The Period Pantry.

1. Purpose

The Period Pantry (“Organization”) establishes this Social Media Policy to provide clear standards for the responsible, accurate, respectful, and mission-aligned use of social media. Social media can help the Organization advance menstrual equity, connect people with free period products, recruit volunteers, educate the public, thank donors, and build community. It can also create risks involving privacy, safety, confidentiality, intellectual property, reputation, employment, and the Organization’s tax-exempt status. This policy explains who may speak for the Organization, what may be shared, how personal accounts should be used, and how concerns should be reported.

2. Scope

This policy applies to all directors, officers, employees, contractors, interns, volunteers, student ambassadors, program participants, and other representatives of The Period Pantry (“covered individuals”) whenever they use social media in connection with the Organization or in a way that could reasonably identify or affect the Organization.

For purposes of this policy, social media includes any digital or online service that allows users to create, post, share, comment on, transmit, or otherwise interact with content or with other users, including:

• Official Organization accounts, pages, profiles, groups, channels, and feeds on Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, LinkedIn, YouTube, X, Threads, and other current or future platforms.
• Organization websites, blogs, newsletters, online fundraising pages, donation platforms, and other digital communications where the Organization publishes or controls content.
• Personal accounts, profiles, pages, groups, channels, blogs, podcasts, livestreams, comments, direct messages, and other online spaces used by covered individuals.
• Messaging, collaboration, and community platforms, including group chats, online forums, review sites, and event or volunteer platforms, when used for Organization business or to communicate with people served by, working with, or representing the Organization.

This policy supplements, and does not replace, the Organization’s Code of Ethics & Code of Conduct, confidentiality requirements, privacy practices, nondiscrimination and anti-harassment policies, conflict-of-interest rules, records requirements, and any applicable law or written agreement.

3. Official Organizational Accounts

Official social media accounts are Organization resources and may be created, accessed, managed, or used only with authorization from the Executive Director or another person designated by the Organization. The Organization owns the accounts, account names, passwords, content, followers, contacts, analytics, and records associated with official accounts to the extent permitted by law and the platform’s terms.

• Only authorized administrators may create an official account, change account access, publish content, respond to messages, or make a statement on behalf of The Period Pantry.
• Authorized users must protect passwords, use available security controls such as multifactor authentication, and promptly report a lost device, suspected compromise, or unauthorized access.
• Content for an official account must be accurate, accessible, respectful, on mission, and consistent with approved Organization messaging and visual identity.
• Personal opinions, personal fundraising, political activity, or unrelated commercial activity must not be posted through an official account or represented as Organization activity.
• When an authorized administrator leaves a role or the Organization, account access must be removed or updated promptly.

4. Organizational Representation

Only the Executive Director or an expressly authorized spokesperson may make official statements about The Period Pantry, its positions, programs, finances, partnerships, services, or responses to media inquiries and public controversies. Authorization to post or respond on an official account does not authorize a person to speak beyond the scope of their role.

• Be clear about whether you are speaking for the Organization or in your personal capacity. Do not imply that you are an authorized spokesperson when you are not.
• Do not make commitments, promises, announcements, public accusations, or statements about an incident on behalf of the Organization unless you have approval to do so.
• Direct media requests, legal requests, formal complaints, requests for confidential information, and questions about an official position to the Executive Director or designee.
• If a covered individual identifies their affiliation with The Period Pantry on a personal account, they should consider using the following disclaimer when appropriate: “The views expressed here are my own and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Period Pantry.”

5. Brand and Public-Communications Guidelines

Official communications should reflect The Period Pantry’s warm, bold, activist, and community-first voice. Content should advance the mission that menstruation is a right, not a privilege, and should speak about period products and people who menstruate with dignity and respect.

