Black AIDS Institute

What Black AIDS Institute does

Black AIDS Institute (BAI), founded in 1999, is a Black-led HIV/AIDS nonprofit organization headquartered in Los Angeles, California, that operates as a community-based "think and do tank" addressing the disproportionate impact of HIV on Black Americans. BAI's documented service portfolio spans direct HIV service delivery (rapid and lab-based HIV screening at its Los Angeles clinic on Crenshaw Boulevard, open Tuesdays and Fridays 9:00am-5:00pm), PrEP education and navigation, comprehensive HIV/AIDS educational materials covering transmission and Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) with U=U messaging, community conversations and roundtables (Los Angeles and Charlotte, NC), and policy and advocacy work. Its principal outputs are programmatic services, free of charge to recipients, plus a published-report library of 20+ annual and topical "State of AIDS in Black America" reports since 2005 covering Black youth, Black women, Black gay men, PrEP utilization, healthcare access, and COVID-19/HIV intersections. The organization does not market or sell software or proprietary technology; its "technology" layer consists of educational curricula, the PrEP navigation toolchain, and the report publication infrastructure.

The revenue model is grant- and donation-funded rather than transactional. Documented funding streams include foundation grants (Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, David Bohnett Foundation, The California Endowment), corporate and pharmaceutical sponsorship (Gilead Sciences as flagship year-round sponsor, ViiV Healthcare, AIDS Healthcare Foundation), federal and state government contracts and grants (CDC, HRSA via the Ryan White Program, local health departments), and individual donations channeled through a DonorPerfect-linked donation page. All services are free to recipients. Distribution is community-led, targeting Black institutions, leaders, and individuals nationally, with physical service sites in Los Angeles (clinic and administrative office) and Charlotte, NC, and programmatic reach extending to Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

The customer/segment focus is Black American communities, with sub-segmented programming for Black gay and bisexual men (facing infection rates ~49x the general adult population per BAI materials), Black women and trans women, Black youth, and the broader Black American population. BAI is governed by a six-member Board of Directors, supported by a seven-member Emeritus Board that includes Danny Glover, Sheryl Lee Ralph, and Jussie Smollett, and advised by a 12-member Scientific Advisory Committee. Day-to-day leadership is held by Michelle Reese, who is currently serving in a dual Interim CEO/Chief Program Officer capacity — signaling an ongoing leadership transition period.

Name

Black AIDS Institute

Legal name

Black AIDS Institute

Website

https://blackaids.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1999

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Black AIDS Institute is a Los Angeles-based, Black-led nonprofit founded in 1999 that delivers HIV testing, PrEP navigation, education, community engagement, and policy advocacy targeting Black Americans in the U.S., Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

HIV/AIDS Prevention & Advocacy Services

NAICS

Human Rights Organizations (813311), Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

Services-Health Services (8000), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Human Rights & Anti-Discrimination Organizations (BPAGAFAB)

akta.pro secondary industry

LGBTQ+ Rights & Advocacy Organizations (BPAGAFAE)

Keywords

• HIV prevention services
• AIDS education programs
• Community health advocacy
• HIV testing services
• Public health awareness

Headquarters

HQ city

Los Angeles

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, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Foundation and Corporate Grants: Primary funding from foundations (Robert Woods Johnson Foundation, David Bohnett Foundation, California Endowment, etc.) and corporate sponsors (Gilead Sciences, ViiV Healthcare, pharmaceutical companies) who provide programmatic support.
2. Government Contracts and Grants: Funding from federal and state agencies including CDC, HRSA, AIDS Healthcare Foundation, and local health departments for HIV prevention, testing, and care programs.
3. Individual Donations: Donations from individuals supporting the mission to end HIV in Black communities. Contact page includes direct donation link.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Black AIDS Institute provides free HIV testing services at its Los Angeles clinic, PrEP navigation and educational resources, comprehensive HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment education, community engagement programs in Los Angeles and Charlotte, annual State of AIDS research reports, and policy advocacy targeted at ending the HIV epidemic in Black communities across the United States.

