What HIPS does

HIPS (Harm Reduction Experts Improving Lives Since 1993) is a Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit organization founded in 1993 that provides direct harm reduction services, advocacy, and community engagement for people impacted by sex work and drug use. Its service portfolio spans social services (drop-in programs, syringe exchange, drug-testing strips, Naloxone distribution, safer-sex supplies, housing and re-entry support, support groups), clinical services (HIV and HCV testing, COVID-19 PCR rapid testing, gender-affirming care, and Medication-Assisted Treatment), and outreach programming (a 7-days-a-week mobile outreach fleet, overdose prevention vending machines, and the Hotspot micro-service network at 7th & T NW and Waterfront SW locations). A 24/7 crisis and supply-delivery hotline (1-800-676-4477) anchors service access, with public-facing contact lines segmented by function — clinic, MAT, re-entry, addiction counseling, sidewalk drop-in, and mobile outreach — reflecting an operationally mature service taxonomy.

The organization's "technology" is fundamentally human service delivery rather than software: a constellation of physical sites, mobile vehicles, vending machines, phone lines, and trained staff rather than a platform product. There is no public API, no SDK, no app, and no proprietary digital product; the website and a Neon CRM backend are operational infrastructure, not revenue-generating technology. Distribution is direct-to-individual across multiple D.C. neighborhoods with no observed geographic expansion beyond the D.C. metro.

Revenue mechanics are donation-driven rather than commercial. Funding comes from individual charitable contributions, foundation/government grants (not specifically disclosed), and a small e-commerce merchandise line (apparel, mugs, bags, accessories, pride gear) priced $15 to $40+ as thank-you gifts for donations rather than at retail margins. No formal service pricing exists — all client services are free — and revenue is not publicly disclosed. Marketing is community-led: organic social, email newsletter, community events/tabling, and the branded merchandise storefront, in addition to advocacy coordination via the Sex Worker Advocates Coalition (SWAC).

Name

HIPS

Legal name

HIPS

Website

https://hips.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1993

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

HIPS is a Washington, D.C. nonprofit (founded 1993) that delivers harm reduction services — syringe exchange, Naloxone distribution, HIV/HCV testing, housing, MAT, and gender-affirming care — to people impacted by sex work and drug use, funded by donations, grants, and merchandise sales.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Washington

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Donations and Fundraising: HIPS generates revenue through charitable donations from individuals and organizations. The organization sells branded merchandise including apparel, accessories, and swag through their online store, with items priced as donation levels. Donations support mission-driven programs that engage sex workers, drug users and communities in challenging structural barriers to health, safety, and prosperity.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

HIPS is a nonprofit harm reduction organization that delivers direct, free-of-charge health and social services to people impacted by sex work and drug use in Washington, D.C. Core offerings include syringe exchange, Naloxone distribution and overdose prevention, HIV/HCV testing, gender-affirming care, Medication-Assisted Treatment, housing and re-entry support, mobile outreach, a 24/7 hotline, overdose prevention vending machines, and branded merchandise sold as donation thank-you gifts.

Product overview

HIPS (Harm Reduction Experts Improving Lives Since 1993) is a nonprofit harm reduction organization in Washington D.C. providing health services and support to sex workers and drug users. The organization operates as a service provider rather than a technology company, offering a portfolio of social services (drop-in services, housing, re-entry support), clinical services (HIV/HCV testing, gender-affirming care, MAT), and mobile outreach programs. A 24/7 hotline provides emotional support and service referrals. The organization also operates an online merchandise store selling branded items (t-shirts, bags, mugs, accessories) as donation incentives to support its mission. HIPS does not offer a software product, platform, or technology-based offerings.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Social Services Drop-in services including harm reduction supplies, syringe exchange, drug testing strips, Naloxone distribution, and referrals; support groups; housing services; and re-entry services for people impacted by sex work and drug use.
• Clinical Services HIV testing, HCV testing, gender-affirming care, COVID-19 PCR rapid testing, and Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) services provided through the HIPS clinic.
• Mobile Outreach and Community Engagement Mobile harm reduction services operating 7 days a week, Naloxone/overdose prevention training, advocacy and community events, and harm reduction trainings and technical assistance delivered across D.C. neighborhoods.
• 24/7 Hotline Round-the-clock hotline (1-800-676-4477) providing emotional support, scheduling supply deliveries, and connections to health supportive services.
• Overdose Prevention Vending Machines Harm reduction vending machines providing Naloxone and overdose prevention supplies, with enrollment available via phone at 202.779.0486 between 1-9 PM.
• Merchandise Store Branded merchandise including t-shirts, hoodies, bags, mugs, posters, accessories, and pride gear sold as donation incentives (priced as thank-you gifts) to support HIPS programs.

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Beiersdorf AGcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 November 2025HIPS (Helmholtz Institute for Pharmaceutical Research Saarland) and Beiersdorf AG entered into a long-term, exclusive partnership to investigate the role of the skin microbiome in maintaining healthy skin. The collaboration aims to identify natural products produced by skin microorganisms that have a positive effect on skin balance, leveraging extensive genetic data from the IMAGINE study covering over 500 test subjects. Beiersdorf is providing funding for two specific research projects.
• Saarland UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership leveraging the IMAGINE study data covering over 500 test subjects for microbiome research collaboration with Beiersdorf AG and HIPS.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• AIDS United: National organization supporting HIV/AIDS-related harm reduction, prevention, and care programs — comparable mission and overlapping funding ecosystem with HIPS.
• Housing Works: NYC-based nonprofit combining harm reduction, housing, HIV services, and advocacy for people impacted by drug use and sex work — the closest functional analog to HIPS's integrated service model.
• Drug Policy Alliance: Advocacy and policy organization advancing drug-policy reform and harm reduction nationally; aligns with HIPS's advocacy positioning and sex-worker/drug-user constituency focus.
• National Harm Reduction Coalition: National nonprofit providing harm reduction training, advocacy, and direct-service resources to people who use drugs — overlaps HIPS's syringe exchange, Naloxone distribution, and overdose-prevention mission.
• Sex Workers Outreach Project (SWOP) USA: National sex-worker advocacy organization providing direct services, harm reduction, and destigmatization work — direct match to HIPS's sex-worker constituency focus and advocacy orientation.

Regional players

• Whitman-Walker Health: Washington D.C. community health center specializing in HIV/STI care, gender-affirming care, and harm-reduction services — directly comparable clinical and harm-reduction offering in the same city.
• Washington Area Consortium on Poverty and Homelessness: D.C.-area nonprofit coordinating services and advocacy for people experiencing poverty and homelessness, including those affected by drug use — directly comparable given overlapping geography and client base.
• Samaritan Ministry of Greater Washington: D.C.-area faith-rooted nonprofit delivering social services and case management to vulnerable residents — comparable community-based service-delivery model in the same operating geography.
• Bread for the City: Washington D.C. nonprofit providing wraparound social services including healthcare, food, and social services to low-income residents — comparable mission-driven nonprofit model serving overlapping D.C. populations.
• SMYAL (Supporting and Mentoring Youth Advocates and Leaders): DC-based LGBTQ+ youth services nonprofit providing housing, health, and advocacy — comparable mission-driven service model serving overlapping D.C. marginalized populations.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/iloveHIPS
• Xx.com/HIPSDC

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 HIPS