2022 Annual Report

The need is neither new nor diminishing. It's a window into poverty. (The 19th)

letter from the ceo

Commitment to Work

The National Diaper Bank Network (NDBN) has always been dedicated to the idea that when people come together with a purpose, great things happen. Recently I have been reminded those great things can happen, even in not-so-great times.

The Covid years have been an ordeal for all of us. We’ve dealt with health concerns, supply chain issues, product shortages, shifting models of services, increased demand among families in need, and so much more.

There was pain. There was loss. But at no time during the pandemic did I feel alone, because I knew that our community and our Network was still taking bold steps toward a common goal: ensuring that everyone in the U.S. has the basic material necessities they need to thrive. The Network rose to the challenge and distributed more essential products during the pandemic than ever before.

As a Network we are doing things that no one else is. From advocacy and policy to research and program expansion, NDBN leads the way.

We remain committed to changing lives. The 2022 Annual Report provides a snapshot of some of the amazing work that we do each and every day.

Thank you for supporting the National Diaper Bank Network and the Alliance for Period Supplies as we continue our extraordinary journey.

Joanne Samuel Goldblum

Chief Executive Officer

our donations at work

Funds for Change

NDBN’s Funds for Change grants are competitive awards offered exclusively to members of NDBN and/or the Alliance for Period Supplies. The grants help support and build strong, sustainable nonprofit organizations.

In 2022 a total of $114,000 was awarded to 26 members in the form of $5,000 and $10,000 strategic initiative grants and $2,500 microgrants.

The Funds for Change grant program is made possible by a combination of individual and corporate donations. Since its inception in 2015, more than $1.5 million in funding has been granted to local communities throughout the U.S.

We knew that in order to expand, we needed equipment. In came The National Diaper Bank Network with the Funds for Change Grant to assist in our efforts … Much gratitude and thanks today!

Maryland Diaper Bank

our donations at work

Steven & Alexandra Cohen Foundation

“Diapers are a basic necessity that every parent wants to provide for their child,” said Alexandra Cohen, president of the Steven & Alexandra Cohen Foundation, in conjunction with a $100,000 gift from the foundation to NDBN in recognition of Mother’s Day 2022.

The gift funded diaper purchases for 30 NDBN-member diaper banks that participated in the ongoing National Diaper Bank Economic Impact Study to chart the economic impact of providing families with free diapers.

our donations at work

Brooklyn and Bailey

Social media influencers Brooklyn and Bailey teamed up with the Alliance for Period Supplies during the summer of 2022 to help end period poverty.

The high-profile twins went on a “23-day challenge to visit all 50 states before Bailey’s next period,” during which time they hoped to raise $100,000, equal to one million period supplies. Each day they released a new vlog to capture their road tour adventures and encouraged fans to make online donations.

While the duo was unable to make stops in Alaska and Hawaii during the challenge, they more than doubled their fundraising goal, with total donations exceeding $200,000 coming from supporters in all 50 states and countries around the globe.

The Alliance for Period Supplies allocated all $200,000 of the donation to purchase and distribute period products to 12 of our member period supply programs.

our reputation at work


As trusted partners in local communities, members of NDBN and/or the Alliance for Period Supplies were invited to partner with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) in its We Can Do This campaign.

The national campaign sought to provide all families and individuals — especially those in medically underserved communities — with fact-based information about COVID–19 vaccines for children ages 6 months and older, and booster shots for adults.

More than 110 NDBN-member programs received participation grants totaling $658,000 to distribute campaign materials along with diapers and/or period supplies to individuals and families they serve (grants will be reflected in NDBN’s 2022–23 fiscal year).

NDBN joined the campaign alongside other leading national organizations including the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP), The American Library Association (ALA), and The National Parent Teacher Association (PTA).

our advocacy at work

Securing First Federal Funding for Diapers

Since our inception in 2011, NDBN has recognized diaper need as a major public health issue facing children and families living in each of our communities. We know that diaper banks, donors, and the philanthropic community alone cannot end diaper need. The power and financial support of state and federal governments is required.

NDBN and our legislative champions, led by Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (CT–3) and Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA–13), have advocated for diaper-related legislation for over a decade. Our efforts reached a true milestone in 2022 with the federal appropriation of $10 million to support diaper distribution programs in the U.S.

The first-ever federal funding is being administered through the Office of Community Services at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), via the Diaper Distribution Demonstration and Research Pilot (DDDRP). Launched during NDBN’s National Diaper Need Awareness Week, the program channels new funding to expand existing diaper distribution services, through Community Services Block Grants. Six NDBN-member diaper banks are working with their respective State Community Action Associations to administer the grants.

This grant is truly a pilot program and a beginning. NDBN looks forward to doing our part to support the recipients as their success will foster future success and additional funding to ensure that all U.S. families get the material basic necessities they require to thrive.

our advocacy at work

Advancing State Legislation

NDBN and the Alliance for Period Supplies are working with our members to support statewide coalitions to end diaper need and period poverty in their respective states. Together we are advancing and passing legislation to eliminate state sales tax on diapers and period supplies, fund diaper distribution programs, and ensure period products are freely available in public schools and other public buildings.

Currently, 22 states charge sales tax on period products and 29 states do so on diapers (as of September 20, 2022). This year alone, the Alliance for Period Supplies advocacy efforts in Alabama, Connecticut, Hawaii, Missouri, and Utah led to the passage of legislation that requires period products in public schools. In addition, NDBN has been instrumental in securing state funding for diaper distribution programs in nine states.