Product overview

Black AIDS Institute (BAI) is a Black-led HIV think-and-do tank offering a portfolio of educational, advocacy, and direct service programs. The core offerings include HIV testing services at its Los Angeles clinic, comprehensive PrEP navigation resources, HIV/AIDS educational materials covering prevention and treatment, community engagement programs including conversations and roundtables in Los Angeles and Charlotte, and annual State of AIDS reports documenting the epidemic in Black America. The organization also conducts policy advocacy work and hosts the 'Heroes in the Struggle' photo exhibition. BAI functions as a nonprofit information and advocacy organization rather than a software product company.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• HIV Testing Services Free HIV screening services offered at the Los Angeles clinic (4249 Crenshaw Blvd) on Tuesdays and Fridays, 9:00am–5:00pm. Includes rapid finger-prick tests with results in minutes and lab panel tests with results in days. Open to walk-in community members.
• PrEP (Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis) Resources and Navigation Educational resources and provider navigation for PrEP, a daily pill that reduces HIV risk by over 90% when taken consistently. Includes information on insurance coverage, assistance programs (Gilead Advancing Access), and referrals to pleaseprepme.org and preplocator.org.
• HIV/AIDS Educational Resources Comprehensive educational materials covering HIV transmission, symptoms, prevention methods (condoms, regular testing, PrEP), and treatment options including Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) and U=U (Undetectable = Untransmittable) messaging. Available free on blackaids.org.
• Community Support and Engagement Programs Community conversations, literature distribution, and roundtables held in Los Angeles and Charlotte, North Carolina aimed at mobilizing Black communities to confront HIV/AIDS. Includes capacity building and direct engagement programs.
• Annual State of AIDS Reports Published annual research reports documenting the state of HIV/AIDS in Black America, including specialized reports on PrEP, Black youth, Black women, Black gay men, healthcare access, and COVID-19 partnerships. Available free on the Reports page.
• Policy and Advocacy Advocacy efforts and policy work that challenge systems of oppression marginalizing Black health and improve HIV response through Black experiences and perspectives. Includes the State of Healthcare Access in Black America initiative with amfAR and AIDS United.
• Stronger Together Partnership (STP) Partnership program with San Francisco Community Health Center and Latino Commission on AIDS addressing institutional challenges posed by COVID-19 to HIV/STI/HCV services for communities of color.

Quantifiable outcome

• PrEP is over 90% effective at preventing HIV when taken daily
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

