Project Vida

What Project Vida does

Project VIDA (legal name Project VIDA, Inc.) is an Illinois-incorporated nonprofit community health organization founded in 1992 and headquartered in Chicago's Little Village neighborhood on the city's southwest side. Its mission is to improve quality of life and reduce health disparities in underserved communities through self-empowerment and holistic health education and direct services, delivered free or at low cost regardless of income or insurance status. All programming is bilingual (English/Spanish). Over its history, the organization reports serving 220,000+ low-income Latino, Black, and undocumented individuals living with or at risk for HIV in the Chicagoland area.

The organization's service portfolio is organized into three core programs — Prevention (HIV/STI testing and counseling, LinkUp Chicago harm reduction, street outreach, sexual health education), Care (medical and non-medical case management, behavioral health counseling, housing navigation, medication adherence, and targeted support groups such as T4T, Caminando Juntos, A.L.L.Y., and Empowerment Echo), and a Wellness Center (massage, acupuncture, fitness/dance classes, cooking classes, food pantry) — supplemented by the "Toy With Me" monthly YouTube live-stream sexual health education show (launched 2017) and the inaugural annual Latiné/x Health Summit launched July 2024. The organization operates three Chicago facility locations, with one temporarily closed as of recent communications.

Project VIDA's business model is donation- and grant-driven, with marginal fee-for-service revenue from Wellness Center offerings (massage $50, acupuncture $30). It maintains a deep partner ecosystem including ViiV Healthcare, Howard Brown Health Center, Aids Foundation of Chicago, Sinai Health Systems, Chicago Department of Public Health, University of Chicago Medicine, and the Wellness Circle collaborative. The organization holds no proprietary technology systems and does not disclose AI/ML capabilities. As of October 2024, Project VIDA announced staff reductions citing financial challenges, and as of January 2025, Executive Director Jerome Montgomery is leading a rebuilding effort that includes board recruitment, executive consultant engagement, and navigation of staff unionization interest.

Name

Project Vida

Legal name

Project VIDA, Inc.

Website

https://projectvida.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1992

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Project VIDA is a Chicago-based nonprofit founded in 1992 that delivers free and affordable bilingual HIV/STI prevention, care, wellness, and food pantry services to Latino, Black, LGBTQ+, and undocumented communities in the Little Village neighborhood and Chicagoland area.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Health Services

NAICS

Social Assistance (624), Community Food and Housing, and Emergency and Other Relief Services (6242)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

Youth Housing, Foster Care & Wraparound Support (Education-Linked) Nonprofits (BPAGADAO)

Keywords

• Community health services
• HIV STI testing
• Behavioral health programs
• Food pantry assistance
• Workforce development

Headquarters

HQ city

Chicago

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Fundraising: Non-profit organization funded primarily through donations from individuals, corporate sponsors, and community donors. Accepts donations via online portal (PayPal), mail, and phone.
2. Fee-for-Service Programs: Some wellness services (massage therapy, acupuncture) offered at low cost ($30-$50). Most programs free or affordable regardless of income or insurance status.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Project VIDA is a non-profit community health organization founded in 1992 in Chicago's Little Village neighborhood. It provides integrated HIV/STI testing, prevention, and care services, behavioral health services, primary care, wellness and fitness programming, a food pantry, workforce development, and housing navigation for Latino, Black, and LGBTQ+ residents.

Product overview

Project Vida is a non-profit community health organization offering a portfolio of interconnected health and wellness services rather than a unified software product. The core offerings span Prevention Services (HIV/STI testing, education, LinkUp Chicago harm reduction), Care Services (case management, behavioral health, housing navigation, medication adherence, support groups), and Wellness Center (nutrition, massage, acupuncture, food pantry). Additional programs include Toy With Me sexual health education live streaming show and the annual Latiné/x Health Summit. All services are free or affordable, bilingual (English/Spanish), and focused on underserved communities in Chicago's Little Village neighborhood, with emphasis on LGBTQ+ and people affected by or at risk of HIV/AIDS.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• LinkUp Chicago: A harm reduction program connecting Black gay and bisexual men to safe social and spiritual resources, with a support line (844-94-2LINK) for those affected by the methamphetamine epidemic.
• VIDA Task Force
• Mind Body and Soul Health & Wellness Circle
• Toy With Me
• Caminando Juntos
• T4T Program
• A.L.L.Y.
• Empowerment Echo

Quantifiable outcome

• Served 220,000+ low-income Latino, Black, and undocumented individuals in Chicagoland area
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

