Operation Period
Operation Period is a Gen-Z-led nonprofit advancing menstrual freedom through mutual aid distribution, youth organizer training, four U.S. city hubs, media production, and a planned 2027 suborbital space mission studying menstruation in microgravity.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2015
- HeadquartersEugene, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Operation Period does
Operation Period is a Gen-Z-led nonprofit founded in February 2015 by Manju Bangalore in Eugene, Oregon, that advances menstrual freedom through youth organizing, mutual aid distribution, media production, and space-based research. The organization serves menstruators facing product insecurity (including unhoused individuals, low-income communities, refugees, and disaster-affected populations), young organizers aged roughly 16-29, and the space research community via The Redshift Lab. It introduced the "menstrual freedom" framing as a movement-level concept.
The organization's core offerings are: OP-01, a planned 2027 suborbital research mission with Virgin Galactic to study menstruation in microgravity, housed in The Redshift Lab research division; the Youth Institute for Menstrual Freedom fellowship, which has trained 21 young organizers across 2023, 2024, and 2025 cohorts; four U.S. city hubs (NYC, Jackson MS, LA, DC) launched in 2025; Impact Media comprising zines and documentary film; and a mutual aid program that has distributed 300,000+ menstrual products across 100+ events including flagship campaigns like International Period Month.
Operation Period operates as a fiscally sponsored project under Future Incubator rather than as an independently incorporated 501(c)(3). It has no commercial products or services; revenue is composed of individual donations and foundation grants, with the Reinhardt Family Fund and Anita Bhatia Foundation For Tomorrow publicly identified as backers of the OP-01 mission. Its go-to-market is community-led: Youth Institute fellows and city-hub staff act as grassroots organizers, awareness is built through flagship event programming, and earned media coverage (Teen Vogue, Ms. Magazine, Formula E) is used to extend reach to a youth demographic.
Operation Period firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Operation Period
- Legal name
- Operation Period
- Website
- https://operationperiod.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2015
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Operation Period is a Gen-Z-led nonprofit advancing menstrual freedom through mutual aid distribution, youth organizer training, four U.S. city hubs, media production, and a planned 2027 suborbital space mission studying menstruation in microgravity.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Operation Period industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Reproductive Health Nonprofit Services
- NAICS
- Social Assistance (624)
- SIC
- Services-Social Services (8300)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Sexual & Reproductive Health (STI Care, Vulvovaginal Disorders) (HLAKAJAJ)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Sexual & Reproductive Health & Family Planning (SRH/FP) Programs (BPADAIAD), Menstrual Pain Relief & Period Care Supplements (CRABAIAJ), Period Underwear (CRABAIAG)
Keywords
Where Operation Period is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Eugene
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Operation Period business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- Donations and Charitable Contributions: Organization is a fiscally sponsored project under Future Incubator and relies on donations from individuals and foundations to fund operations, the Youth Institute fellowship program, and OP-01 mission research.
- Foundation and Mission-Specific Funding: Mission support from foundations including Reinhardt Family Fund and Anita Bhatia Foundation For Tomorrow specifically supporting OP-01 space mission research.
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels6 records
Operation Period product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Operation Period is a nonprofit organization that advances menstrual freedom through research, education, youth organizing, and community action. It operates mutual aid distribution of menstrual products, runs the Youth Institute for Menstrual Freedom fellowship program, leads the OP-01 microgravity research mission with Virgin Galactic, and produces educational media including zines and documentaries. Its primary beneficiaries are menstruators experiencing period poverty and young people aged 16-29 seeking to organize for menstrual justice.
Product overview
Operation Period is a Gen-Z led nonprofit organization advancing menstrual freedom through a multi-pronged approach combining space-based research, youth organizing, community action, and media. The core offerings include OP-01 (a 2027 suborbital space mission to study menstruation in microgravity), The Redshift Lab (research division conducting the space research), Youth Institute for Menstrual Freedom (a fellowship program for young organizers), City Hubs (local chapters in NYC, Jackson, Los Angeles, and Washington DC), Impact Media (zines, documentaries, and educational content), and mutual aid distribution programs that have distributed over 300,000 menstrual products. The organization also provides the Menstrual Freedom Pledge and Creator+Partner Toolkit as resources for the movement.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- The Redshift Lab: Research division leading the OP-01 mission to study menstrual health in microgravity
- Youth Institute for Menstrual Freedom (YIMF)
- City Hubs
- Impact Media
- OP-01
Products and services
- OP-01 Space Mission A 2027 suborbital research mission studying menstrual health and fluid dynamics in microgravity aboard Virgin Galactic. It is the first dedicated research mission to study menstruation in space and is designed to advance aerospace medicine and long-duration mission planning.
