Dignity Grows University

Dignity Grows University (DGU) launches in 2026 as a national academic forum dedicated to advancing menstrual equity through elevated instruction, expert dialogue, and professional development.

DGU offers two complementary tracks: University Courses, open to all learners nationwide, and Learning Labs, designed specifically for Dignity Grows Chapter Leaders.

All 2026 courses and labs are offered one time as interactive, live online sessions. Pre-recorded, self-paced online learning versions of these sessions will be available as part of the 2027 Dignity Grows University class offerings.

The inaugural catalogue reflects DGU’s commitment to advancing knowledge, strengthening community leadership, and building a sustained movement for menstrual equity across the United States.

A full registration schedule, faculty list, and platform access details will be released in January 2026.

University Courses

LIVE ONLINE

Two-hour interactive academic seminars featuring guest lectures, expert panels, small-group dialogue, and applied learning. Each course session will include 1-2 brief assessments designed to reinforce key concepts and confirm comprehension of the material.

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Registration options are available for individual courses and the complete year.

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Complete any four numbered University Courses within two years to earn the Period Equity Advocate Certification.

2026 COURSES

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#DGU121 - - State of the Field: Data, Trends, and Lived Realities

Current research findings and how quantitative insights align with the personal stories behind Period Poverty.

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#DGU131 - - Bloodlines & Belonging: Menstruation Through Cultural Eyes

A guided exploration of how different cultures honor, restrict, or reinterpret menstruation and what these narratives teach us today.

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#DGU141 - - Education & Equity: How Hygiene Access Shapes Learning

Analyzing the mechanisms through which Period Poverty affects academic achievement and long-term opportunity.

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#DGU151 - - Behind Closed Doors: Period Poverty and the Private Sphere

Understanding how unmet menstrual needs can shape intimacy, communication, and vulnerability within households.

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#DGU161 - - Innovating for Equity: Technology’s Role in Ending Period Poverty

A practical examination of how data tools, digital platforms, and STEM expertise strengthen nonprofit impact and expand equitable access to menstrual health resources.

Learning Labs (DG Chapter Leader Tracks)

LIVE ONLINE

One-hour interactive core competency sessions that emphasize hands-on skill development and applied leadership.

2026 LEARNING LABS

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Fundraising Unlocked

A practical exploration of corporate, foundation, and individual donor engagement and stewardship strategies tailored to Dignity Grows’ program model.

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Momentum Builders: Driving Volunteer Engagement

Tools and techniques for recruiting and energizing volunteers and building pathways to donorship.

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Strategic Speaking to Share Your Mission

A communication-focused workshop designed to help leaders articulate impact, mobilize supporters, and confidently represent Dignity Grows in public forums.

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Dynamic Committee Leadership I: Building Strong Foundations

How to form, launch, and guide committees with clarity, purpose, and intentional structure. The session emphasizes goal-setting, collaborative practice, and accountability frameworks.

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Dynamic Committee Leadership II: Advancing Your Chair Role

Supporting current and emerging committee chairs with facilitation strategies, tools for navigating group dynamics, and approaches to leading through periods of growth or change.

Period Equity Advocate Certification

The Period Equity Advocate Certification recognizes individuals who have successfully completed a structured sequence of Dignity Grows University courses to demonstrate a commitment to advancing menstrual equity through evidence-based action.

This certification affirms a strong grounding in the research, systems, and lived realities surrounding Period Poverty, along with practical skills for advocacy, education, and engagement.

Designed for community leaders, nonprofit professionals, and motivated allies, the credential signals preparedness to champion equitable access, elevate public understanding, and contribute meaningfully to long-term solutions.

Shefali Grant

Dignity Grows University Chair

Shefali Grant, MPH, is a seasoned research and project management professional with more than two decades of experience in the nonprofit sector. She has held leadership roles at Yale/YNHH, where she served as a Research Project Manager, and at Connecticut Children’s Medical Center, where she was Research Lead in the Department of Surgery. She is dedicated to building programs that advance equity through evidence informed, community centered work.

“Empowering individuals through education is how we transform awareness into sustained, meaningful change. I am excited to lend my voice and background to the launch of Dignity Grows University because menstrual equity is essential to dignity, health, and opportunity.”