• Use the Organization’s approved name, logo, colors, images, hashtags, and campaign language. Do not alter or repurpose brand assets without approval.
• Use the official Instagram handle @theperiodpantrymd when tagging or referencing The Period Pantry on Instagram or another platform where that handle applies.
• Use inclusive language. Not everyone who menstruates is a woman, and not every woman menstruates. Do not use language that shames, stereotypes, misgenders, or excludes people.
• Share only approved or verified statistics, program information, donation instructions, service locations, dates, hours, and contact information. Confirm that time-sensitive information is current before publishing.
• Obtain permission and any required written consent before publishing a person’s photograph, video, name, testimonial, story, artwork, or other identifying content. Consent must be informed, voluntary, and appropriate to the person’s age and circumstances.
• Use alt text or other accessibility features where available, caption videos, avoid flashing content, and write links and images so that people using assistive technology can understand them.
• Credit photographers, artists, partners, and sources when required. Do not use music, photographs, graphics, text, or other material unless the Organization has permission, a license, or a lawful basis to use it.

6. Respect, Civility, and Inclusion

The Period Pantry welcomes constructive conversation and is committed to communications that protect the dignity and safety of all people. Covered individuals must communicate professionally and must not use social media to intimidate, shame, silence, or target another person.

Prohibited conduct includes:

• Harassment, bullying, threats, stalking, intimidation, or repeated unwanted contact.
• Hate speech, slurs, demeaning language, or discriminatory content based on race, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, sex, pregnancy, childbirth, menstruation, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, disability, veteran status, marital status, socioeconomic status, housing status, or any other protected or personal characteristic.
• Sexual harassment, sexualized comments, unwanted sexual attention, sexually explicit content, or sharing intimate images without consent.
• Misgendering, deadnaming, outing a person, mocking a person’s body or health, or using language that stigmatizes menstruation, reproductive health, poverty, homelessness, addiction, disability, or trauma.
• Personal attacks, insults, humiliation, doxxing, dogpiling, or encouraging others to target a person or organization.
• Knowingly false, defamatory, malicious, or misleading statements about the Organization, its people, its partners, its donors, or the people it serves.
• Content that glorifies or encourages violence, self-harm, exploitation, abuse, or illegal activity.
• Retaliation against a person who asks a question, reports a concern, offers criticism, or participates in an investigation.

7. Confidentiality and Privacy

Covered individuals must protect the confidentiality and privacy of people served by The Period Pantry, donors, volunteers, staff, partners, and other community members. A public post, private message, story, disappearing message, screenshot, or closed group is not a guarantee of privacy.

Do not post, share, forward, screenshot, livestream, or otherwise disclose:

• A recipient’s, participant’s, volunteer’s, donor’s, partner’s, employee’s, or other person’s name, image, voice, username, contact information, or other identifying information without appropriate consent and authorization.
• Personal stories, medical or reproductive-health information, period-related needs, trauma histories, housing status, financial circumstances, immigration information, disability information, or other sensitive circumstances.
• Service locations, pickup details, schedules, addresses, private event information, or real-time locations when disclosure could create a safety or privacy risk.
• Private messages, email addresses, phone numbers, screenshots, documents, internal discussions, meeting details, unpublished plans, draft statements, or other nonpublic Organization information.
• Passwords, access credentials, financial information, donor records, recipient records, volunteer records, student information, or information protected by law, contract, or an expectation of confidentiality.
• Photographs or video taken at a pantry, distribution, delivery, event, or private gathering unless everyone shown has given appropriate permission and the content has been approved for publication.

Consent does not permit disclosure of information that should remain confidential for safety, legal, ethical, or operational reasons. When in doubt, do not post; ask the Executive Director or designee first. Report an actual or suspected privacy breach immediately.

8. Accuracy and Corrections

Social media content must be truthful, current, and reasonably supported. Do not invent quotes, testimonials, statistics, partnerships, service availability, endorsements, or outcomes. Do not present generated, edited, or composite images as documentary images of Organization work without clear disclosure.

• Verify facts, links, dates, locations, product information, donation instructions, and claims before posting.
• Correct material errors promptly and transparently. When practical, note that a correction has been made rather than silently changing information that people may already have relied upon.
• Do not delete a lawful critical comment merely because it is negative or inconvenient. Content may be hidden, removed, or reported when it violates this policy, the platform’s rules, or applicable law.
• Preserve the original and corrected versions of material communications when a correction concerns a safety issue, legal matter, financial information, public statement, or other significant Organization business.

