Community Wellness Project

What Community Wellness Project does

Community Wellness Project (CWP) is a Black-led, 501(c)-style nonprofit community health organization headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri, with a second office in East St. Louis, Illinois. Founded in 1993 by Dana Williams, who remains Executive Director, CWP serves the bi-state St. Louis metropolitan area — including St. Louis City, St. Louis County, St. Charles County, Jefferson County, Madison County, Monroe County, and St. Clair County — delivering free HIV/STI testing, prevention, and linkage-to-care services, alongside harm reduction (Narcan, syringe exchange), mental health support groups, food assistance, and digital literacy programming. Its core programmatic portfolio targets Black and LGBTQIA+ populations disproportionately affected by HIV, with named programs including EmpowerHER (Black women, ViiV-funded), Gurlz Like Us (transgender women ages 18–34, CDC PS22-2203), Project O.W.N.I.T. (Black MSM, CDC PS21-2102), Ryan White Case Management for PLWHA, Block by Block (door-to-door overdose/Narcan outreach, Northwestern University-funded), African American AIDS Response Act (St. Clair County), RIG Program (southern Illinois Region 4), Fem Closet (gender-affirming career readiness), CHAT (youth violence prevention ages 13–24), and Gun Safety education.

CWP's underlying technology is programmatic rather than digital: its capabilities are built on CDC-evidence-based behavioral interventions adapted for community delivery, culturally competent health education curricula, and community outreach methodologies — there are no proprietary technology platforms, mobile applications, APIs, or AI systems disclosed. Services are distributed through two fixed offices, a newly launched mobile unit, door-to-door outreach, community health fairs in partnership with elected officials, and academic research collaborations. All services are provided at no cost to community members.

The business model is grant-dependent nonprofit operations rather than commercial revenue. Funding streams include federal grants (CDC Capacity Building Assistance, Ryan White TGA, PS22-2203, PS21-2102), state grants (Illinois Department of Public Health Region 4, African American AIDS Response Act), pharmaceutical industry funding (ViiV Healthcare for EmpowerHER), and academic research grants (Northwestern University for Block by Block). Headcount is in the 101–250 employee range. Go-to-market is community-led grassroots outreach rather than sales-driven, leveraging 30+ years of trust within Black and LGBTQIA+ communities in the St. Louis region.

Name

Community Wellness Project

Legal name

Community Wellness Project

Website

https://cwpstl.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1993

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Community Wellness Project is a Black-led nonprofit founded in 1993 in St. Louis providing free HIV/STI testing, prevention, harm reduction, and wraparound support services to Black and LGBTQIA+ communities across the bi-state St. Louis metropolitan area, funded by federal, state, pharmaceutical, and academic grants.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Health Services

NAICS

Social Assistance (624), Other Individual and Family Services (624190), Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (62412)

SIC

Services-Health Services (8000), Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Misc Health & Allied Services, Nec (8090)

akta.pro primary industry

Public Health & Health Equity Organizations (BPAGACAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

Community Health, Prevention & Health Education (BPAGACAC), Mental Health & Crisis Support Services (BPAGACAD)

Keywords

• HIV prevention services
• STI testing
• Harm reduction services
• Ryan White case management
• Community health outreach

Headquarters

HQ city

St Louis

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Others, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Government Grants and Funding: The organization operates primarily through government-funded programs including Ryan White Transitional Grant Areas (TGAs) for HIV/AIDS support services, Illinois Department of Public Health grants (Region 4), African American AIDS Response Act funding, and CDC Capacity Building Assistance grants. These grants fund HIV/STI testing, treatment linkage, prevention education, and supportive services for eligible individuals.
2. Pharmaceutical Company Partnerships: ViiV Healthcare provides funding for the EmpowerHER initiative, which focuses on HIV prevention education and services for Black/African-American women in the St. Louis metropolitan area. This represents pharmaceutical industry funding for prevention programming.
3. Academic Research Grants: Northwestern University provides grant funding for the Block by Block program, which conducts door-to-door research and education on overdose response and distributes Narcan kits. Data collected is reported back to the university for research analysis.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Community Wellness Project is a Black-led nonprofit community health organization providing free HIV/STI testing, prevention education, PrEP/nPEP services, Ryan White case management for people living with HIV/AIDS, harm reduction services (Narcan, clean syringe exchange), mental health support, and wraparound social services to underserved Black and LGBTQIA+ residents of the St. Louis and East St. Louis metropolitan area. Services are delivered at two physical offices, through a mobile unit, and via door-to-door outreach programs, all at no cost to community members.

