Caracole

What Caracole does

Caracole is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit AIDS service organization founded in 1987 and headquartered in a single Northside Cincinnati facility at 4138 Hamilton Avenue. The organization operates as Greater Cincinnati's comprehensive HIV services provider, serving residents of Southwest Ohio, Northern Kentucky, and Southeastern Indiana. Its service portfolio spans the full HIV continuum: prevention (free rapid HIV and Hepatitis C testing via OraQuick and INSTI 3rd generation antibody tests with ~20-minute results, PrEP navigation including both daily oral and injectable regimens, and harm reduction services), care (case management, housing assistance with both short-term rent/mortgage/utility and long-term subsidies), and pharmacy support (340B partnership with CCN Pharmacy for home-delivery specialty pharmacy with co-pay assistance).

All services are delivered free of charge, with no medical billing and no income or insurance requirements. Caracole distributes services through five primary channels: walk-in services at the Northside office (Monday-Friday plus extended Thursday hours), community-based testing events across the tristate region, a 24/7/365 harm reduction vending machine (Ohio's first, launched March 2021), Thursday-evening syringe exchange hosted in partnership with Hamilton County Public Health, and mail-order at-home HIV self-test kits shipped via USPS. The organization maintains a HIPAA-compliant operations model.

The business model is funded through a diversified mix of public and private sources: federal grants (Ryan White Program), state grants (Ohio Department of Health, including the PAPI Prevention Assistance Program Interventions), city grants (Cincinnati), foundation grants (Interact for Health, ViiV Healthcare, Gilead Sciences, Wohlgemuth Herschede Foundation, The Spaulding Foundation, ISQCCBE, Direct Relief, Broadway Cares), and individual donations through the United Way of Greater Cincinnati and direct giving. Caracole's primary customer segments are people at risk for HIV (sexually active individuals, LGBTQ+ populations, Black and Latino/a/x communities, people who inject drugs), people living with HIV in seven Ohio counties (Brown, Butler, Clermont, Clinton, Hamilton, Highland, Warren), and people who use drugs. The organization complements direct services with educational programming (annual Caraconference, HIV Advocacy Training) and maintains a small senior leadership team headed by CEO Jeniece D. Jones, MPA, JD, with Director of Prevention Suzanne Bachmeyer (18 years tenure) and Associate Director of Prevention Adam Reilly (17+ years tenure) overseeing the prevention function.

Name

Caracole

Legal name

Caracole, Inc.

Website

https://caracole.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1987

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Caracole is a Cincinnati-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1987 providing free HIV prevention, testing, PrEP navigation, harm reduction, case management, and housing services across the Greater Cincinnati tristate region for people at risk for or living with HIV, funded primarily through government grants and foundation donations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

HIV/AIDS Nonprofit Health Services

NAICS

Outpatient Mental Health and Substance Abuse Centers (621420), Individual and Family Services (6241), Social Assistance (624)

SIC

Services-Health Services (8000), Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Specialty Outpatient Facilities, Nec (8093)

akta.pro primary industry

HIV/AIDS Medicine (HLAKAGAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Outpatient Substance Use Treatment Programs (IOP/PHP/OP) (HLAFACAF), Outpatient Substance Use Disorder (SUD) Treatment Programs (HLAFABAD), Community Mental Health Centers (CMHCs) & Public Behavioral Health Providers (HLAFACAI)

Keywords

• HIV prevention services
• Harm reduction supplies
• HIV case management
• PrEP navigation
• HIV housing assistance

Headquarters

HQ city

Cincinnati

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Government Grants: Caracole is funded through federal, state and city grants including Ryan White Program, Ohio Department of Health programs, and housing assistance funds.
2. Individual and Foundation Donations: Funding from generous individuals, foundations, and the United Way of Greater Cincinnati supports free services.
3. Program Income: Funded through government grants, donations and program income; no medical billing.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Caracole is a Greater Cincinnati nonprofit that delivers free HIV prevention, care, and support services to individuals at risk for or living with HIV/AIDS. Core services include rapid HIV and HCV testing (in-office and at-home via OraQuick self-test kits), PrEP navigation and medication assistance through the Ohio PAPI program, case management, short- and long-term housing assistance, harm reduction through a 24/7 vending machine and syringe exchange, and 340B pharmacy co-pay support. All services are provided at no cost and funded by federal, state, and city grants plus private donations.

