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Menstrual Product Grant

During the 2025–2026 school year, Justice Necessary awarded over 400 schools across Colorado by providing comprehensive menstrual supply kits that included pads, tampons, menstrual dispensers, and one-month vacation packs for students.

For the 2026–2027 school year, the Justice Necessary Menstrual Grant will provide selected, eligible schools with a one-time supply of essential menstrual products—including dispensers, pads, and tampons—to support students.

This grant is intended to supplement, not replace, funding available through the Menstrual Products Accessibility Grant established under Colorado law. Under HB24-1164, “Free Menstrual Products to Students,” which took effect June 30, 2025, schools are required to phase in free menstrual products across student restrooms, reaching full compliance by June 30, 2028. Rather, the Justice Necessary Menstrual Grant is designed to provide additional product support to assist schools with compliance with HB24-1164.

Key Grant Information

This grant provides schools with menstrual products for use during the 2026 – 2027 school year. Awards may include:

  • Mini Menstrual Product Dispensers: The Aunt Flow Mini Menstrual Product Dispensers are compact, wall-mounted dispensers constructed of durable ABS resin. Each dispenser can be stocked with pads or tampons of any brand and is designed to hold tampons or pads. Dispensers may be installed using the included adhesive or mounted with the built-in keyhole slots for easy installation and maintenance.
  • Aunt Flow Free-Vend Dispensers:  Aunt Flow Dispensers are wall-mounted, free-vend tampon and pad dispensers—or pad-only dispensers—designed for school restrooms to provide free and reliable access to menstrual products for students. They are durable, easy to maintain, and support consistent product availability.
  • Menstrual products (cases): Organic all-cotton pads or tampons. 
  • One-month menstrual kits: Labeled paper bags containing either 20 pads or 20 tampons, intended for students to take home over school breaks, including summer 2026.

This grant operates in conjunction with PeriodPalooza, a series of Justice Necessary events in cities across the state where grantees and volunteers pack menstrual products for students.

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Timelines and Implementation Requirements

  • Applications: The grant application must be completed and submitted online no later than March 2, 2026 by midnight.
  • Grant Award Notification:  Official notification of award decisions will be emailed to all applicants on March 18, 2026.
  • Product Distribution Schedule:  Products will be available for pickup in April and May at a designated PeriodPalooza event. 
  • Grant Award Pickup Requirements: Grant recipients must arrange to collect and transport their grant awards from the assigned distribution hub on the designated date and time listed in their award letter. Products will only be available at the specified location during that scheduled window. Any awards not picked up at the assigned time will not be held, shipped, or delivered. 
  • State Requirement:  Schools must have menstrual products stocked in at least 50% of applicable female and gender-neutral restrooms, with clear signage in the remaining 50% indicating where products are available. Schools receiving dispensers must arrange for installation prior to June 30, 2026.

Products provided through this grant are intended to support compliance with Colorado state law. By accepting products through this grant, schools agree that product placement must comply with Colorado state requirements and the implementation guidelines outlined in HB24-1164. Schools are responsible for ensuring that menstrual products are made available in locations that meet legislative accessibility standards and support consistent student access.

Grant recipients agree to:

  • Sign the Justice Necessary Menstrual Product Grant Product Usage Agreement (Sample Product Agreement linked below)
  • Designate a staff member to attend a Menstrual Product Grant webinar hosted by Justice Necessary. 
  • Submit an Implementation Plan describing product use, distribution, and key strategies for compliance, coordination, oversight, sustainability, and successful implementation.
  • Participate in student and faculty survey data collection during the 2026–2027 school year. 

This grant is a one-time product award. While similar opportunities may be offered in the future, renewal is not guaranteed.  

Grant recipient schools must submit an Implementation Plan before receiving awarded products. An Implementation Plan template is provided to guide schools in completing this requirement. The Implementation Plan must outline roles and responsibilities, program oversight, inventory management procedures, and an implementation timeline, including how often inventory will be checked and how products will be monitored and replenished. The Implementation Plan is to ensure products are used as intended and that schools have a clear strategy in place to prevent misuse, address vandalism, and support sustainable, compliant implementation.

