AIDS Foundation of Chicago

What AIDS Foundation of Chicago does

The AIDS Foundation of Chicago (AFC) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1985 in Chicago, Illinois, and recognized as the Midwest's largest private source of philanthropic support for HIV/AIDS. AFC provides a comprehensive suite of free, grant- and donation-funded services to people living with and vulnerable to HIV, including case management, housing assistance, HIV/STI testing, PrEP/PEP access, behavioral health, emergency financial assistance, and Medicaid/Medicare enrollment. In its most recent reporting year, AFC served 8,247 clients through case management, housing, and food support; housed 2,048 people through its own programs and 20+ partner organizations; and distributed over $683,000 in emergency financial aid to 600+ households.

The organization's underlying "technology" is a community-led service delivery model rather than a software product: direct programs, an ecosystem of 50+ partner agencies, and a wholly-owned subsidiary, the Center for Housing and Health (CHH), which operates initiatives such as the Flexible Housing Pool. Signature initiatives include Getting to Zero Illinois (a statewide plan launched in 2019 to end new HIV transmissions by 2030), the HIV Resource Hub (operated with Center on Halsted), and Pride Action Tank (a 10-year-old LGBTQ+ advocacy initiative). Signature fundraising programs include AIDS Run & Walk Chicago (2,000+ participants) and World of Chocolate ($250,000+ annually).

AFC's revenue model is a multi-stream nonprofit funding mix: federal grants (Ryan White CARE Act, HOPWA), individual donations (monthly and legacy giving via the Sable Sherer Legacy Society), foundation grants (including ViiV Healthcare), corporate partnerships with tiered sponsorship levels up to $175,000 (Walgreens, ITW), and fundraising events. Services are provided at no cost to clients. AFC has 101–250 employees, is governed by a Board of Directors with an Associate Board for younger professionals, and is undergoing a CEO transition as of April 2026 after John Peller's 12-year tenure.

Name

AIDS Foundation of Chicago

Legal name

AIDS Foundation of Chicago

Website

http://www.aidschicago.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1985

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

AIDS Foundation of Chicago is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, founded in 1985, that delivers free HIV case management, housing, prevention, and behavioral health services across Illinois to people living with and vulnerable to HIV, supported by federal grants, donations, and a 50+ partner network.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Public Health Services

NAICS

Social Assistance (624), Social Advocacy Organizations (8133), Voluntary Health Organizations (813212)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Health Services (8000)

akta.pro primary industry

Disease-Specific Research & Support (e.g., Cancer, Diabetes, ALS) (BPAGACAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Global Health Advocacy, Policy & Rights Organizations (HLAJAKAO), LGBTQ+ Rights & Advocacy Organizations (BPAGAFAE)

Keywords

• HIV/AIDS services
• Case management
• Housing assistance
• Public health advocacy
• HIV prevention

Headquarters

HQ city

Chicago

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Government Grants and Federal Funding: AFC receives significant funding through federal programs including Ryan White CARE Act funds for case management and support services, HOPWA (Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS) for housing programs, and other federal HIV prevention and treatment funding.
2. Individual Donations: The organization receives donations from individual supporters through monthly giving programs (Friends of the Foundation), one-time gifts, and legacy/planned giving through the Sable Sherer Legacy Society.
3. Fundraising Events: AFC organizes signature events including AIDS Run & Walk Chicago (the largest HIV gathering in the Midwest with over 2,000 participants), World of Chocolate (raising over $250,000), and Team to End AIDS (endurance training charity team).
4. Corporate Partnerships and Sponsorships: AFC has a Corporate Partnership Program with multiple giving levels ($175,000, $100,000, $50,000, $25,000) and receives support from companies including long-time partner Walgreens.
5. Grantmaking from Foundations: AFC receives grants from pharmaceutical companies and foundations, including partnerships with organizations like ViiV Healthcare for women's health programs and Getting to Zero Illinois grants.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

AIDS Foundation of Chicago is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1985 that provides HIV/AIDS services including case management, housing assistance, HIV/STI testing, PrEP/PEP prevention, behavioral health services, and emergency financial assistance to people living with and vulnerable to HIV in Chicago and Illinois. The organization coordinates programs, advocacy initiatives, and a network of 50+ partner organizations, delivering services at no cost to clients and supported by federal grants, foundation funding, individual donations, and corporate sponsorships.

Product overview

AIDS Foundation of Chicago operates as a nonprofit organization offering a comprehensive suite of HIV/AIDS services rather than a unified software product. Core services include case management connecting clients to treatment, testing, housing, and financial assistance; the HIV Resource Hub providing one-stop sexual health and LGBTQ+ services; PrEP/PEP prevention services; housing assistance including permanent housing and homelessness prevention; and behavioral health services. Key programs include the Getting to Zero Illinois initiative targeting zero new HIV transmissions by 2030, the annual AIDS Run & Walk Chicago event, Team to End AIDS endurance training, World of Chocolate fundraising event, Pride Action Tank advocacy initiative, Public Health Boot Camp training, Learning Circle Collaborative for emerging organizations, and the Flexible Housing Pool. The organization also runs Narcan distribution for opioid overdose prevention and CommunityDirect for digital fundraising.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• HIV HUB: One-stop hub for HIV services providing sexual health and LGBTQ+ health services, regardless of immigration status
• Pride Action Tank
• Getting to Zero Illinois (GTZ-IL)
• World of Chocolate
• AIDS Run & Walk Chicago
• Team to End AIDS (T2)
• Narcan Newsstand
• Flexible Housing Pool

