girls: Global nonprofit providing sustainable menstrual products and health education to those in need; offers an alternative reusable-product distribution model similar to Period Pantry's washable pad offering.
• I Support the Girls: Nonprofit collecting and distributing menstrual products and bras to people experiencing homelessness and poverty; closely comparable mission and direct-to-beneficiary distribution model.
• National Diaper Bank Network: National network of basic needs banks focused on diapers and hygiene products; Period Pantry is a partner and recipient of grant funding. Operates an analogous local-bank model for a related hygiene need.
• PERIOD. Youth-led national nonprofit addressing period poverty through product distribution, education, and policy advocacy; operates a chapter-based model that Period Pantry's local affiliate structure could emulate.
• The Pad Project: National nonprofit focused on ending period poverty through product distribution and education; Period Pantry lists this as a strategic mutual partner with overlapping mission and audience.
• The Homeless Period Project: Volunteer-powered nonprofit providing free menstrual products to those in need; similar barrier-free distribution model and donor-funded structure to Period Pantry.
• Helping Women Period: Michigan-based nonprofit providing free menstrual products through partner agencies; directly comparable operating model with local pantry and partner-distribution channels.
• Alliance for Period Supplies: National network of period supply banks and direct-service organizations; operates a similar model of distributing donated products to local affiliates. Period Pantry is already a member organization.

Broad incumbents

• Feeding America: National nonprofit network operating food banks on an analogous local-affiliate model. While focused on food rather than menstrual products, the structural playbook for scaling local service nonprofits is highly comparable.

Emerging players

• Dignity Period: Nonprofit focused on menstrual health education and product access primarily in East Africa; shares the period poverty mission but operates in a different geography with a more education-heavy model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/periodpantrycolumbus
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/about
• Instagraminstagram.com/theperiodpantryproject
• Xx.com/periodpantry614

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about The Period Pantry