What Howard Brown Health does

Howard Brown Health is a federally qualified health center (FQHC) and nonprofit corporation headquartered at 4025 N. Sheridan Road in Chicago, Illinois, with a stated founding date of 1974 and operations tracing to the early HIV/AIDS epidemic era. It delivers primary medical care, dental care, behavioral health, sexual health, youth care (ages 12-24), and aging adult care across seven permanent clinic locations spanning Chicago's North, West, and South Sides, supplemented by an off-site community testing network at libraries, a university campus, and community venues. Its patient population primarily comprises LGBTQ+ individuals, youth (including LGBTQ+ youth at the dedicated Broadway Youth Center), people living with or at risk for HIV, and uninsured or underinsured patients served through a sliding-scale fee program. The underlying technology platform is the third-party MyChart patient portal operated by OCHIN, providing online scheduling, bill payment, medical record access, and secure messaging, with telehealth delivered for behavioral health consultations.

The business model layers four revenue streams: (1) patient service revenue from medical, dental, behavioral, and sexual health services; (2) insurance reimbursement from Medicaid, Medicare, and private plans; (3) federal HRSA Health Center Program grants under 42 U.S.C. 254b; and (4) philanthropic donations channeled through major foundation and corporate partners (Gilead Sciences, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois, Alphawood Foundation, Chicago Community Trust, Crown Family, Polk Bros Foundation, Allstate, United Way, Delta Dental of Illinois Foundation, Siragusa Foundation, Michael Reese Health Trust) and the Brown Elephant resale store social enterprise. The organization is governed as an FQHC with an FTCA-deemed status, PCMH recognition, and 2024-2025 HRSA quality designations (National Quality Leader for HIV Care & Prevention, High-Value Care, Advancing Health Information Technology, Access Enhancer, Health Disparities Collaborator). David Ernesto Munar serves as President and CEO. Strategic and academic affiliations include Northwestern University and the University of Illinois at Chicago Medical Center; the internal ERA division conducts research, professional cultivation, and policy advocacy.

Customer segments span insured and uninsured patients, youth, older adults, pediatric patients, and people living with HIV or at HIV risk, with the LGBTQ+ community serving as the primary identity-based segment alongside underserved demographic groups (transgender women, cisgender women living with HIV, young people living with HIV) receiving specialized care pathways. Distribution combines scheduled appointments, walk-in sexual health clinics, a 24/7 after-hours on-call line, telehealth for Illinois residents, and off-site testing partnerships, with marketing conducted through the corporate website, email updates, Spanish-language pages, and the Healthcare Equality Index Leader designation as earned media.

Name

Howard Brown Health

Legal name

Howard Brown Health

Website

https://howardbrown.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1980

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Howard Brown Health is a Chicago-based federally qualified health center providing affirming medical, dental, behavioral, sexual, youth, and aging adult healthcare to tens of thousands of LGBTQ+ and underserved patients across seven clinic locations, funded through insurance reimbursement, HRSA grants, philanthropy, and the Brown Elephant resale stores.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Health Services

NAICS

Offices of Physicians (6211), Ambulatory Health Care Services (621)

SIC

Services-Offices & Clinics Of Doctors Of Medicine (8011)

akta.pro primary industry

Community Health Centers (FQHCs & Look-Alikes) (HLAFAGAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Community Mental Health Centers (CMHCs) & Public Behavioral Health Providers (HLAFACAI), Primary Care for Underserved Populations (e.g., migrant, homeless, refugee clinics) (HLAFAGAN)

Keywords

• LGBTQ+ healthcare services
• Federally qualified health center
• HIV prevention care
• Community health services
• Gender-affirming care

Headquarters

HQ city

Chicago

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices9 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Patient Service Revenue: Revenue generated from medical, dental, behavioral health, and sexual health services provided to patients. Services billed to insurance or paid directly by patients.
2. Insurance Reimbursement: Accepts Medicaid, Medicare, and many private insurance plans. Revenue received through insurance claim reimbursements for covered services.
3. Sliding Scale Fee Program: Discounted fees for uninsured or underinsured patients with low income based on gross yearly household income and household size.
4. Federal Grants (HRSA): Health Center Program grantee under 42 U.S.C. 254b, receiving federal funding through the Health Resources and Services Administration.
5. Donations and Philanthropy: Donations supporting LGBTQ+ healthcare, including proceeds from Brown Elephant resale stores and direct charitable contributions.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Howard Brown Health is a federally qualified health center (FQHC) that delivers comprehensive medical, dental, behavioral health, sexual health, youth, and aging adult services to LGBTQ+ communities and the broader Chicago population. Services include primary care, HIV prevention and treatment (PrEP, PEP, DoxyPEP), gender-affirming care, walk-in sexual health clinics, vaccinations, and community-based HIV/STI testing. Care is provided regardless of insurance status or ability to pay through a sliding scale fee program.