9. Personal Accounts

The Period Pantry respects the right of covered individuals to use personal accounts and express personal views. This policy is not intended to control lawful personal activity unrelated to the Organization. However, personal social media activity may still affect the Organization or the safety of the people it serves when a person identifies their affiliation, uses Organization resources, communicates with Organization contacts, or presents themselves as connected to the Organization.

• Do not speak for The Period Pantry, use its logo or name as though endorsing a personal view, or imply that a personal post is an official Organization statement.
• Do not use confidential information, Organization equipment, account credentials, mailing lists, photographs, or other nonpublic resources for a personal account.
• Do not contact or follow a recipient, minor, participant, donor, or partner through a personal account in a way that crosses professional boundaries or creates pressure, risk, or an appearance of favoritism.
• Do not use a personal account to harass, threaten, discriminate against, retaliate against, or disclose confidential information about a person connected to The Period Pantry.
• When posting about Organization work, use good judgment, respect consent and privacy, and direct official questions to an authorized spokesperson.

10. Social Media and Political or Advocacy Content

The Period Pantry is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization and must comply with federal and state rules governing political campaign activity and lobbying. The Organization may educate the public, discuss issues related to menstrual equity, encourage civic participation, and advocate for legislation within applicable legal limits. It may not participate or intervene in a political campaign on behalf of, or in opposition to, a candidate for public office.

• Official accounts must remain nonpartisan. The Organization must not endorse, oppose, rate, recommend, or criticize a candidate or political party for public office.
• Do not use Organization funds, facilities, equipment, staff time, mailing lists, email accounts, social media accounts, events, name, logo, or other resources for campaign activity or partisan fundraising.
• Do not suggest that The Period Pantry supports or opposes a candidate, party, campaign, or ballot measure unless the communication has been reviewed and approved as lawful Organization advocacy.
• Individuals may engage in lawful political activity through personal accounts using personal time and resources, provided they do not represent that they speak for The Period Pantry, use Organization resources, or pressure others because of their Organization role.
• Advocacy, lobbying, candidate invitations, voter education, and public-policy statements made for the Organization must be coordinated with the Executive Director or designee before publication.

11. Prohibited Conduct

In addition to the conduct prohibited elsewhere in this policy, covered individuals must not use social media in a manner that:

• Violates any law, court order, platform rule, contract, grant condition, or Organization policy.
• Infringes copyright, trademark, privacy, publicity, confidentiality, or other rights of another person or organization.
• Impersonates The Period Pantry, a staff member, volunteer, partner, recipient, donor, public official, or another person.
• Fraudulently solicits money, products, personal information, passwords, or other property, or falsely claims to represent an Organization fundraiser or program.
• Discloses confidential, proprietary, privileged, sensitive, or personally identifying information without authorization.
• Creates a material conflict of interest, uses an Organization relationship for personal gain, or gives an improper advantage to a friend, family member, business, donor, or partner.
• Interferes with an investigation, destroys or alters relevant records, conceals a violation, or directs another person to do so.
• Includes malware, phishing, deceptive links, spam, unauthorized automated posts, or other content that may compromise the security of an account, device, or person.
• Uses an official account for personal political campaigning, partisan fundraising, personal commercial promotion, or unrelated solicitation.
• Creates a safety risk through real-time location sharing, disclosure of access information, threats, incitement, or reckless publication of sensitive operational details.

12. Monitoring and Record Preservation

The Organization may monitor official accounts, public posts, messages sent to official accounts, and other social media activity that involves Organization resources or business, to the extent permitted by law and platform rules. Monitoring is intended to protect people, preserve records, support accurate communications, and identify content requiring a response; it does not create an obligation to monitor every account or every post.

• Authorized administrators must preserve material official posts, direct messages, comments, complaints, corrections, approvals, and responses in accordance with the Organization’s recordkeeping practices.
• Do not delete or alter potentially relevant content after receiving a complaint, legal request, investigation notice, or other instruction to preserve information.
• Records may be retained, exported, or archived when needed for governance, grant reporting, donor communications, safety, legal compliance, or an investigation.
• Monitoring and record preservation will be carried out with reasonable respect for privacy and in accordance with applicable law.