Our advocacy work helps ensure that all individuals, children, and families have access to the material basic necessities they require to thrive and reach their full potential.

our diversity at work


NDBN has been offering support to the member-led Black Diaper Bank Coalition since October 2020. The group of like-minded individuals is working to address issues affecting Black-led diaper banks in the U.S.

The coalition works to mentor new leaders and one another, as well as to support capacity building, promote access to funding, and advance the equitable distribution of product donations, among other activities.

The Black Diaper Bank Coalition met for the first time in person and presented at the U.S. Conference on Poverty and Basic Needs held in Orlando this year.

our research at work

NDBN is entering the final stages of our multi-year study to measure the economic effect across the U.S. of providing free diapers to families with young children.

Modeled on a state-level study that found significant economic and fiscal impact of diapers on family health, the National Diaper Bank Economic Impact Study is being led by principal investigator Kelley E. C. Massengale, MPH, PhD, and co-investigator Lynn Comer, MS, NDBN director of Research and Evaluations. The research team also includes the Connecticut Center for Economic Analysis at the University of Connecticut. Funded by the Seedlings Foundation, the research involved more than 60 NDBN-member diaper banks that collected and reported data from the families they serve. The data is in the final stages of analysis, with publication and release expected in 2023.

NDBN has a history of leading or partnering with academics on research around diaper need. In 2013, NDBN contributed to the first peer-reviewed study on diaper need, which demonstrated an association with maternal depression. The study was published in the journal Pediatrics. NDBN researchers also worked with Dr. Massengale on her study published in the American Journal of Public Health (2020) that established diaper need as a public health issue.

charting 2022

National Diaper Bank Network

258

Member Basic Needs Banks

Alliance for Period Supplies

142

Allied Programs

Board of Directors

Chair
Amy Daly–Donovan
Principal and Owner
Daly–Donovan Consulting
Seattle, Washington

Chair-elect
Julienne Cherry
Executive Director
Summit Medical Group Foundation
Berkeley Heights, New Jersey

Secretary
Kristine Groholski
Marketing Director
Carrier Fire & Security
Hortonville, Wisconsin

Treasurer
Kevin Faulkner
Corporate Attorney and Software Executive
Pebble Beach, California

Eric Adelson
Professor of Journalism
University of Central Florida
Orlando, Florida

Bill Andoe
Executive Director
Emergency Infant Services
Tulsa, Oklahoma

Jessica Bartholow
Chief of Staff
Office of Senator Nancy Skinner, District 9
Sacramento, California

Vicki Clark
Consultant
Building the Capacity of Organizations
Memphis, Tennessee

Sondra Greene
Chief Financial Officer, Emeritus
Capital Sisters International
Denver, Colorado

 

Toni Harp
Former Mayor, New Haven
New Haven, Connecticut

Fran Held
Executive Director
Mitzvah Circle
Landsdale, Pennsylvania

Katie Mancini
Client Director
Landor & Fitch
New York, New York

Rachele Peterson
Chief of Staff
All of Us Research Program
National Institutes of Health
Bethesda, Maryland

Chelesa Presley
Executive Director
Diaper Bank of The Delta
Clarksdale, Mississippi

Megan Smith, MPH, DrPH
Senior Director
Connecticut Hospital Association
Wallingford, Connecticut

Laura Welsh
CSR and Community Impact Manager
Kimberly–Clark
Appleton, Wisconsin

Nancy Woodland
Executive Director
Learning Communities Foundation for PSESD
Seattle, Washington

Ex Officio
Joanne Samuel Goldblum
Chief Executive Officer
National Diaper Bank Network
New Haven, Connecticut


National Staff

Joanne Samuel Goldblum
Chief Executive Officer

Chris Blake
Chief Strategy Officer

Lynn Comer
Director of Research and Evaluation

Jennifer Gaines
Program Director of Alliance for Period Supplies

Lacey Gero
Policy and; Coalition Coordinator

Tamara Killian
Chief Development Officer

Keza Lawrence
General Administrator

Mary Madoule
Program Manager

 

Hope Martin
Chief of Finance and Administration

Troy Moore
Chief of External Affairs

Sydney Phillips
Communications Coordinator

Rachel Segaloff
Director of Philanthropy

Susan Van Ness
Chief Program Officer

Luisa Vidal
Administrative Assistant

Tim Whitney
Database Coordinator

Huggies logo

The National Diaper Bank Network receives major support from founding sponsor Huggies®, including the annual donation of 20 million diapers distributed to babies in need through the Network’s member diaper bank programs. Since 2011, Huggies has donated more than 300 million diapers and wipes to help end diaper need in the U.S.

U By Kotex logo

The Alliance for Period Supplies, a program of the National Diaper Bank Network, receives major support from founding sponsor U by Kotex®, including the annual donation of millions of period products distributed to individuals in need through allied programs. Since 2018, U by Kotex has donated more than 50 million menstrual products to help end period poverty in the U.S.

Financial Data

July 2021 to June 2022
Income
Contributions and Grants $2,024,892
In-Kind Support $5,320,103
Program Service Revenue $5,544,392
Other Income $67,196
Expenses
Program Services $11,747,256
Management $293,138
Fundraising $323,660

Total Support and Income

$12,956,583

Total Expenses

$12,364,054

Change in Net Assets

$592,529

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