Funded Menstrual Equity Youth Fellowship

Operation Period, a youth-led menstrual justice organisation, runs the Youth Institute for Menstrual Freedom, a seven to nine month fellowship that trains young organisers aged 18 to 29 in the United States. Fellows take weekly virtual classes, are matched with a mentor near them, and receive funding to launch a menstrual freedom project in their own community. This is the fourth cohort; past fellows have built health education games, a documentary and workplace policy campaigns.

What you get:

• Funding from the Institute for your own community project, paid at the start of May 2027 (the amount is not published)
• A one-on-one mentor in your geographical area from the fourth month
• A foundational course on the history and ideology of menstrual freedom, advocating for change, dialogue and messaging, coalition building and fundraising
• Guest lectures and supplementary seminars from April to June 2027
• Graduation in August 2027, with a possible in-person retreat

What you'll do:

• Attend one weekday evening session a week, two hours of instruction, for the first three months
• Choose and launch a community project on menstrual freedom in your local or state area, such as zines and art, campus or policy advocacy, health education or community events
• From the fourth month, meet your project team weekly, the other fellows weekly and your mentor every two weeks
• Draft progress reports with the Operation Period team as your project runs

Key dates:

• Applications opened November 8, 2026
• Applications close November 20, 2026 at 5 pm Pacific
• December 2026: fellows orientation
• January to March 2027: foundational coursework
• March 2027: project formed and mentor matched
• May 2027: project funding paid
• End of August 2027: programme ends and fellows graduate

More information:

• Programme details and FAQs on the Operation Period website
• Operation Period is a fiscally sponsored project under Future Incubator

• Aged 18 to 29
• Based in the United States; this year's cohort is open only to U.S. based youth organizers
• Able to attend regular virtual sessions and complete assignments and project milestones
• No prior leadership or advocacy experience required