Financial Transparency, Founding Governance Charter & Primary-Source Evidence Hub
Love Her Period Foundation is an IRS-recognized 501(c)(3) public charity (EIN: 88-0613961, IRC § 509(a)(1) & § 170(b)(1)(A)(vi), IRS Ruling Date: April 2022, NTEE: P50) headquartered in Mercer Island, Washington. We are currently in our Founding Partner & Seed-Funding Launch Phase—operating with $0 executive officer compensation, filing IRS Form 990-N (e-Postcard) while gross receipts remain under $50,000, and governed by a Board-Ratified Founding Program Charter committing ≥80% of all operating funds directly to program services.
Why Love Her Period Foundation Exists: Primary-Source Need Benchmarks
Every public-health, educational, and environmental statistic cited by Love Her Period Foundation is anchored directly in peer-reviewed clinical literature, national epidemiological surveys, and Washington State statutory mandates:
| Verified Statistic / Mandate | Empirical Finding & Frontline Reality | Primary Citation / Authority |
|---|---|---|
| 1 in 4 U.S. Teens (23%–25%) | Struggle to afford menstrual products, and 4 in 5 (84%) students have either missed class time or know a classmate who missed class due to lack of period care. | State of the Period National Study (Harris Insights & Analytics / PERIOD.org) |
| 2 in 5 Low-Income Women (38%) | Report missing work, school, or family events due to lack of menstrual supplies; 64% could not afford needed supplies during the previous year, and federal SNAP (Food Stamps) & WIC cover $0. | Alliance for Period Supplies & Sebert Kuhlmann et al., Obstetrics & Gynecology (2019) |
| WA RCW 28A.210.420 (HB 1273) | Mandates no-cost menstrual hygiene products across grades 3–12 in all 295 Washington public school districts across 39 counties (~50% low-income FRPL across 1,100+ Title I schools, yet loose bathroom dispensers leave students unequipped for nights, weekends, and holidays). | Revised Code of Washington RCW 28A.210.420 & WA OSPI Report Card |
| 28,000+ Unhoused in WA State | Over 28,000 individuals experience homelessness across Washington State (including 16,300+ in King County), where surviving without running water makes moisture-sealed external pads and waterless pH-balanced wipes essential. | WA State Dept. of Commerce / HUD Point-in-Time (PIT) Count |
| 10x to 80x Mucosal Permeability | Vulvovaginal mucosal tissue is structurally 10 to 80 times more permeable than external keratinized skin, directly absorbing chlorine-bleaching dioxins, phthalates, and synthetic fragrance VOCs into systemic circulation. | Farage et al., “The Vulva: Anatomy, Physiology, and Pathology” (PubMed PMID: 15592622) |
| 90% Plastic / 500–800 Years | Conventional non-organic menstrual pads contain up to 90% plastic (equivalent to 4 plastic shopping bags per pad) and require 500 to 800 years to fragment into microplastics. | United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Life Cycle Assessment |
Founding Phase Financial Stewardship & Inaugural 2026–2027 Operating Budget ($100,000 Target)
Since receiving our IRS 501(c)(3) public charity determination letter in April 2022 (EIN: 88-0613961), Love Her Period Foundation has operated as an IRS Form 990-N (e-Postcard) filer (annual gross receipts under $50,000) with 100% volunteer board leadership and $0 executive officer compensation while building our clinical clean-formulation standards, school/shelter intake technology, and community partner network. As we scale our Inaugural 2026–2027 Washington Cohort ($100,000 Seed Budget), our Board of Directors has ratified a binding Founding Program Allocation Charter:
| Form 990 Part IX Functional Category | Board-Ratified Charter Allocation | Inaugural Year 1 Seed Budget ($100,000 Target) | Direct Deliverables & Governance Controls |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Direct Program Services (Part IX Col B) | ≥ 80.0% Mandated Minimum (Exceeds BBB ≥65% & Charity Navigator ≥75%) |
$80,000+ | Inaugural Cohort Target: 1,500 Student Dignity & Street Outreach Kits ($35–$45/kit), 50 School & Shelter 500-Unit Crates ($250/crate = 100,000 total organic units), and bilingual Cycle Literacy Pocket Guides across Washington State. |
| 2. Management & General (Part IX Col C) | ≤ 12.0% Hard Cap | ≤ $12,000 | $0 Executive Officer Compensation (Benita Thomas, President & Joseph Yeadon, Treasurer/CFO serve 100% uncompensated during the Founding Phase); WA Secretary of State filings, insurance, and independent accounting. |
| 3. Fundraising & Grant Compliance (Part IX Col D) | ≤ 8.0% Hard Cap | ≤ $8,000 | Givebutter donor receipt automation, IRC § 170(e)(3) in-kind lot certification, and institutional foundation grant reporting. |
| Total Founding Cohort Operating Charter | 100.0% Accountable | $100,000 Seed Target | Every restricted sponsorship ($35 Kit, $45 Street Pack, $250 Crate) is tracked 1:1 in segregated FASB ASC 958 net-asset classes. |
Independent Executive & Fiscal Governance
- Benita Thomas — Founder, President & Board Chair: Visionary women’s health advocate leading program partnerships across Washington Title I school districts, shelters, and maternal/menstrual equity coalitions ($0 compensation).
- Joseph Yeadon — Board Treasurer & Chief Financial Officer: Independent fiscal officer overseeing FASB ASC 958 restricted fund accounting, IRS Form 990 compliance, and IRC § 170(e)(3) in-kind inventory substantiation ($0 compensation).
- Headquarters & Statutory Agent: 7683 SE 27th St, Mercer Island, WA 98040-2804 •
[email protected]•(206) 739-3887.
5 Adopted Statutory Governance Policies
- 1. Conflict of Interest Policy (Part VI, Line 12a): Annual written disclosures & recusal protocol (`LHPF-GOV-01`).
- 2. Whistleblower Protection Policy (Part VI, Line 13): Zero-retaliation reporting to Audit/Treasurer (`LHPF-GOV-02`).
- 3. Document Retention & Destruction Policy (Part VI, Line 14): 7-year financial/grant retention & permanent IRS records (`LHPF-GOV-03`).
- 4. Gift Acceptance & IRC § 170(e)(3) Policy: Strict 100% GOTS organic / zero-toxin quality gate (`LHPF-GOV-04`).
- 5. Privacy & WA My Health My Data Act (RCW 19.373) Policy: Zero sale of donor or beneficiary health data (`LHPF-GOV-05`).