13. Reporting Concerns

Every covered individual has a responsibility to report suspected misconduct, harassment, discrimination, privacy violations, account compromise, inaccurate public information, misuse of Organization resources, retaliation, fraud, threats, or any other concern involving social media or the Organization’s online presence. A concern may be reported even when the facts are incomplete or the person is unsure whether a policy has been violated.

• Report the concern to your supervisor, activity lead, or the person responsible for the relevant account or program.
• Contact Executive Director Leanne Listman at leanne@theperiodpantry.com.
• Contact the Board President or another Board member when the concern involves the Executive Director, a supervisor, or a Board member, or when another reporting channel is not appropriate.
• For an immediate danger, call 911 or the appropriate emergency or protective authority first, then notify the Organization when it is safe to do so.

Reports may be made verbally or in writing. People are encouraged to provide relevant facts, dates, names, links, screenshots, documents, and witnesses, but no one must investigate the concern themselves. The Organization will protect confidentiality to the extent reasonably possible and permitted by law.

14. No Retaliation

The Period Pantry prohibits retaliation against any person who, in good faith, reports a concern, asks a question, seeks advice, participates in an investigation, provides information, refuses to engage in misconduct, or exercises a legal right. Retaliation includes threats, intimidation, harassment, exclusion, adverse scheduling or assignments, loss of an opportunity, termination, removal from an account or role, or any other action intended to punish or discourage participation in a protected activity.

Anyone who believes they have experienced or witnessed retaliation must report it promptly through the channels in Section 13. A report made in good faith is protected even if an investigation does not substantiate the underlying concern. Knowingly making a false report or intentionally providing false information is not protected and may result in corrective action.

15. Violations and Corrective Action

The Organization will review concerns fairly, promptly, and as confidentially as practical. The person receiving a report will document and route it to an appropriate reviewer. The Organization may take interim steps to protect people, preserve information, secure an account, prevent interference, correct public information, or maintain a safe environment while a matter is reviewed.

• Reviews may include interviews, examination of posts and messages, review of account records and devices made available for Organization business, consultation with advisors, and other appropriate fact-finding.
• Covered individuals are expected to cooperate honestly, preserve relevant information, and keep the matter private except as needed to obtain support, fulfill a legal duty, or participate in the review.
• The Organization will seek to give a person whose conduct is at issue a reasonable opportunity to respond to relevant information, consistent with safety, privacy, and the integrity of the review.
• When a violation is substantiated, corrective action may include coaching, training, a correction or retraction, removal of content, a written warning, loss of posting or account access, loss of duties or opportunities, removal from an event or role, termination of employment or participation, contract action, or referral to law enforcement or another authority.
• Corrective action will be determined based on the facts, seriousness, pattern, impact, applicable law, and the person’s role. This policy does not guarantee a particular process or outcome.

16. No Contract of Employment

This policy states social media expectations; it is not a contract of employment, a promise of employment, or a guarantee of volunteer, internship, ambassador, Board, contractor, or program participation. Nothing in this policy changes an at-will employment relationship where at-will employment applies, creates a right to continued service or assignment, or guarantees a specific shift, role, benefit, payment, or opportunity.

Participation with The Period Pantry may be ended or changed by the Organization or the covered individual, subject to applicable law and any written agreement that governs the relationship. Nothing in this section limits any right or protection that cannot lawfully be waived.

17. Governing Law

This policy shall be interpreted and applied in accordance with the laws of the State of Maryland, without regard to its conflict-of-laws principles, except to the extent that applicable federal law controls. If any provision is determined to be unlawful or unenforceable, the remaining provisions will remain in effect to the fullest extent permitted by law.

18. Acknowledgment and Approval

By signing below, each signer acknowledges that they have received, read, and understood this Social Media Policy; agree to follow it and related Organization policies; understand how to report a concern; and understand that this policy does not create a contract or guarantee of participation.