Harm Reduction Sisters
Harm Reduction Sisters is a Duluth-based nonprofit delivering syringe services, naloxone distribution, HIV testing, drug checking, and mobile outreach to people who use drugs across Northern Minnesota, plus statewide mail-order naloxone via nextdistro.org, funded by donations and philanthropy.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2019
- HeadquartersDuluth, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Harm Reduction Sisters does
Harm Reduction Sisters is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2019 and headquartered in Duluth, Minnesota, that delivers harm reduction services to people who use drugs across Northern Minnesota. Its service portfolio spans a Syringe Services Program providing sterile injection supplies, naloxone (Narcan) distribution and overdose education, mobile rapid HIV testing with linkage to care and case management, fentanyl and xylazine test strips, wound care kits, take-home syphilis tests, and harm reduction education. The organization distinguishes itself through a feminist, peer-led model that prioritizes women and people of color, with several staff beginning as program participants.
Operationally, Harm Reduction Sisters combines fixed drop-in sites at four partner host organizations (Damiano Center in Duluth, Lakeview Behavioral Health in Hibbing and Grand Rapids, and HDC Outreach Center in Cloquet) with mobile phone/text-based delivery and a statewide mail-order naloxone program delivered through nextdistro.org. Drug checking is performed using FTIR spectroscopy. The Virginia physical site is currently closed while mobile services continue, reflecting ongoing footprint adjustment. The organization is led by Executive Director Sue Purchase (20+ years of harm reduction experience) and supported by a Board of Directors that includes senior researchers and clinicians.
The business model is donation- and philanthropy-funded rather than transactional: all direct services are provided free of charge, and the organization accepts tax-deductible public donations. Geographic scope is Northern Minnesota for in-person services and statewide for the mail-order naloxone channel. Strategic partners include the Minnesota Department of Health, Vivent Health, Midwest Access Coalition, Recovery Alliance Duluth, and the host-site organizations. Headcount is reported at 11–50 employees and revenue is not publicly disclosed.
Harm Reduction Sisters firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Harm Reduction Sisters
- Legal name
- Harm Reduction Sisters
- Website
- https://harmreductionsisters.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2019
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Harm Reduction Sisters is a Duluth-based nonprofit delivering syringe services, naloxone distribution, HIV testing, drug checking, and mobile outreach to people who use drugs across Northern Minnesota, plus statewide mail-order naloxone via nextdistro.org, funded by donations and philanthropy.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Harm Reduction Sisters industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Harm Reduction Services
- NAICS
- Social Assistance (624), Individual and Family Services (6241)
- SIC
- Services-Social Services (8300)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Substance Use Recovery & Harm Reduction Support Services (BPAGAEAO)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Substance Use Disorder Prevention & Recovery Services (BPAGACAE)
Keywords
Where Harm Reduction Sisters is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Duluth
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices5 records
Markets served
Harm Reduction Sisters business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Donations and Fundraising: The organization relies on tax-deductible donations from the public to fund operations. Donations can be made online or by mailing a check to the Duluth office.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels5 records
Harm Reduction Sisters product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Harm Reduction Sisters provides free, community-based harm reduction services across Northern Minnesota, including sterile injection supplies, naloxone distribution, overdose education, HIV testing with linkage to care, drug checking using FTIR technology, and case management support. Services are delivered through drop-in locations at partner organizations in Duluth, Hibbing, Grand Rapids, and Cloquet, mobile delivery via phone/text, and a statewide mail-order naloxone program via nextdistro.org.
Product overview
Harm Reduction Sisters is a non-profit organization providing a comprehensive suite of harm reduction services across Northern Minnesota. The core offerings include a syringe services program with drop-in locations and mobile delivery, naloxone distribution (both in-person and via statewide mail-order through Next Distro), confidential HIV testing with case management, drug checking services using FTIR technology, and distribution of harm reduction supplies including test strips, wound care kits, and safer use supplies. Services are delivered through fixed drop-in sites at partner organizations (Damiano Center, Lakeview Behavioral Health, HDC Outreach Center) and mobile delivery operations, with additional statewide reach through their mail-order naloxone program.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Syringe Services Program
- Naloxone/Narcan Distribution
- Mobile Delivery Services
- HIV Testing Services
- Mail-Order Naloxone Program
- Drug Checking Services
- Case Management & Linkage Services
Companies that use Harm Reduction Sisters
Customer profileSegments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Harm Reduction Sisters technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Harm Reduction Sisters partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Minnesota Department of HealthcoreState health department partner providing support and collaboration for harm reduction initiatives across Minnesota.
- Vivent HealthcoreHealthcare organization partner focused on HIV care and prevention services.
- Midwest Access CoalitionminorAccess-focused organization supporting reproductive and healthcare access in the Midwest region.
