Palmetto Community Care

What Palmetto Community Care does

Palmetto Community Care is a 501c3 nonprofit organization founded in 1991 in Charleston, South Carolina, that delivers comprehensive HIV care, prevention, and community support services across the tri-county Lowcountry region (Charleston, Berkeley, and Dorchester counties). Its service portfolio spans HIV medical care and primary care delivered through its wholly owned Truesdale Medical Center subsidiary, on-site specialty pharmacy in partnership with Avita Pharmacy, mental health and substance abuse counseling, dental care, free confidential HIV/STI testing (including via a mobile testing van), PrEP/PEP/DoxyPEP prevention services with a new TelePrEP telehealth offering, and a suite of wraparound social services including medical case management, housing assistance, insurance navigation, transportation, food and hygiene pantry, legal referrals, and peer support groups. Primary client populations include LGBTQ+ individuals, Black and Latinx community members, people living with HIV, formerly incarcerated individuals, and uninsured or underinsured adults. The organization reports 700+ clients in active care, 3,000+ free HIV/STI tests annually, 20,000 client contacts over three years, and a 95% viral suppression rate among HIV-positive clients.

Operationally, Palmetto Community Care operates from a 23,000 square foot consolidated facility at 5064 Rivers Avenue in North Charleston, opened in 2023, which co-locates administration, case management, testing, prevention, medical care, mental health, and pharmacy under one roof. The organization employs more than 30 staff and is led by CEO Bradley Childs and Director of Development and Marketing Richard Reams. Revenue is generated through a nonprofit mix of individual donations, corporate sponsorships, signature fundraising events (Charleston Beerfest, Gay Bingo), and federal grants including Ending the HIV Epidemic (EHE) funding plus Ryan White and ADAP medication assistance programs. Services are delivered free of charge or at low cost with no appointment required for walk-in testing, and bilingual Latinx outreach is provided. Pricing for fundraising events ranges from $35-$125 for Beerfest tickets to $150+ for Gay Bingo.

The business model is structurally a community-health safety-net operator rather than a commercial enterprise. Distribution occurs through the main North Charleston facility, a mobile testing van deployed at community events, the TelePrEP virtual channel for insured adults, and the on-site Avita Pharmacy. The organization has no parent company, no private equity or venture capital involvement, no disclosed funding rounds, and is governed independently by a Board of Directors. Growth has been driven by service-line expansion and geographic deepening within the existing tri-county footprint rather than multi-market scaling, with the 2023 facility consolidation and 2024 pharmacy partnership representing the most material recent capital and operational commitments.

Name

Palmetto Community Care

Legal name

Palmetto Community Care 501c3

Website

https://palmettocare.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1991

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Palmetto Community Care is a 501c3 nonprofit founded in 1991 that provides free HIV care, prevention, and wraparound social services to LGBTQ+ individuals, Black and Latinx communities, and uninsured adults across the tri-county Lowcountry region of South Carolina.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

North Charleston

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Donations and Fundraising: Individual donations, corporate sponsorships, and proceeds from signature fundraising events including Charleston Beerfest and Gay Bingo.
2. Government Grants and Funding: Ending the HIV Epidemic (EHE) funding and other government grants supporting HIV care, prevention, and community health services.
3. Event Revenue: Ticket sales and sponsorships from major events including Charleston Beerfest (75+ breweries, General Admission from $65, VIP from $125) and Gay Bingo (tickets starting at $150).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Palmetto Community Care is a 501c3 nonprofit that delivers free, confidential HIV medical care, prevention services, and wraparound social support from a consolidated facility in North Charleston, SC. It operates an on-site medical clinic (Truesdale Medical Center), free rapid HIV/STI testing, PrEP/PEP/DoxyPEP programs including the TelePrEP virtual program, and case management covering insurance, housing, transportation, food, dental, mental health, legal, and pharmacy services.

Product overview

Palmetto Community Care is a nonprofit healthcare organization providing comprehensive HIV care, prevention, and community support services in the Charleston, SC area. The organization operates as a single integrated service platform offering medical care (HIV medical care, primary care via Truesdale Medical Center, mental health, dental), prevention services (HIV/STI testing, PrEP, PEP, DoxyPEP, TelePrEP), and supportive services (case management, housing, insurance, transportation, food/hygiene, legal, support groups). The core offerings include on-site medical clinics, partner pharmacy services (Avita), and virtual telehealth options like TelePrEP. All services emphasize free, confidential, compassionate care for the LGBTQ+ community, Black and Latinx populations, people living with HIV, and underserved adults.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• HIV Medical Care Comprehensive outpatient medical care for people living with HIV, including primary care, medication management, CD4/viral load lab monitoring, treatment adherence support, and specialist coordination. Delivered at the Rivers Avenue facility with reported 95% viral suppression outcomes.
• Truesdale Medical Center Full-service medical clinic offering primary care, chronic disease management, HIV medical care, mental health services, PrEP/PEP/DoxyPEP, telehealth, and LGBTQ+ inclusive gender-affirming care. Accepts new patients.
• HIV & STI Testing Free, confidential rapid HIV testing with 20-minute results, in-office STI screening, at-home testing resources, and mobile testing events at community festivals and partner locations. No appointment necessary for walk-in testing.
• PrEP (Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis) Daily medication program that reduces the risk of acquiring HIV by up to 99%, with team support for access, adherence, and ongoing use. Program aims to make medication free or low cost for participants.
• PEP (Post-Exposure Prophylaxis) Short-course HIV medication taken within 72 hours after potential exposure to prevent infection.
• DoxyPEP Single dose of doxycycline taken within 72 hours of unprotected sex to reduce the risk of certain STIs including chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis.
• TelePrEP Fully virtual HIV prevention program offering insured adults ages 18 and older access to PrEP through secure video appointments. Available to residents of the Charleston tri-county area and beyond, delivered by the local PCC care team without call centers.
• Medical Case Management Healthcare navigation and resource connection including benefits enrollment, insurance navigation, medication assistance program enrollment (Ryan White, ADAP), and personal health goal tracking for clients.
• Mental Health Services Counseling, crisis support, and referrals for mental health and substance abuse issues affecting clients living with chronic illness or navigating healthcare barriers.
• Dental Care Dental services via a portfolio of dental specialists addressing oral health issues arising from HIV treatment side effects or heightened risk factors for people living with HIV.
• Housing Assistance