Product overview

Community Wellness Project is a Black-led community health organization offering a multi-faceted portfolio of health services and programs focused on the Black and LGBTQIA+ communities in St. Louis and Illinois. The organization operates a unified service model centered on HIV/STI prevention, testing, and treatment, supplemented by mental health services, substance misuse support, and social support services. Core programs include Project O.W.N.I.T. (HIV prevention for Black MSM), EmpowerHER (HIV prevention for Black women), Gurlz Like Us (HIV prevention for transgender women), and Ryan White Case Management. Additional programs address violence prevention (CHAT), gun safety, food security, career readiness (Fem Closet), and digital access (Computer Lab). Services are delivered at two physical locations and via a mobile unit.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Project O.W.N.I.T. Comprehensive high-impact HIV prevention program for African American men who have sex with men (BMSM) in St. Louis City and County, Missouri and St. Clair County, Illinois. Options for Wellness Now and Information on Testing & Treatment.
• EmpowerHER
• Gurlz Like Us
• The Fem Closet
• Project CHAT (Community Health Approaches to Trauma)
• Gun Safety Program
• The Well Sista
• Community Computer Lab

Products and services

• African American AIDS Response Act Core HIV prevention services program providing HIV/STD testing, linkage to medical care, partner services, and risk reduction interventions for individuals at highest risk for HIV infections in St. Clair County, Illinois.
• Block by Block Door-to-door research and education initiative that engages underserved populations through outreach, collects data on community experiences related to overdoses, and provides Narcan training and kit distribution.
• Community Health Approaches for Trauma (CHAT) Violence prevention program for at-risk youth ages 13-24 featuring eight 90-minute sessions covering decision-making skills, de-escalation, communication, prevention education, negotiation skills, and goal setting. Adapted from CDC's Effective Behavioral Intervention 'Focus On Youth with Impact.'
• EmpowerHER HIV prevention initiative for Black/African-American women providing culturally appropriate prevention education, services, products (condoms, testing, PrEP), community outreach, HIV/STI testing, and the 'Brown Girls Brunch' education series. Powered by ViiV Healthcare.
• Fem Closet Gender-affirming space providing transgender women with free access to professional clothing, styling services, and career-readiness support, including curated wardrobe, personal styling consultations, and comprehensive preparation including undergarments and cosmetics.
• Gun Safety Firearm safety education program providing distribution and instruction on gun locks, gun safes, cable locks, education on Illinois state firearm laws including Firearm Restraining Order (FRO), and suicide awareness and prevention.
• Gurlz Like Us High-Impact HIV Prevention Program for transgender women using a status-neutral approach. Includes the T.W.I.S.T. intervention (Transgender Women Involved in Strategies for Transformation), a peer-led social-skills-building program for transgender women with HIV. Powered by CDC PS22-2203.
• Project O.W.N.I.T. Comprehensive high-impact HIV prevention program for African American men who have sex with men (BMSM) in St. Louis City/County, Missouri and St. Clair County, Illinois. Provides targeted HIV testing, integrated STI screenings, linkage to HIV care, partner services, PrEP referrals, and includes the Defend Yourself! (D-Up!) community-level intervention.
• RIG Program Regional Implementation Group - MSM-focused prevention program providing HIV prevention services to Illinois residents, including education on condom use, safer sex practices, harm reduction materials, and routine testing initiatives. Serves Region 4 area of southern Illinois.
• Ryan White Case Management Free support services for eligible people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) including Medical Case Management, Early Intervention Services, Psychosocial Support Services (including 'All Tea, No Shade' meetings for Black SGL men), testing (Insti and Determine kits), and referral services. Funded by Ryan White TGAs.
• HIV/STI Testing Services Free one-minute HIV testing, free condoms (male and female) and lube, free STI testing for chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis, treatment referral services, and PrEP services.
• Mental Health Services Safe space for community members, support services for Black cisgender women and Trans women, and support groups.
• Substance Misuse and Harm Reduction Free HEP-C testing and treatment referral services, free Narcan and harm reduction kits, and clean syringe/needle exchange.
• Food Pantry Food pantry available during opening hours to anyone in need.
• Community Computer Lab Free, safe, and welcoming space providing free computer and high-speed internet access, job search and career readiness help, digital literacy support, printing/scanning/faxing services, and quiet environment for community connection.
• Mobile Unit Mobile unit providing education, testing, and prevention services directly to communities.

