Helping Women Period Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
OUR PURPOSE IS TO PROVIDE MENSTRUAL PRODUCTS TO HOMELESS, LOW-INCOME, AND AT-RISK PEOPLE IN LOWER MICHIGAN. WE PROVIDE TAMPONS, PADS, PANTYLINERS, WIPES, MENSTRUAL CUPS, PERIOD UNDERWEAR, AND BLADDER CONTROL PRODUCTS TO 216 CHARITY PARTNERS IN 30 COUNTIES IN LOWER MICHIGAN. THESE PARTNERS INCLUDE HOMELESS AND DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SHELTERS, FOOD BANKS, SUPPORT PROGRAMS (LIKE BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB), AND 40 SCHOOLS (ELEMENTARY, JUNIOR, AND SENIOR HIGH SCHOOLS).
- Income
- $404,027
- Spending
- $321,971
- Spent on programs
- 79%
- Reserves
- 12.6 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 91%
- Employees
- 3
- Volunteers
- 180
- Highest pay
- $46,920, executive director
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 89% of charities in its peer group (human services, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 12.6 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 0% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 20% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 75% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1579% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 9 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Good: 77 out of 100. Higher than 58% of charities in its peer group (human services, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
25 of 258 of 8 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
0 of 8Reports no written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
0 of 7Reports no written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
0 of 5Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.
Independent check of accounts
12 of 15Its accounts were reviewed or compiled by an independent accountant, but not audited.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Impact evidence
Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.
Programs described in its return (2)
- $229,624 spent. IN 2024 WE DISTRIBUTED 1,629,974 ITEMS, ENOUGH TO COVER THE MENSTRUAL NEEDS FOR 5,583 INDIVIDUALS FOR AN ENTIRE YEAR, OR 67,000 PERIODS
- $23,719 spent. WE ADVOCATE FOR MENSTRUAL EQUITY THE PROVISION OF FREE MENSTRUAL PRODUCTS IN PUBLIC PLACES. WE ALSO WORK TO EDUCATE THE PUBLIC AND OUR PUBLIC OFFICIALS ON MENSTRUATION AND RELATED ISSUES. IN 2023, OUR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR PROVIDED TESTIMONY AND SERVED AS A SUBJECT MATTER EXPERT FOR THE MICHIGAN LEGISLATURE. WE WERE INSTRUMENTAL IN GETTING A LINE ITEM IN THE STATE BUDGET FOR A PILOT PROJECT . ORIGINALLY CALLED THE HELPING WOMEN PERIOD PILOT PROJECT (NOW THE ACCESSIBLE PERIOD PRODUCTS PILOT PROJECT), IT PROVIDES GRANT MONEY FOR 15 SCHOOL DISTRICTS TO DISTRIBUTE MONTHLY PERIOD KITS TO ALL MENSTRUATING 31A (AT RISK) STUDENTS DURING THE SCHOOL YEAR. WE WERE ABLE TO GET THE PILOT PROJECT RENEWED FOR 2024. IN CONJUNCTION WITH SEVERAL OTHER ADVOCACY GROUPS, WE HELD A MICHIGAN PERIOD ACTION DAY EVENT TO EDUCATE AND INFORM ABOUT MENSTRUAL EQUITY. WE WORKED WITH STUDENT GROUPS (BOTH HIGH SCHOOL AND COLLEGE) TO EDUCATE SCHOOLS, COLLEGES/UNIVERSITIES, AND GOVERNMENTAL UNITS ON THE NEED FOR FREE MENSTRUAL PRODUCTS IN PUBLIC SPACES AND ENCOURAGE THEM TO PROVIDE PRODUCTS. WE ALSO WORKED WITH NUMEROUS COALITIONS ON NATIONAL, STATE, AND LOCAL MENSTRUAL EQUITY EDUCATION.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Legitimacy checks
Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.
Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.
Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.
Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated November 6, 2026.
Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.
On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.
Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2024.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since March 2015.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.
Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.
Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated November 4, 2026.
Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.