- Recovery Alliance DuluthminorLocal recovery and harm reduction alliance partner in Duluth working to support individuals affected by substance use.
- Damiano CentercorePartner location in Duluth providing drop-in syringe services and testing on a regular schedule.
- Lakeview Behavioral HealthcorePartner location in Hibbing and Grand Rapids providing harm reduction services and syringe programming.
- HDC Outreach CenterminorPartner location in Cloquet providing harm reduction services on a weekly schedule.
- nextdistro.orgcorePlatform partner for mail-order naloxone distribution program serving the entire state of Minnesota.
Scale indicators1 record
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Harm Reduction Sisters competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- North Carolina Harm Reduction Coalition: A regional harm reduction organization serving rural and underserved communities in North Carolina with syringe services, naloxone, and drug checking. Highly comparable to HRS in serving rural populations and prioritizing communities with limited harm reduction access.
- Vivent Health: A multi-state HIV care and prevention organization providing medical, pharmacy, and social services to people living with HIV. Direct strategic partner of HRS and highly comparable in HIV testing, case management, and harm reduction orientation.
- Chicago Recovery Alliance: A peer-led harm reduction organization in Chicago providing syringe services, naloxone, drug checking, and safer use supplies. Closely comparable to HRS in operating model, peer-driven ethos, and breadth of services, including drug checking.
- DanceSafe: A harm reduction organization specializing in drug checking, adulterant test strips, and harm reduction education for nightlife and festival settings. Directly comparable to HRS's drug checking services, including FTIR technology deployment.
- San Francisco AIDS Foundation: A long-standing nonprofit providing syringe access, naloxone, HIV testing, and case management in San Francisco. Overlaps significantly with HRS's service suite, particularly HIV testing and case management, and has a documented partnership with HRS's peer partner Vivent Health.
- NEXT Distro: An online mail-based harm reduction platform that distributes naloxone and supplies to people who use drugs. HRS partners directly with NEXT Distro to power its statewide Minnesota mail-order naloxone program, making them a near-perfect operational peer and technology partner.
- Prevention Point Philadelphia: One of the oldest syringe service programs in the U.S., offering syringe exchange, naloxone, HIV/HCV testing, and case management in Philadelphia. Highly comparable to HRS in service mix (HRS ED Sue Purchase also founded Project Safe in Philadelphia, a related program).
- BOOM!Health: A Bronx-based nonprofit providing harm reduction, syringe access, naloxone, and support services to people who use drugs. Operates a similar mobile and site-based service model with strong peer-led staffing, comparable to HRS's community-led approach.
- Clean Needles Now: A Los Angeles-based syringe exchange and harm reduction organization providing sterile supplies, naloxone, and support services. Closely comparable to HRS in core syringe services operations and advocacy for underserved drug-using populations.
Broad incumbents
- National Harm Reduction Coalition: The largest U.S. harm reduction advocacy and capacity-building organization, providing training, technical assistance, and policy work nationwide. Broader in scope than HRS but is the field-defining national body that HRS's work is operationally aligned with and could draw capacity-building support from.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Harm Reduction Sisters social profiles
Digital presenceHarm Reduction Sisters financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Harm Reduction Sisters leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles16 records
Harm Reduction Sisters funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Harm Reduction Sisters M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Harm Reduction Sisters
What does Harm Reduction Sisters do?
Harm Reduction Sisters provides free, community-based harm reduction services across Northern Minnesota, including sterile injection supplies, naloxone distribution, overdose education, HIV testing with linkage to care, drug checking using FTIR technology, and case management support. Services are delivered through drop-in locations at partner organizations in Duluth, Hibbing, Grand Rapids, and Cloquet, mobile delivery via phone/text, and a statewide mail-order naloxone program via nextdistro.org.
Is Harm Reduction Sisters a public or private company?
Harm Reduction Sisters is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Harm Reduction Sisters founded?
Harm Reduction Sisters was founded in 2019. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Harm Reduction Sisters based?
Harm Reduction Sisters is headquartered in Duluth, United States, in the North America region.
How does Harm Reduction Sisters make money?
One revenue line is on record: donations and Fundraising.
Who are Harm Reduction Sisters's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are North Carolina Harm Reduction Coalition, Vivent Health, Chicago Recovery Alliance, DanceSafe, San Francisco AIDS Foundation, NEXT Distro, Prevention Point Philadelphia, BOOM!Health and Clean Needles Now. National Harm Reduction Coalition is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does Harm Reduction Sisters have an API?
No public API is recorded for Harm Reduction Sisters.
What industry is Harm Reduction Sisters in?
Harm Reduction Sisters's product category is Harm Reduction Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGAEAO, Substance Use Recovery & Harm Reduction Support Services, with a secondary code of BPAGACAE, Substance Use Disorder Prevention & Recovery Services. Its NAICS code is 624 and its SIC code is 8300.