Product overview

Howard Brown Health operates as a federally qualified health center (FQHC) offering a comprehensive, integrated healthcare platform organized around multiple service lines. The core clinical services include Comprehensive Medical Care (spanning diabetes, gynecology, HPV/anal health, pediatrics, adult primary care, psychiatry, trans & gender diverse health, and vaccinations), Sexual Wellness & Preventive Care (including DoxyPEP, PEP, PrEP, HIV services, and walk-in sexual health clinics), Affirming Mental Health Care (behavioral health, group therapy, smoking cessation, substance use recovery), specialized Youth Care via the Broadway Youth Center for ages 12-24, Aging Adult Care, and Complete Dental Care. Cross-cutting these services is the ERA division focused on Education, Research, and Advocacy, while the Brown Elephant social enterprise retail operation generates funding for the organization. The organization serves primarily LGBTQ+ communities in Chicago, providing care regardless of insurance status or ability to pay through a sliding fee scale.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Broadway Youth Center (BYC): Youth-focused clinic providing care for ages 12-24, especially LGBTQ+ youth, located at 1023 W. Irving Park Road in Chicago.
• Brown Elephant
• ERA

Products and services

• Comprehensive Medical Care Full range of primary and specialty medical services including diabetes care, gynecologic services, HPV and anal health, pediatric services, adult primary care, psychiatry, trans and gender diverse health, and vaccinations for the Chicago community.
• Diabetes Care Comprehensive diabetes management including screening, diagnosis, A1C testing, medication and insulin management, nutrition counseling, and mental health support integrated into primary care for adults with or at risk for diabetes.
• Gynecologic Services Women's reproductive care including preventive exams, screenings, family planning, menopause care, LGBTQ+ affirming care, Pap tests, HPV testing, and STI testing and treatment.
• HPV and Anal Health Specialized screening and treatment for HPV-related conditions including anal dysplasia using High-Resolution Anoscopy (HRA), precancerous lesion management, and anal cancer prevention.
• Mpox Services Mpox vaccination, testing, care and support services including Clade I and Clade II strain management, symptom evaluation, and isolation guidance.
• Pediatric Services Family-centered medical care for children from infancy through adolescence including well visits, sick visits, immunizations, chronic condition care, lab tests, and school/sports physicals.
• Adult Primary Care Whole-person adult primary care including preventive services, acute illness care, chronic disease management, LGBTQ+ affirming care, and gender-affirming primary care.
• Psychiatry Services Mental health services including diagnostic assessment, medication management, and treatment for depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and substance use, available for patients ages 16 and older.
• Trans and Gender Diverse Health Comprehensive gender-affirming care including hormone therapy, legal name and gender change navigation, surgical navigation, breast/chest cancer screenings, and gynecological care.
• Vaccinations Immunization services for all ages covering polio, tetanus, chickenpox, measles, mumps, HPV, whooping cough, hepatitis, flu, mpox, COVID-19, and shingles.
• PrEP (Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis) Daily pill or bi-monthly injection that reduces HIV infection risk, including navigation services, follow-up appointments, and financial assistance for uninsured patients.
• PEP (Post-Exposure Prophylaxis) HIV prevention medication regimen to be taken within 72 hours after potential HIV exposure, available on walk-in basis at Howard Brown clinic locations.
• DoxyPEP Post-exposure preventative treatment for syphilis, chlamydia, and gonorrhea, consisting of 200mg doxycycline taken within 72 hours of a condomless sexual encounter.
• Services for Women and Youth Living with HIV Specialized HIV care for young people, transgender women, and cisgender women including linkage to care, medical case management, mental health services, and comprehensive resource coordination.
• Sexual and Reproductive Health Walk-in Clinic Walk-in sexual health services providing HIV/STI testing, treatment for common STIs, pregnancy testing, HPV vaccination, and HIV prevention services (PEP/PrEP) on a first-come first-served basis.
• Case Management HIV-focused case management providing assistance with social security, public aid, insurance navigation, benefits advocacy, financial assistance, and referrals to medical and support services.
• Community Testing Sites and Outreach Free HIV/STI screening services at community locations across Chicagoland including Brown Elephant, Roosevelt University, Evanston Public Library, Steamworks, and other community venues.
• Behavioral Health Mental health services including behavioral health consultation, psychiatry, and individual therapy for adults, offered via telehealth or in-person.
• Group Therapy Various therapy groups including Expressive Arts, DBT Skills, Process Group, Mindfulness-Based Harm Reduction, and LGBTQ+-focused groups such as Genderf**k, Journey Continues (LGBTQ+ seniors), and S.T.O.P. Group.
• Smoking Cessation Smoking cessation support including behavioral health counseling, primary care consultations, medication assistance, and referral to Illinois Tobacco Quitline.
• Substance Use and Recovery (Recovering with Pride) Outpatient substance use services using harm reduction and trauma-informed framework, including assessment, individual/group therapy, peer recovery coaching, and medication-assisted treatment (MAT).
• Support Groups and Workshops Free community groups including LGBTQIA+ Cancer Networking, Diabetes OASIS, Rising Phoenix (HIV survivors), Transcendence (trans older adults), and T-Time (trans/intersex support).
• Broadway Youth Center (Ages 12-24) Youth-centered primary care at Broadway Youth Center providing affordable, walk-in medical care with focus on LGBTQ+ youth including primary care, preventive care, adolescent medicine, mental health counseling, sexual health, and housing resources.
• Aging Adult Care Geriatric medicine and aging adult services including comprehensive care for older adults.
• Complete Dental Care Dental services including comprehensive dental care and dental Botox treatment.
• ERA (Education, Research, Advocacy) Division conducting rigorous research, cultivating healthcare professionals, and advancing LGBTQ+ affirming policies through education, research, and advocacy initiatives.
• Brown Elephant Resale stores in Northalsted and Andersonville locations with all proceeds supporting LGBTQ+ healthcare at Howard Brown Health.