17 partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• ViiV HealthcarecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHealthcare company specializing in HIV medications. Partner and sponsor of Project VIDA programs including the Latiné/x Health Summit. Provides Apretude (PrEP) information and resources. Joaquin Lara serves as bilingual Community Engagement Specialist at ViiV Healthcare.
• Howard Brown Health CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLGBTQ+ health center providing HIV/STI screening services. During COVID-19 pandemic, partnered with Project VIDA to become the first walk-up COVID testing site in Little Village. Provides STI and HIV screening at community events.
• AFC - Aids Foundation of ChicagocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHIV/AIDS service organization. Collaborates on the VIDA Task Force, a 3-year collaborative project focused on increasing capacity for serving Latin/e/o/x Chicagoans at high risk for HIV or living with HIV.
• Sinai Health SystemscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHealthcare system providing HIV home test kits and STI home test kits for community events. Offers onsite health assessments and medical appointments support.
• Erie Neighborhood HousesupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity organization serving the Latino community in Chicago. Listed as a partner organization supporting Project VIDA's mission.
• University of Chicago MedicinesupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic medical center listed as a partner organization providing healthcare services and support.
• Chicago Black Gay Men's CaucuscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLead organization in the Mind, Body and Soul Health and Wellness Circle collaborative. Advances health equity among Black gay, bisexual, and same-gender-loving men through community-centered programs.
• Alliance Care 360coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHealth navigation center screening, linking, and navigating gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men of color to equitable care services. Partner in Wellness Circle and provides MPOX vaccination and blood pressure screenings at events.
• Task Force Prevention and Community ServicescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGrassroots organization serving LGBTQ+ of Color on Chicago's westside. Partner in Wellness Circle collaborative, serving 700+ individuals ages 16-29 annually.
• Pride in the PewssupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational nonprofit developing Black LGBTQ+ leaders of faith. Partner in Wellness Circle collaborative. Work featured in major news outlets including Chicago Tribune and ABC7Chicago.
• UBtheCUREsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerChicago-based organization at intersection of faith, health, and human rights. Specializes in HIV/AIDS awareness and advocacy. Partner in Wellness Circle collaborative.
• Faith In ActionsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerFaith-based organization serving as catalyst for justice, equity, and inclusion. Partner in Wellness Circle collaborative.
• Neelyx Labs / Lumba HealthcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides free at-home HIV test kits and STI home test kits for Toy With Me Live viewers and community events. Long-standing partnership for infectious disease testing and prevention services including PrEP.
• Greater Chicago Food DepositorysupportingOthersFood bank providing resources to support Project VIDA's food pantry program serving the community.
• LinkUp ChicagocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHarm reduction program connecting Black gay and bisexual men to safe social and spiritual resources. Features support hotline (844-94-2LINK), events at Club Hydrate and Club Escape, addresses methamphetamine epidemic impacts.
• Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCity health department. Collaborator on Latiné/x Health Summit. Provides Narcan and fentanyl test strips for harm reduction. Commissioner Olusimbo (Simbo) Ige delivered opening remarks at 2024 summit.
• Faith United Methodist Church ChicagosupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerFaith-based organization and sponsor. Partner in Wellness Circle collaborative through Faith United Methodist Church-Dalton location.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Chicago House and Social Service Agency: Chicago-based organization providing housing, health, and social services for LGBTQ+ individuals and people affected by HIV. Direct peer — overlapping HIV/LGBTQ+ focus and wraparound case management model.
• Howard Brown Health: Chicago-based LGBTQ+ health center providing HIV/STI testing, primary care, and behavioral health. Direct peer — Project VIDA has partnered with Howard Brown Health on COVID testing and HIV/STI screenings, serving overlapping populations in the same metro.
• Erie Neighborhood House: Chicago community organization serving the Latino community on the west side. Direct peer — listed partner of Project VIDA, serving overlapping Latino immigrant populations with social services and education.
• Center on Halsted: LGBTQ+ community center in Chicago offering health services, housing, and youth programs. Direct peer serving overlapping LGBTQ+ populations in the same metro with similar wraparound services.
• Task Force Prevention and Community Services: Chicago westside grassroots organization serving LGBTQ+ people of color. Direct peer — Project VIDA is a partner in the Mind Body & Soul Wellness Circle collaborative, and Task Force serves 700+ LGBTQ+ youth annually.
• Chicago Black Gay Men's Caucus: Coalition advancing health equity for Black gay, bisexual, and same-gender-loving men in Chicago. Direct peer — Project VIDA is a core partner in the Mind Body & Soul Health & Wellness Circle, the lead organization's signature initiative.
• AIDS Foundation of Chicago (AFC): Chicago HIV/AIDS service and advocacy organization. Direct peer — AFC collaborates with Project VIDA on the VIDA Task Force, a 3-year project focused on Latinx HIV prevention and care.

Broad incumbents

• Sinai Chicago: Major Chicago healthcare system providing HIV home test kits and medical services to Project VIDA clients. Broad incumbent — larger health system partner with overlapping HIV and community health programming but broader portfolio scope.

Others

• ViiV Healthcare: Global HIV-focused pharmaceutical company (Pfizer/GSK/Shionogi) sponsoring Project VIDA programs including the Latiné/x Health Summit. Adjacent ecosystem participant — funder and PrEP/Apretude resource partner rather than service competitor.
• Greater Chicago Food Depository: Regional food bank supplying resources to Project VIDA's food pantry. Adjacent ecosystem participant — supplier/infrastructure partner for one of Project VIDA's core services.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@ProjectVidaInc/streams
• Facebookfacebook.com/ProjectVIDA
• Instagraminstagram.com/projectvidainc
• Xx.com/projectvidainc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 Project Vida