24 partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• Gilead SciencesflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerGilead Sciences serves as a sponsor of BAI's year-round programming. Major pharmaceutical partner providing funding and programmatic support for HIV prevention and treatment initiatives in Black communities.
• CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFederal health agency partner providing epidemiological data, funding for HIV prevention programs, and collaborative research efforts.
• amfARcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with amfAR, The American Foundation for AIDS Research, for The State of Healthcare Access in Black America initiative.
• AIDS UnitedcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with AIDS United for The State of Healthcare Access in Black America initiative and broader HIV/AIDS programming.
• San Francisco Community Health CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the Stronger Together Partnership (STP) addressing COVID-19 challenges to HIV/STI/HCV services for communities of color.
• Latino Commission on AIDScoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the Stronger Together Partnership (STP) addressing institutional challenges posed by COVID-19 to HIV/STI/HCV services for communities of color.
• Los Angeles LGBT CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor LGBTQ+ service organization in Los Angeles, collaborative partner in serving communities of color.
• Planned Parenthood Federation of AmericacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization providing reproductive health services and HIV prevention resources.
• Southern AIDS CoalitioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoalition partner addressing HIV/AIDS in Southern United States where the epidemic disproportionately affects Black communities.
• National Black Justice CoalitioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in The State of Healthcare Access in Black America initiative, bridging HIV/AIDS and civil rights advocacy.
• WalgreensminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPharmacy partner providing HIV testing services and access points for medications.
• NASTADcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational Alliance of State and Territorial AIDS Directors, partnership for policy and advocacy work.
• NMACcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational Minority AIDS Council, partnership addressing HIV/AIDS in communities of color.
• Lambda LegalminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLegal organization advocating for LGBTQ+ and HIV/AIDS-related civil rights.
• Human Rights CampaignminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLGBTQ+ advocacy organization, partner in fight against HIV/AIDS.
• Treatment Action GroupminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHIV advocacy organization focused on research and treatment access.
• Equality CaliforniaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCalifornia-based LGBTQ+ civil rights organization.
• HIV Prevention Trials Network (HPTN)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNetwork conducting HIV prevention research, partnership for evidence-based programming.
• HIV Vaccine Trials Network (HVTN)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNetwork conducting HIV vaccine research, partnership for prevention science.
• Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research CenterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch institution partner in HIV/AIDS research efforts.
• Emory UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partner in The State of Healthcare Access in Black America initiative.
• St. John's Well Child & Family CenterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFederally Qualified Health Center providing HIV services in Los Angeles.
• Howard Brown Health CenterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerChicago-based LGBTQ+ health organization, partner in HIV services.
• APLA HealthcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAIDS Project Los Angeles, major partner in HIV services and advocacy in LA.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• AIDS United: National HIV/AIDS advocacy and grantmaking organization. BAI is an existing co-partner with AIDS United on the State of Healthcare Access in Black America initiative and they share funders, federal policy priorities, and community-grantmaking models.
• NMAC (National Minority AIDS Council): The closest peer: a national nonprofit focused on HIV/AIDS in communities of color through education, policy, and capacity building. Both organizations operate as national advocacy and mobilization bodies with similar funder bases and minority-community missions.
• National Black Justice Coalition: A civil rights organization bridging LGBTQ+/HIV advocacy and Black community equity. Listed as a BAI partner on the State of Healthcare Access initiative, with a comparable niche at the intersection of Black life and HIV policy.
• SisterLove Inc. Atlanta-based nonprofit focused on HIV/AIDS and reproductive justice in Black women's communities. Highly comparable mission, a similar Black-women-centered HIV advocacy niche, and overlapping southern U.S. funder ecosystem.
• APLA Health: A core LA-based HIV/AIDS services partner of BAI (formerly AIDS Project Los Angeles). Comparable as a Black/Latino-serving HIV direct-service nonprofit in the same city, with overlapping patient populations and collaborator relationships.

Broad incumbents

• amfAR (Foundation for AIDS Research): One of the world's largest HIV/AIDS research and advocacy foundations. BAI partners with amfAR on the State of Healthcare Access initiative and shares a federal-policy focus, but amfAR is far larger and research-led rather than community-service-led.
• AIDS Healthcare Foundation: The largest global AIDS organization and a listed financial partner of BAI. Overlaps in HIV testing, prevention, and direct care, but AHF is a multinational direct-care provider rather than a think-and-do tank focused on Black community equity.
• NASTAD (National Alliance of State & Territorial AIDS Directors): National association of HIV/AIDS program leaders in U.S. states and territories; listed as a BAI policy partner. Overlaps on federal-policy advocacy but operates as a membership association for public health officials rather than community-direct.

Regional players

• San Francisco AIDS Foundation: A Bay Area direct-service and policy HIV/AIDS nonprofit. Comparable direct-service + advocacy model but geographically anchored in Northern California rather than LA and Southern U.S. communities that BAI prioritizes.

Emerging players

• Treatment Action Group: A smaller HIV advocacy nonprofit focused on research and treatment access. Listed as a BAI partner; comparable advocacy niche but narrower portfolio focused on drug development rather than community mobilization.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/blackaids
• Facebookfacebook.com/blackaids
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-black-aids-institute

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Black AIDS Institute