Named customers7 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Northwestern UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic medical center partnership providing clinical training, research collaboration, and healthcare professional development
• University of Illinois at Chicago Medical CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership providing child and adolescent psychiatry fellow to serve Howard Brown Health's youth population
• Gilda's Club ChicagominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative partnership hosting monthly LGBTQIA+ Cancer Networking Group at Howard Brown Health Halsted location
• Roosevelt UniversityminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCampus testing site providing HIV/STI screening services limited to Roosevelt University students
• Evanston Public LibraryminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCommunity testing site partnership providing HIV/STI screening services on 4th Tuesdays
• Steamworks ChicagominorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCommercial venue partnership hosting HIV/STI testing on 1st Thursdays
• Stickney TownshipminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMunicipal partnership providing HIV/STI testing services on 2nd Thursdays
• Toward Pride / New Covenant Baptist ChurchminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFaith-based community partnership providing HIV/STI testing on 3rd Saturdays
• South Shore Public LibraryminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPublic library partnership hosting HIV/STI testing on 4th Thursdays

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Fenway Health: Fenway Health is a Boston-based FQHC specializing in LGBTQ+ affirming care with similar integrated medical, behavioral, and sexual health services. Closest direct peer given shared FQHC status, LGBTQ+ specialization, and research/advocacy infrastructure.
• Mazzoni Center: Mazzoni Center is a Philadelphia-based LGBTQ+ health and wellness provider offering primary care, behavioral health, HIV/STI services, and gender-affirming care. Directly comparable in service mix and patient population.
• Callen-Lorde Community Health Center: Callen-Lorde is an NYC-based FQHC serving LGBTQ+ communities with comprehensive primary care, sexual health, and gender-affirming services. Closely comparable in mission, patient population, and service mix.
• Legacy Community Health: Legacy Community Health is a Houston-based FQHC providing comprehensive care including LGBTQ+ affirming services, HIV care, and pediatrics. Comparable FQHC model with multi-location operations in an underserved metro area.
• Whitman-Walker Health: Whitman-Walker is a Washington DC-based community health center serving LGBTQ+ populations with integrated medical, dental, mental health, and HIV services. Direct comparable on FQHC designation and community-rooted LGBTQ+ care model.
• Chase Brexton Health Care: Chase Brexton is a Maryland-based FQHC with a long history of LGBTQ+ affirming care including HIV services, primary care, and behavioral health. Comparable FQHC structure serving LGBTQ+ patients with multi-site operations.
• Los Angeles LGBT Center: Los Angeles LGBT Center operates the largest LGBTQ+ healthcare program in the US, offering primary care, sexual health, mental health, and youth services. Comparable in scope of LGBTQ+-specific clinical and social programming.

Emerging players

• Folx Health: Folx Health is a digital health platform providing LGBTQ+-focused virtual care including HRT, PrEP, and primary care. Comparable on patient population and service line but competes as an emerging virtual-first challenger to brick-and-mortar community health centers.

Regional players

• Erie Family Health Centers: Erie Family Health Centers is a Chicago-based FQHC providing primary care, behavioral health, and dental services across multiple locations to underserved communities. Comparable as a Chicago-area FQHC competitor, though not LGBTQ+-focused.

Broad incumbents

• Planned Parenthood of Illinois: Planned Parenthood of Illinois operates as a broader reproductive and sexual health provider across the state, overlapping with Howard Brown's walk-in sexual health and PrEP/PEP services.Comparable on service line but a broader reproductive-health scope rather than LGBTQ+-focused mission.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/howardbrownhc
• Facebookfacebook.com/HowardBrownHealthCenter

Compliance7 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Howard Brown Health