Hepatitis C Mentor and Support Group

What Hepatitis C Mentor and Support Group does

Hepatitis C Mentor and Support Group (HCMSG) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2010 in New York that delivers hepatitis C peer education, support, and linkage-to-care services to affected populations. The organization was founded by Ronni Marks, herself diagnosed in 1996 and cured in 2014, who also serves on the New York State Department of Health hepatitis C task force; this lived-experience leadership is the organization's defining human asset.

HCMSG's core products are The Circle Model peer-support methodology, the Hepatitis C Basics Training curriculum, healthcare-provider training, webinars, and bilingual (English and Spanish) educational materials. The Circle Model is paired with a Circle Model Data Collection System that captures participant outcomes such as safer-practice adoption (reported at 79%) and testing uptake (reported at 46%). Services are delivered through partnerships with syringe service programs, community-based organizations, hospitals, and clinical partners including Sun River Health, where the organization attributes more than 100 sustained virologic responses to its linkage work.

HCMSG operates a free-services model and generates no revenue from program participants. Funding comes from pharmaceutical grants (Gilead, AbbVie), an NYC Council Viral Hepatitis Initiative grant, individual donations collected via PayPal, and Donor Advised Funds. The organization received the Candid Seal of Transparency (Gold) in 2022, signaling formal accountability standards to institutional funders. There is no disclosed headcount, revenue figure, or technology platform; the stack is fundamentally human-delivered and low-technology, and the operating model is best characterized as grant-funded community health intervention rather than a software or services business.

Name

Hepatitis C Mentor and Support Group

Legal name

The Hepatitis C Mentor and Support Group, Inc.

Website

https://hepatitiscmsg.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2010

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Hepatitis C Mentor and Support Group is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that delivers free peer education, training, and linkage-to-care for people affected by hepatitis C, including PWUD, LGBTQ+, and pregnant and pediatric populations, funded primarily by pharmaceutical and municipal grants.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Patient Education and Support Services

NAICS

Individual and Family Services (6241), Other Individual and Family Services (624190), Social Assistance (624)

SIC

Services-Misc Health & Allied Services, Nec (8090), Services-Health Services (8000), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Health Systems Strengthening & Universal Health Coverage (UHC) Partnerships (HLAJAOAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

Community Mental Health Centers (CMHCs) & Public Behavioral Health Providers (HLAFACAI), Clinical Research Support (CRC/CTA) (EDAOAJAO)

Keywords

• Hepatitis c education
• Patient support services
• Peer support groups
• Harm reduction training
• Nonprofit health services

Headquarters

HQ city

New York

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Others

Revenue model

1. Pharmaceutical Grants and Sponsorships: HCMSG's programs are supported by grants from Gilead, grants and sponsorships from AbbVie, and grants from the New York City Council Viral Hepatitis Initiative.
2. Individual Donations: The organization relies on generous donations from individuals to support operations. Direct donation options available via PayPal. EIN/TIN: 27-4155461.
3. Donor Advised Funds: Accepts donations through Donor Advised Funds (DAF) using a widget on their website.

Pricing tiers

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

HCMSG delivers free Hepatitis C education, peer support, and training to patients, providers, and community-based organizations across the United States. Its central program is The Circle Model, a non-clinical peer support group framework adopted by community-based organizations, syringe service programs, opioid treatment programs, hospitals, and clinics. The organization supplements this with online Hepatitis C Basics Training in English and Spanish, a recorded webinar catalog, multilingual brochures for specialized populations (children, pregnant people, LGBTQ+), and a healthcare provider training program.