Product overview

Caracole is a nonprofit HIV services organization offering a comprehensive suite of prevention, care, and support services for the Greater Cincinnati community. The organization operates as a single integrated service delivery model rather than a platform-plus-modules architecture. Core services include HIV Testing (rapid office and at-home OraQuick self-testing), PrEP navigation and medication assistance through the Ohio PAPI program, Case Management for people living with HIV, Housing Services with short- and long-term assistance, and Harm Reduction through a 24/7 vending machine and syringe exchange. Supporting services include Pharmacy Services via 340B partnership with CCN Pharmacy, and educational programs such as Caraconference (annual conference) and HIV Advocacy Training. All services are free to clients and funded through federal, state, city grants and private donations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• HIV Testing Free rapid HIV testing using OraQuick and INSTI 3rd generation antibody tests, with results in approximately 20 minutes. Available at the Northside Cincinnati office and at community locations throughout the Ohio/Kentucky/Indiana tristate region. Targets individuals at risk for HIV who want confidential or anonymous testing without an appointment.
• At-Home HIV Self-Test Kit Free OraQuick HIV self-test kits delivered by mail in nondescript packaging, allowing individuals to test privately at home using an oral swab with results in approximately 20 minutes. Targeted at individuals who prefer at-home confidential testing or who cannot visit a testing site in person.
• PrEP Navigation and Medication Assistance Free PrEP navigation services including provider referrals, enrollment in the Ohio PAPI program for PrEP-related medical costs, and support accessing daily oral PrEP (Truvada, Descovy) and injectable PrEP (Apretude, Yeztugo). Targeted at HIV-negative individuals at risk for HIV who want to start HIV prevention medication, including those who may face cost barriers.
• HIV Case Management Free confidential case management for people living with HIV/AIDS in the Greater Cincinnati area, supporting access to medical care, medication, dental services, mental health care, health insurance, and social service referrals. Targeted at Ohio residents living with HIV in the seven-county service area who need coordinated ongoing care and benefits navigation.
• Housing Services for People Living with HIV Free housing services for individuals living with HIV and their families who are homeless or at risk of homelessness, including short-term rent, mortgage, and utility assistance (STRMU) and long-term housing subsidies. Targeted at HIV-positive clients in the Greater Cincinnati region experiencing housing instability.
• Harm Reduction Vending Machine 24/7/365 outdoor vending machine providing free access to harm reduction supplies including naloxone (intramuscular and nasal Narcan), fentanyl, Xylazine, and Medetomidine test strips, HIV self-test kits, safer injection and smoking kits, safer sex supplies, sharps containers, wound care kits, and pregnancy tests. Brief registration with a personalized code required. Targeted at individuals who use drugs and need judgment-free, around-the-clock access to overdose prevention and safer-use supplies.
• Syringe Exchange Services Weekly syringe exchange hosted in partnership with Hamilton County Public Health, offering sterile syringe access, safe disposal, PrEP/PEP assistance, naloxone distribution, HIV/HCV testing, and social service referrals. Targeted at people who use drugs in the Greater Cincinnati region seeking in-person harm reduction services.
• 340B Pharmacy Co-Pay Assistance via CCN Pharmacy Home-delivery specialty pharmacy services for HIV and non-HIV medications through a 340B Drug Pricing Program partnership with CCN Pharmacy, with prescription co-pays covered by the Caracole pharmacy co-pay assistance fund. Targeted at enrolled Caracole case management clients living with HIV who need ongoing medication access.
• Caraconference Annual two-day HIV advocacy and education conference bringing together HIV experts, practitioners, and people with lived experience to address pressing issues in HIV response, policy, and harm reduction. Targeted at HIV service providers, advocates, and community members engaged in HIV/AIDS response.
• HIV Advocacy Training Training program teaching participants about HIV criminalization laws in Ohio and how to advocate for policy change, helping people use their lived experience to influence local policy. Targeted at community members and advocates interested in HIV policy reform.