Quantifiable outcome

• 95% of clients living with HIV achieve viral suppression (undetectable and untransmittable)
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

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

• Avita PharmacycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 28 March 2024Avita Pharmacy is a national provider with expertise in HIV, PrEP, HCV, and LGBTQ+ care. They partner with Palmetto Community Care to provide on-site specialty pharmacy care at the 5064 Rivers Avenue location. Services include free delivery, 24/7 pharmacist support, online refills, financial assistance, adherence programs, and benefits coordination. Grand opening and ribbon cutting held March 28, 2024.
• Truesdale Medical CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFull-service medical clinic operated as part of Palmetto Community Care's integrated care model. Located at 5064 Rivers Avenue, North Charleston. Provides primary care, HIV medical care, mental health care, PrEP/PEP/DoxyPEP services, telehealth, and LGBTQ+ inclusive gender-affirming care. Accepting new patients.
• REV Federal Credit UnionflagshipGTM or Marketing PartnerPresenting sponsor of Charleston Beerfest for multiple years. REV Federal Credit Union is a not-for-profit financial cooperative passionate about supporting local events that bring communities together. Second year as presenting sponsor in 2023, continues partnership in 2026.
• SNAFU Brewing CompanyminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCraft brewery partner for Charleston Beerfest, providing craft beer offerings at the annual festival.
• Charleston Fashion WeekminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPalmetto Community Care is the Official Charity Partner for Charleston Fashion Week. Organization receives a generous donation and has a prime spot at the event to showcase services. Volunteers needed for festival support.
• SHAPE InitiativeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization collaborating with Palmetto Community Care on World AIDS Day ceremony and candlelight remembrance service at Mount Moriah Baptist Church.
• Trident United WayminorGTM or Marketing PartnerProvided Community Engagement Grant supporting the Holiday Open House event at the new location in October 2023.
• Mount Moriah Missionary Baptist ChurchminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFaith partner hosting World AIDS Day ceremony and candlelight remembrance service in collaboration with Palmetto Community Care and SHAPE Initiative.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Fenway Health: Boston-based community health center specializing in LGBTQ+ care, HIV treatment, and PrEP delivery, with research arm (Fenway Institute). Strong analog on the integrated medical + behavioral + community services model PCC operates through Truesdale Medical Center.
• Callen-Lorde Community Health Center: NYC nonprofit providing LGBTQ+ primary care, HIV care, PrEP, mental health, and case management to underserved populations. Directly comparable to PCC on mission, patient mix, and integrated services.
• Whitman-Walker Health: Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit community health center specializing in HIV care, LGBTQ+ primary care, PrEP, and wraparound support services. Closely mirrors PCC's integrated Truesdale-style clinic + HIV prevention + community outreach model.
• CrescentCare: New Orleans-based Federally Qualified Health Center with deep HIV specialty (formerly NO/AIDS Task Force). Highly comparable to PCC in scale, regional Southeast footprint, integrated clinic + case management + PrEP services, and LGBTQ+ focus.
• Howard Brown Health: Chicago LGBTQ+ community health center providing primary care, HIV medical care, PrEP/PEP, mental health, and case management. Comparable integrated nonprofit care model with a similar multi-site footprint and target population.

Regional players

• Thrive Alabama: Huntsville, Alabama-based nonprofit providing HIV medical care, PrEP, STI testing, case management, and LGBTQ+ health services across North Alabama. Closest regional peer to PCC in the Deep South with comparable size, target population, and integrated service mix.
• Nashville CARES: Tennessee AIDS service organization offering HIV testing, prevention, case management, and supportive services in Middle Tennessee. Comparable regional ASO serving similar populations with overlapping service mix to PCC's wraparound model.

Broad incumbents

• GMHC (Gay Men's Health Crisis): New York City-based HIV/AIDS services organization providing testing, prevention, case management, and supportive services. Comparable on the wraparound nonprofit service model, though with a national advocacy profile PCC does not have.
• AIDS Healthcare Foundation: Largest global HIV/AIDS nonprofit providing medical care, pharmacy, testing, and prevention across the U.S. and abroad. Operates a similar integrated model (clinic + pharmacy + testing) at much larger scale, directly comparable to Palmetto's HIV care, PrEP, and pharmacy partnership stack.
• San Francisco AIDS Foundation: Long-established Bay Area HIV/AIDS nonprofit providing testing, PrEP, linkage to care, and community programs (Magnet clinic). Comparable in mission and service breadth to PCC, though operating at substantially larger scale and budget.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/PalmettoCare
• Instagraminstagram.com/palmettocare
• Xx.com/palmettocare
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/palmettocare

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Subsidiaries1 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 Palmetto Community Care