Product overview

HCMSG is a nonprofit organization founded in 2010 that provides education, supportive services, and resources for anyone affected by Hepatitis C and those living with both HCV and HIV. The organization operates as a single unified offering centered around The Circle Model, a peer support group framework, supplemented by Hepatitis C Basics Training (English and Spanish), a Webinar Catalog, Educational Materials and Brochures, a Group and Facilitator Guide, Circle Model Data Form, Resources Library, and Healthcare Provider Training. These products work together to eliminate Hepatitis C through education, community empowerment, and linkage to care.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Hepatitis C Basics Training Online training presentation covering basic information about Hepatitis C including risk, transmission, dealing with stigma, prevention, care, treatment and cure, available in English and Spanish with optional $10 CVS gift card incentive upon completion; intended for patients, clients, and peers.
• The Circle Model A non-clinical peer support group model adopted by community-based organizations, syringe service programs, opioid treatment programs, hospitals, and clinics to provide a physical supportive environment for participants; partner organizations receive HCMSG's educational tools, materials, facilitation guidelines, and staff training at no cost.
• Webinar Catalog Recorded on-demand webinar library covering topics including Hepatitis C stigma, patient-provider relationships, expert panels on pediatric and pregnant populations, harm reduction, and Hepatitis C elimination strategies.
• Educational Materials and Brochures Print and digital informational materials covering Hepatitis C facts, risks, and specialized topics for children, adolescents, pregnant people, LGBTQ+ clients, and healthcare providers; available in English and Spanish and offered free of charge to patients, providers, and organizations.
• Healthcare Provider Training Training program designed to help healthcare providers work effectively with Hepatitis C patients, including high-risk populations such as people who use drugs, LGBTQ+ community members, and individuals co-infected with HIV.

Quantifiable outcome

• 79% of Circle Model participants reported safer drug use and safer sex practices after attending sessions
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Community-Based Organizations (CBOs)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHCMSG partners with community-based organizations to broaden and enhance Hepatitis C education, awareness, support, and linkage to care. Partner organizations implement the Circle Model and receive educational materials, training, and support from HCMSG.
• Syringe Service Programs (SSPs)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHCMSG partners with syringe service programs to provide Hepatitis C education and support services to people who use drugs. SSPs serve as Circle Model sites and distribution points for educational materials.
• Clinics and HospitalscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHCMSG partners with clinics and hospitals to provide educational resources and the Circle Model support approach. Medical advisors from institutions including Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Montefiore Medical Center, Weill Cornell Medicine, NYU Langone, and others support the organization's work.
• Opioid Treatment Programs (OTPs)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHCMSG partners with opioid treatment programs to deliver Hepatitis C education and support services to patients in treatment for opioid use disorder.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Project Inform: A nonprofit focused on HIV and Hepatitis C information, advocacy, and treatment access. Directly comparable as an HCV-focused patient education and advocacy organization.
• Hepatitis B Foundation: A national nonprofit focused on Hepatitis B education, advocacy, and patient support. Highly comparable as a viral-hepatitis-specific education and support organization, though focused on HBV rather than HCV.
• Treatment Action Group (TAG): An HIV and Hepatitis C advocacy and research organization focused on accelerating treatment access. Directly comparable as a Hepatitis C-focused advocacy and education organization working with affected communities.
• National Harm Reduction Coalition: A national advocacy and capacity-building organization for harm reduction, serving many of the same populations HCMSG reaches (PWUD, SSPs). Comparable as a community-based support and education organization addressing overlapping populations.
• National Viral Hepatitis Roundtable: A national coalition dedicated to ending viral hepatitis that conducts advocacy, education, and policy work on Hepatitis B and C. Directly comparable as a nonprofit advocacy and education organization focused on the same disease area.
• Caring Ambassadors Program: A nonprofit dedicated to Hepatitis C patient advocacy, education, and support. Highly comparable mission and structure as a Hepatitis C-specific support and education nonprofit.

Regional players

• End Hep C SF: A San Francisco-based collective impact initiative working toward Hepatitis C elimination in San Francisco. Comparable as a Hepatitis C-focused community coalition, though geographically focused on a single city.
• Hep C Trust: A UK-based Hepatitis C patient support and information charity. Highly comparable mission and structure but operates primarily in the United Kingdom rather than the U.S.

Broad incumbents

• American Liver Foundation: A larger, established national nonprofit focused on liver disease education, research, and advocacy. HCMSG's board treasurer previously led the Greater NY Chapter; offers overlapping patient education but covers all liver conditions rather than specializing in HCV.
• NASTAD (National Alliance of State and Territorial AIDS Directors): A national association representing public health officials who administer HIV and viral hepatitis programs. Comparable as a Hepatitis C elimination stakeholder that trains providers and supports jurisdictions, though primarily focused on government health departments.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/hepatitisCmsg
• Facebookfacebook.com/HepatitisCmsg
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/hcmsg

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about Hepatitis C Mentor and Support Group