- The Redshift Lab
Quantifiable outcome
- 300,000+ menstrual products distributed to those in need
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Operation Period
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Operation Period technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
Operation Period partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Three partnerships are on record, tiered flagship/core and core.
- Virgin Galacticflagship/coreVirgin Galactic provides the suborbital spaceflight platform for OP-01 mission launching in 2027. The mission is designed to study menstrual health and fluid dynamics in microgravity, representing the first dedicated research mission for menstruation in space. Virgin Galactic's platform enables researchers to conduct hands-on scientific work in microgravity while expanding access to space research.
- GladRagscorePartnership to distribute menstrual health education in Pashto and Dari languages to resettling Afghan refugees in the U.S. Combined GladRags products with educational content created by Operation Period through partnerships with local Muslim community organizers and medical students.
- Unincarcerated ProductionscorePartnership to produce documentary film 'For Us Who Bleed' following Tieshae Huntsman's experience menstruating in prison. Collaborative media production creating content for the menstrual freedom movement.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Operation Period competitors and assessment
Company assessmentEmerging players
- Saalt: Saalt is a period care company (cups, underwear, discs) with a social mission focus on period equity and donations. Comparable to Operation Period's mission-aligned product work and menstrual equity advocacy stance.
- Ruby Love: Ruby Love is a period care company specializing in leak-proof apparel and menstrual products with a social mission focus. Comparable to Operation Period's menstrual equity product distribution model within the consumer feminine care space.
- Aunt Flow: Aunt Flow is a for-profit period product company with a mission-focused model of donating products for every purchase. Comparable to Operation Period's product distribution work, though Aunt Flow operates a hybrid commercial/nonprofit model.
Broad incumbents
- Tampax: Tampax is a leading global period product brand owned by Procter & Gamble, operating menstrual equity and education programs. Comparable to Operation Period's menstrual product space but at vastly larger scale and through a commercial model.
- Thinx: Thinx is a leading period underwear brand with a social mission component and period equity advocacy. Comparable to Operation Period's work distributing period products including underwear and advancing menstrual equity advocacy.
Direct peers
- The Pad Project: The Pad Project is a nonprofit advancing menstrual equity globally through education, advocacy, and product access, originally sparked by the documentary 'Period. End of Sentence.' Comparable to Operation Period's combined education, advocacy, and product distribution work.
- I Support the Girls: I Support the Girls collects and distributes period products to people experiencing homelessness, poverty, and crisis across the US. Directly comparable to Operation Period's mutual aid work serving unhoused and low-income populations.
- Alliance for Period Supplies: Alliance for Period Supplies is a US nonprofit that distributes period products to those in need through a national affiliate network. Directly comparable to Operation Period's mutual aid distribution program that has delivered 300,000+ menstrual products.
- PERIOD. PERIOD. is the largest youth-led nonprofit addressing period poverty in the US, focused on menstrual equity advocacy, education, and product distribution. It is the most direct functional peer to Operation Period's mutual aid distribution, education, and youth-led organizing model.
- Days for Girls: Days for Girls is a global nonprofit advancing menstrual equity through sustainable products and education across 140+ countries. Directly comparable to Operation Period's international menstrual health education programs and product distribution mission.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Operation Period social profiles
Digital presenceOperation Period financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Operation Period leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
Operation Period funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Operation Period M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Operation Period
What does Operation Period do?
Operation Period is a nonprofit organization that advances menstrual freedom through research, education, youth organizing, and community action. It operates mutual aid distribution of menstrual products, runs the Youth Institute for Menstrual Freedom fellowship program, leads the OP-01 microgravity research mission with Virgin Galactic, and produces educational media including zines and documentaries. Its primary beneficiaries are menstruators experiencing period poverty and young people aged 16-29 seeking to organize for menstrual justice.
Is Operation Period a public or private company?
Operation Period is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Operation Period founded?
Operation Period was founded in 2015. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Operation Period based?
Operation Period is headquartered in Eugene, United States, in the North America region.
How does Operation Period make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Donations and Charitable Contributions are the primary driver. The others are foundation and Mission-Specific Funding.
Who are Operation Period's main competitors?
Emerging players on record are Saalt, Ruby Love and Aunt Flow. Broad incumbents are Tampax and Thinx. Direct peers are The Pad Project, I Support the Girls, Alliance for Period Supplies, PERIOD. and Days for Girls.
Does Operation Period have an API?
No public API is recorded for Operation Period.
What industry is Operation Period in?
Operation Period's product category is Reproductive Health Nonprofit Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HLAKAJAJ, Sexual & Reproductive Health (STI Care, Vulvovaginal Disorders), with a secondary code of BPADAIAD, Sexual & Reproductive Health & Family Planning (SRH/FP) Programs. Its NAICS code is 624 and its SIC code is 8300.