Quantifiable outcome

• PrEP reduces risk of HIV from sex by about 99% when taken as prescribed
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• United Way of Greater CincinnaticoreOthersMajor supporter and funding partner for Caracole's services. United Way funding supports free case management and other HIV services. Caracole also refers clients to United Way 211 for community resource directory and dial 211 for shelter and services.
• Hamilton County Public HealthcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to host syringe exchange services on Thursday evenings 4:00-8:00 PM at Caracole. Hamilton County Public Health provides free sterile syringes and safe disposal services during the exchange. Caracole provides additional harm reduction services including PrEP/PEP access help, naloxone, fentanyl test strips, and testing.
• CCN Pharmacy (Coordinated Care Network)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHome-delivery, specialty pharmacy partner for enrolled Caracole clients. Through the 340B Drug Pricing Program, prescription co-pays are covered through the Caracole pharmacy co-pay assistance fund. Provides both HIV and non-HIV medications to enrolled clients.
• Gilead SciencesminorOthersSponsor for Caraconference 2026 event. Logo appears on conference materials as a sponsor.
• University of CincinnatiminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in harm reduction work alongside Caracole, Ohio Department of Health, and Hamilton County Public Health committed to saving lives through harm reduction.
• Our Daily BreadminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partner that provides brown bag lunches (when available) distributed during syringe exchange services at Caracole.
• Ensemble Theatre CincinnatiminorOthersVenue partner for Caraconference 2026, located at 1127 Vine Street, Cincinnati, OH 45202.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• GMHC (Gay Men's Health Crisis): Historic HIV/AIDS service nonprofit providing testing, prevention, case management, housing, and advocacy. Directly comparable mission, service mix, and nonprofit funding model.
• Whitman-Walker Health: Washington DC-based community health center focused on HIV/AIDS care, prevention, and LGBTQ+ health. Comparable in its integration of testing, PrEP, primary care, behavioral health, and case management under one nonprofit umbrella.
• CrescentCare: New Orleans-based community health nonprofit providing HIV prevention and care, primary care, and harm reduction. Comparable as a regional AIDS service organization with integrated clinical and supportive services.
• Equitas Health: Ohio-based nonprofit providing HIV/AIDS prevention, care, and supportive services across Ohio. Highly comparable as a regional AIDS service organization offering testing, PrEP navigation, case management, and primary care in overlapping markets.
• Thrive Alabama: North Alabama HIV/AIDS services nonprofit offering testing, PrEP, primary care, case management, and supportive services. Comparable as a regional AIDS service organization with an integrated care model.
• San Francisco AIDS Foundation: Long-standing HIV/AIDS nonprofit offering prevention, testing, PrEP/PEP, syringe access, and care coordination. Highly comparable as a multi-service AIDS service organization with both clinical and harm reduction programming.
• Cascade AIDS Project: Oregon and Southwest Washington HIV/AIDS services nonprofit offering testing, PrEP, housing, and case management. Comparable as a mid-sized regional AIDS service organization with similar service breadth.
• AID Atlanta: Atlanta-based HIV/AIDS services nonprofit providing testing, PrEP, case management, housing, and behavioral health. Directly comparable as a regional AIDS service organization with similar service mix.
• Damien Center: Indianapolis-based HIV/AIDS services nonprofit offering testing, prevention, housing, case management, and a food pantry. Comparable as a Midwest-focused AIDS service organization with an integrated care and supportive services model.

Broad incumbents

• AIDS Healthcare Foundation: The largest global HIV/AIDS nonprofit, operating clinics, pharmacies, and prevention programs worldwide. Comparable mission but materially larger scale and broader geographic footprint than Caracole.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/wearecaracole
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCvBPbM7sbUYl449Em2cVbnA
• Facebookfacebook.com/CaracoleCincinnati
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/caracole-org
• Instagraminstagram.com/wearecaracole

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 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 Caracole