CALOR

What CALOR does

CALOR (Comprensión y Apoyo a Latinos en Oposición at Retrovirus), legally incorporated as CALOR, Inc., is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit community health organization founded in 1990 in Chicago, Illinois. It provides culturally and linguistically tailored HIV/AIDS prevention, testing, case management, housing, and supportive services to Latino individuals and families on Chicago's West Side, particularly in the Humboldt Park area. Its core programs include the HOPWA-funded housing program, the Ryan White case management program, free walk-in HIV testing using INSTI and Determine rapid test kits, the signature A.C.E. prevention program for young Latino men who have sex with men, the DRS disability services program, and telehealth services delivered in partnership with Dr. Lagucik of Chicago Lakeview Healthcare Center. The organization operates from two Chicago office locations, a 17-unit residential facility (Casa Contreras), and deploys field testing teams to community and COVID testing sites.

CALOR's revenue model is grant-and-donation-based rather than commercial. It is funded primarily through federal grants (HUD HOPWA, Ryan White), supplemented by individual donations processed via Square and volunteer contributions. All client-facing services are provided free of charge with no identification or insurance required, eliminating any direct consumer pricing mechanism. Customer engagement is community-led: bilingual outreach staff and partnerships with organizations such as AHF Pharmacy and Anixter Center (with which CALOR merged in 1997) drive referrals and service delivery. The customer base is exclusively individual Latinx clients and their families, with no enterprise or B2B counterpart.

The technology layer is intentionally minimal and consumer-facing: standard rapid HIV test kits, a Square appointment booking and donation platform, a WordPress website, and an Instagram social media presence (@calorchicago). There is no proprietary software, no data platform, and no digital health product. With 48 employees, CALOR is a mid-sized community-based nonprofit whose primary assets are its 30+ years of community trust, federal funding relationships, bilingual workforce, and integrated physical service footprint.

Name

CALOR

Legal name

CALOR, Inc.

Website

https://calor.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1990

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

CALOR is a Chicago-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1990 that provides free, culturally tailored HIV/AIDS prevention, testing, housing, and disability services to Latino individuals and families on Chicago's West Side, funded primarily through HUD HOPWA and Ryan White federal grants.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

HIV/AIDS Community Health Services

NAICS

Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (624120), Vocational Rehabilitation Services (62431), Residential Mental Health and Substance Abuse Facilities (62322)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Peer Support, Recovery Coaching & Sober Living Services (HLAFACAN)

akta.pro secondary industries

Disability Services & Independent Living Support (BPAGACAG), Substance Use Recovery & Harm Reduction Support Services (BPAGAEAO)

Keywords

• HIV/AIDS community services
• Latino health services
• Disability support services
• HIV prevention programs
• Holistic case management

Headquarters

HQ city

Chicago

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Grants and Federal Funding: CALOR receives grant funding from HUD for the HOPWA (Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS) Program and Ryan White program for case management services. These federal grants support housing and health services for people living with HIV/AIDS.
2. Donations: Individual donations from supporters used to fund testing materials, promotional materials, and general operations to continue serving underserved communities.
3. Volunteer Services: Community volunteers contribute time and skills to support HIV field work and community services.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

CALOR is a Chicago-based nonprofit that provides holistic, bilingual/bicultural health and social services to Latinos at risk of or living with HIV/AIDS and other disabilities. Core offerings include free HIV/STI testing, prevention education, case management, mental health counseling, substance abuse services, HOPWA-funded supportive housing (including Casa Contreras), employment placement, and disability services through its DRS program.

Product overview

CALOR offers a coordinated suite of HIV/AIDS and disability services targeting the Latinx community in Chicago. The organization operates as a single unified service provider rather than a platform model, offering distinct programs including the HOPWA housing assistance program, HIV Prevention and Testing services (INSTI and Determine tests), DRS disability case management, and a telehealth program. These services are delivered through two physical locations (3201 W. North Avenue and 2752-2754 W. Fullerton Ave) with telehealth as an additional delivery channel. The organization also partners with AHF Pharmacy for pharmaceutical services. All services emphasize culturally relevant, holistic care with same-day testing results available.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• HOPWA Housing Program

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered major, core and minor.

• Anixter CentermajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1997In 1997, CALOR merged with Anixter Center, a well-respected and established leading provider of services for people with disabilities of all ages. This merger allowed CALOR to expand programs and services to people with HIV/AIDS and reach people with other disabilities. Through the merger, CALOR began offering substance abuse services and added a vocational program for employment and training.
• HUD (Housing and Urban Development)coreOthersCALOR participates in the HOPWA (Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS) Program, the only Federal program dedicated to the housing needs of people living with HIV/AIDS. HUD makes grants to local communities and nonprofit organizations for projects that benefit low-income persons living with HIV/AIDS and their families.
• AHF Pharmacy (AIDS Healthcare Foundation)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAHF Pharmacy partners with CALOR to provide on-site pharmacy services. AHF Pharmacy offers clinically trained pharmacists who partner with clients to provide personalized and convenient one-stop services that enhance quality of life.
• Dr. Lagucik of Chicago Lakeview Healthcare CenterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTelehealth services provided by Dr. Lagucik of Chicago Lakeview Healthcare Center, Monday through Friday from 10 am to 5 pm, for CALOR clients on the West Side of Chicago to reduce long commutes to providers.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF): AHF is the largest global HIV/AIDS nonprofit, providing testing, treatment, pharmacy, and housing services. AHF already partners with CALOR for on-site pharmacy, but operates as a much broader incumbent across many geographies and populations.
• Anixter Center (now Aspire): Former merger partner of CALOR; now Aspire, providing disability, behavioral health, and employment services across Chicago. Comparable in vocational/disability service mix and historical operational alignment.

Direct peers

• Howard Brown Health: Howard Brown is a major Chicago LGBTQ+ and HIV/AIDS healthcare provider with multiple clinics, offering testing, PrEP, case management, and behavioral health. Most direct comparable in Chicago for HIV/LGBTQ services.
• La Casa Norte: Chicago nonprofit serving Latino youth and families experiencing homelessness with housing, health, and case management services. Comparable service mix and target population to CALOR.
• Rincon Family Services: Chicago Hispanic social services agency offering substance abuse, mental health, and case management to Latino families. Comparable culturally-attuned Latino service delivery model.
• Test Positive Aware Network (TPAN): Chicago-based HIV/AIDS nonprofit providing prevention, testing, case management, and support groups. Direct peer in HIV peer-support and prevention services serving overlapping populations.
• Puerto Rican Cultural Center: Chicago-based Latino community organization providing health, education, and social services in Humboldt Park and West Side neighborhoods. Direct geographic and demographic peer.
• Chicago House: Chicago House provides housing, case management, and supportive services to PLWHA and LGBTQ+ individuals, including residential programs. Highly comparable to CALOR's Casa Contreras and HOPWA housing model.

Regional players

• Center on Halsted: Chicago LGBTQ+ community center offering HIV testing, youth services, and case management. Comparable in mission and Chicago footprint, though broader LGBTQ+ focus versus CALOR's Latino specialization.

Others

• Equality Illinois: Statewide LGBTQ+ advocacy organization in Illinois. Adjacent rather than direct peer — overlapping mission alignment with CALOR's A.C.E. program for young Latino MSM but focused on policy/advocacy.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/calorchicago
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ahfcalor

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 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 CALOR