Products and services

• Case Management Connects individuals living with HIV to vital resources including treatment, testing, food, financial support, and housing through a network of partner agencies.
• HIV Resource Hub One-stop hub for HIV services providing sexual health and LGBTQ+ health services regardless of immigration status, operated in partnership with Center on Halsted.
• Housing Services Housing assistance including permanent housing placement, homelessness prevention, and behavioral health support for people living with HIV and other chronic conditions.
• HIV and STI Testing Testing services for HIV and sexually transmitted infections provided directly to individuals at no cost.
• Behavioral Health Services Mental health and substance use services for people living with HIV.
• PrEP/PEP Services Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis and Post-Exposure Prophylaxis services for HIV prevention, including daily pills and long-acting injections.
• Emergency Financial Assistance Financial assistance helping households remain in their homes and access basic utilities; distributed over $683,000 to 600+ households in the most recent reporting year.
• Getting to Zero Illinois Statewide collaborative plan launched in 2019 to end new HIV transmissions and support Illinoisans living with HIV and AIDS by 2030, with a dashboard tracking progress and grantmaking.
• Flexible Housing Pool Chicago initiative providing flexible housing resources that has housed over 1,000 people experiencing homelessness.
• Medicaid, Medicare and Health Insurance Enrollment Health coverage enrollment assistance for clients navigating Medicaid, Medicare, and private insurance, including those living with HIV and chronic conditions.

Quantifiable outcome

• AFC served 8,247 clients through case management, housing, emergency financial assistance, and food support
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Center for Housing and HealthcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAFC has a subsidiary nonprofit, the Center for Housing and Health (CHH), dedicated to improving health outcomes through housing regardless of HIV status. CHH exists to support AFC's core mission of ending homelessness and is a separate 501(c)(3) organization that shares some core operations with AFC. CHH operates programs like the Flexible Housing Pool and has released its own policy priorities.
• ViiV HealthcaremajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerViiV Healthcare partners with AFC to improve women's health. AFC has a program for cis- and trans-women of color living with HIV that has reported successes through ViiV Healthcare's support.
• Center on HalstedcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAFC partners with Center on Halsted to operate the HIV HUB (hivhub.org), providing sexual health and LGBTQ+ health services regardless of immigration status in the Chicago area.
• Getting to Zero Illinois (GTZ-IL)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAFC is a key partner in Getting to Zero Illinois, a sweeping plan launched in 2019 to end new HIV transmissions and support Illinoisans living with HIV and AIDS by 2030. GTZ-IL has awarded $200,000 in grants to support ending the HIV epidemic in Illinois.
• Pride Action TankcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerAFC manages Pride Action Tank, an advocacy initiative focused on LGBTQ+ policy issues, storytelling, and community organizing. Pride Action Tank celebrates 10 years of operation and produces reports like the Storytelling Toolkit for LGBTQ+ older adults.
• Lambda LegalminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAFC and Lambda Legal have partnered on lawsuits against the Trump administration over bans on speech about systemic racism and DEI work.
• Legal Council for Health JusticeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAFC and Legal Council for Health Justice have partnered on statements regarding Medicaid Hepatitis C treatment restrictions.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• San Francisco AIDS Foundation: Long-standing HIV/AIDS services, prevention, and advocacy nonprofit in San Francisco; comparable as a regional HIV-focused CBO offering case management, housing linkages, PrEP/PEP, fundraising events, and policy advocacy in a major U.S. city.
• GMHC (Gay Men's Health Crisis): One of the oldest U.S. HIV/AIDS organizations, based in NYC; comparable as a HIV/AIDS service and advocacy nonprofit delivering case management, mental health, housing support, and policy advocacy with a similarly diversified federal + corporate + individual funding model.
• Whitman-Walker Health: Washington D.C.-based federally qualified health center and nonprofit with deep HIV/AIDS and LGBTQ+ care roots; comparable as a HIV-specialty care, prevention (PrEP), and advocacy organization delivering integrated clinical and social services.
• Howard Brown Health: Chicago-based LGBTQ+ and HIV/AIDS health provider with multiple clinics; comparable as a local peer delivering HIV care, PrEP, behavioral health, and housing-related services in the same Chicago market where AFC operates.
• AIDS United: National HIV/AIDS policy and grantmaking organization that re-grants federal and philanthropic funds to local CBOs; comparable to AFC because it sits in the same HIV funding intermediary and advocacy space, convening regional service providers.
• NMAC (National Minority AIDS Council): National HIV/AIDS organization focused on racial/ethnic minorities and marginalized communities; comparable to AFC's priority populations focus (Black and Latine MSM, Black women, trans women, justice-involved populations) and similar advocacy footprint.
• amfAR (Foundation for AIDS Research): Leading HIV/AIDS research and advocacy foundation; comparable as a HIV-specific nonprofit combining grantmaking, policy advocacy, and brand-driven fundraising events at national scale.
• Center on Halsted: Chicago-based LGBTQ+ community center and AFC partner on the HIV Resource Hub (hivhub.org); comparable as a regional LGBTQ+ services and HIV resource provider operating in the same geography.

Regional players

• Equality Illinois: Illinois statewide LGBTQ+ civil rights advocacy organization; comparable to AFC's Pride Action Tank advocacy work, but primarily a policy/advocacy body without HIV service delivery, and serving the same Illinois geography.

Emerging players

• True Colors United: National nonprofit addressing LGBTQ+ youth homelessness; comparable to AFC's housing-as-healthcare and LGBTQ+ youth programs but with a narrower youth-focused mission and smaller scale.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/AIDSChicagoNPO
• Facebookfacebook.com/aidschicago
• Instagraminstagram.com/aidsfoundationchicago
• Xx.com/aidschicago
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/45793

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about AIDS Foundation of Chicago