Quantifiable outcome

• Free services provided to community members regardless of ability to pay
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Wesley Bell's OfficeminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 16 May 2026CWP partnered with Representative Wesley Bell's St. Louis office to host a Community Wide Health Fair at 1191 Dr. Martin Luther King Drive, St. Louis. This collaboration enabled CWP to provide free HIV/STI testing and prevention education to community members at a high-traffic government office location.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• AIDS Project of the Ozarks: Regional AIDS service organization providing HIV testing, prevention, and case management in the Springfield, MO region. Directly comparable as a regional ASO serving similar populations with Ryan White and CDC funding.
• San Francisco AIDS Foundation: Long-established San Francisco-based HIV/AIDS nonprofit providing prevention, testing, care navigation, and harm reduction services. Comparable mission and service model, with deeper historical roots in a different metro market.
• Black AIDS Institute: National HIV/AIDS nonprofit specifically focused on ending the HIV epidemic in Black communities through mobilization, capacity building, and advocacy. Directly comparable as a Black-led HIV/AIDS organization working on health equity in Black communities.
• Project ARK (Washington University): Washington University in St. Louis program providing HIV care coordination and prevention services for adolescents, pregnant women, and families affected by HIV in St. Louis. Shares the same metro market and similar mission focus on HIV prevention in vulnerable populations.
• St. Louis Effort for AIDS (EFA): Local St. Louis-based HIV/AIDS service organization providing testing, prevention education, case management, and support services. Direct local peer operating in overlapping geography and serving overlapping populations.
• Callen-Lorde Community Health Center: New York-based LGBTQ+ focused community health center providing primary care, HIV care, PrEP, and gender-affirming services. Comparable as a culturally competent health provider serving LGBTQIA+ populations with similar wraparound service model.

Broad incumbents

• GMHC (Gay Men's Health Crisis): Historic New York-based HIV/AIDS service organization serving people living with HIV and affected populations. Directly comparable mission around HIV/AIDS prevention and care for LGBTQ+ populations, though operates at significantly larger scale.
• Vivent Health: Large multi-state HIV medical home and social services organization operating across multiple states. Comparable as a comprehensive HIV/AIDS service provider offering medical care, pharmacy, and wraparound support, but at significantly larger scale.
• AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF): Largest global AIDS organization providing HIV/AIDS medical care, testing, prevention, and advocacy across numerous countries. Operates in the same HIV service space but at vastly larger scale with both domestic and international footprint.

Regional players

• Metro Trans Umbrella Group: St. Louis-based nonprofit serving transgender and gender-nonconforming individuals with resources, support groups, and community programming. Comparable as a regional LGBTQ+ focused health/social services provider in the same geography.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/cwpstl
• Facebookfacebook.com/CWPSTLMETRO
• Instagraminstagram.com/cwpstl
• TikToktiktok.com/@cwpstl
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-community-wellness-project

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

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 Community Wellness Project