Justice Necessary has developed resources and tools that support effective implementation, including guidance on communication, addressing vandalism, and other challenges. These additional resources and materials are available on the Justice Necessary School page. 

For any additional questions or assistance in developing these guidelines, please email school@justicenecessary.org.

Review Implementation Plan Template

Products provided through this grant are intended to support compliance with Colorado state law. By accepting products through this grant, schools agree that product placement must comply with Colorado state requirements and the implementation guidelines outlined in HB24-1164. Schools are responsible for ensuring that menstrual products are made available in locations that meet legislative accessibility standards and support consistent student access.

Where Products Must Be Available Based on Colorado State Law 

  • Product distribution must meet the requirements of Colorado HB24-1164, “Free Menstrual Products to Students.”
  • Schools receiving dispensers from Justice Necessary must install them by June 30, 2026. 
  • By June 30, 2026, schools must provide free menstrual products in at least 50% of each school’s female and gender-neutral student restrooms. 
  • Signage must be placed in the other 50% of each school’s female and gender-neutral student restrooms. 
  • Products are intended for placement in student restrooms only, unless a school requests placement in faculty restrooms in advance and receives prior written approval from Justice Necessary.

 

Proper Use & Maintenance 

Schools must submit an Implementation Plan that includes strategies to foster open communication and to develop, implement, and follow proactive approaches for addressing challenges related to dispenser use.

Schools must include in their submitted Implementation Plan documented strategies to prevent misuse, respond promptly to issues, and ensure dispensers remain functional, accessible, and consistently stocked.

An Implementation Plan template is attached to assist applicants in developing clear guidelines and meeting these requirements.

Product Use Guidelines

Under no circumstances may awarded products:

  • Be placed in staff or faculty restrooms unless the school has requested such placement in advance and received prior written approval from Justice Necessary.
  • Be withheld or withdrawn as a form of punishment for students.
  • Be taken and resold for profit.
  • Be distributed or managed in a manner that does not comply with the requirements of Colorado law (HB24-1164) and the approved Implementation Plan.

The products provided under this grant are primarily for student use; however, with written approval from Justice Necessary, they may also be used to support faculty and staff.  Justice Necessary is committed to ensuring access to menstrual products for all while prioritizing student needs in alignment with the legislative guidelines.

  • Signage must be placed in the other 50% of each school’s female and gender-neutral student restrooms. 

Products are intended for placement in student restrooms only, unless a school requests placement in faculty restrooms in advance and receives prior written approval from Justice Necessary.

All grant recipients must participate in the faculty and student program evaluation by distributing and promoting participation in designated surveys within their school or district. Data collected through these surveys is aggregated and non-identifiable and will be used solely to assess program impact, guide future funding opportunities, and inform ongoing program improvements.

Faculty Research Survey

Grant recipients are expected to distribute, complete, and return the Faculty Survey twice during the 2026-2027 school year:

  • September 16, 2026
  • April 30, 2027

 

Student Research Survey:

Grant recipients are expected to distribute, complete, and return the Student  Survey twice during the 2026-2027 school year:

  • September 16, 2026
  • April 30, 2027

Recipients are responsible for securing any required parental, board, or district approvals related to student survey administration prior to accepting the grant.

Schools that submit survey information within the designated timeframes will be eligible for future Justice Necessary grant opportunities.

To support timely product distribution and effective implementation of grant requirements, Justice Necessary will host two webinars on:

  • March 24, 2026 
  • April 1, 2026 

Grant recipients must designate at least one school or district representative to attend one of the two sessions.

Justice Necessary will provide technical assistance to grant recipients throughout the grant period. Questions regarding implementation, logistics, or compliance may be directed to school@justicenecessary.org.

Submission Process & Deadline

Applications must be completed and submitted no later than March 2, 2026 at midnight.

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