IOWA HARM REDUCTION COALITION

What IOWA HARM REDUCTION COALITION does

Iowa Harm Reduction Coalition (IHRC) is a 501c3 nonprofit organization founded in 2016 and headquartered in Iowa City, Iowa, that delivers community-based harm reduction and drug user health services across the state. The organization provides free syringe access, naloxone (Narcan) distribution and overdose prevention training, HIV and Hepatitis C testing with linkage to care, rapid re-housing enrollment, and policy advocacy. Services are delivered through five Iowa metro offices (Cedar Rapids, Davenport, Des Moines, Dubuque, and Iowa City) plus mobile outreach, mail-based distribution, and street-based engagement in non-traditional settings such as encampments, motels, and bars.

IHRC operates the largest evidence-based overdose prevention and naloxone distribution program in Iowa, distributing over 20,000 free naloxone doses annually and reporting approximately 1,957 overdose reversals between July 2017 and August 2019. The organization attributes an 18% decrease in new hepatitis C infections in Iowa between 2016 and 2017 to its prevention programming, and connected 110 Iowans to rapid re-housing in a recent reporting year. The service model is informed by the CDC's Drug User Health Framework and relies on paid staff augmented by over 350 trained volunteers and peer outreach specialists with lived experience of substance use.

The organization's revenue model is donation- and grant-dependent: services are free to clients, with funding sourced from government grants (notably the State Opioid Response grant), foundation support (AidsUnited, Direct Relief, Broadway Cares), pharmaceutical partners (Gilead, Merck), individual donors (including a 100 to 1 Sustaining Membership program), in-kind Amazon Wishlist donations, and micro-donations via the Momentum mobile giving app. Strategic partners include the Iowa Department of Public Health, University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, the CDC, and the Drug Policy Alliance. The current Executive Director is Deborah Krauss, who succeeded founder Sarah Ziegenhorn, with medical oversight provided by Dr. Josh Radke (Medical Director) and board leadership from Dr. Andrea Weber.

Name

IOWA HARM REDUCTION COALITION

Legal name

Iowa Harm Reduction Coalition

Website

https://iowaharmreductioncoalition.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Iowa Harm Reduction Coalition is a 501c3 nonprofit founded in 2016 that delivers free syringe access, naloxone distribution, HIV/HCV testing, and rapid re-housing to people who use drugs across five Iowa metro areas, funded by grants and donations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Harm Reduction Services

NAICS

Individual and Family Services (6241), Social Advocacy Organizations (8133)

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

• Harm reduction services
• Syringe access programs
• Naloxone distribution
• HIV testing services
• Substance use support

Headquarters

HQ city

Des Moines

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Others

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: Community-based nonprofit dependent on individual donor generosity. Accepts one-time gifts, monthly sustaining donations, and Amazon Smile contributions.
2. Momentum App Giving: Mobile app allowing users to create giving rules tied to activities (coffee purchases, dining, daily donations) with automatic small donations to IHRC.
3. Amazon Wishlist: Direct purchase of supplies (safe injection kits, safe snorting kits, safe smoking kits) from Amazon wishlist by community members.
4. Grant Funding: Funding from government grants (State Opioid Response grant) and foundation support from partners like AidsUnited, Direct Relief, Broadway Cares, Gilead, Merck, and others.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Iowa Harm Reduction Coalition is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that provides harm reduction services to people who use drugs, including syringe access, naloxone distribution, HIV/HCV testing, linkage to care, rapid re-housing, and policy advocacy. Founded in 2016 and based in Iowa City, the organization operates across five Iowa metropolitan areas (Cedar Rapids, Davenport, Des Moines, Dubuque, and Iowa City) and offers all services free of charge to clients.

Product overview

IHRC is a community-based nonprofit (501c3) harm reduction organization, not a technology product company. It does not offer a software platform or modular product suite. IHRC's portfolio consists entirely of direct health and social services delivered through staff, volunteers, and community outreach. The core service model spans five domains: (1) Syringe Access Program — distributing sterile syringes, injection, snorting, and smoking kits; (2) Naloxone Distribution Program — providing free overdose reversal kits with training; (3) HIV & Hepatitis C Testing and Linkage to Care; (4) Rapid Re-Housing enrollment; and (5) Policy advocacy and training/education programs including overdose prevention and Train-the-Trainer sessions. Funding and donor engagement are supported by the 100 to 1 Sustaining Membership, Amazon Wishlist donations, and the Momentum mobile giving app.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Syringe Access Program Free, confidential distribution and exchange of sterile syringes for people who use drugs in Iowa, with harm reduction counseling provided at service sites.
• Naloxone Distribution and Overdose Response Distribution of the overdose reversal medication naloxone and training on its use to people who use drugs, their networks, and community responders across Iowa.
• HIV and HCV Testing Rapid testing for HIV and Hepatitis C delivered in community settings, with linkage to confirmatory care and treatment for people who test positive.
• Linkage to Care Case management and referral support connecting clients to medical care, substance use treatment, and social services in Iowa.
• Rapid Re-Housing Housing navigation and re-housing assistance for people who use drugs who are unhoused or unstably housed in Iowa.
• Policy Advocacy and Education State and local advocacy, coalition building, and public education to expand harm reduction policy and reduce harms of the war on drugs in Iowa.

Quantifiable outcome

• 18% decrease in new HCV infections between 2016-2017 in Iowa
• +8 more outcomes

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

Feature2 records

Partnerships

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

• AidsUnitedmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational organization supporting HIV/AIDS advocacy and prevention efforts. Partner organization providing programmatic support for harm reduction initiatives.
• Direct ReliefmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHumanitarian medical supply organization providing essential medications and supplies to organizations serving vulnerable populations.
• Broadway CaresmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational nonprofit raising funds for AIDS organizations and providing grants for direct care services.
• Gilead SciencesmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPharmaceutical company providing support for hepatitis C and HIV treatment access programs.
• University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics (UIHC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor academic medical center partnership providing medical oversight, residency training opportunities, and co-hosting of medical toxicology and addiction medicine specialists including Dr. Josh Radke (Medical Director), Dr. Andrea Weber (Board Chair), and Dr. Daniel Runde (Board Member).
• Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerState government health agency providing public health guidance, data, and programmatic support. IDPH attributed 18% decrease in HCV infections to IHRC's work.
• SafeNetminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization in harm reduction and drug user health services.
• Drug Policy AlliancemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational drug policy reform organization providing expertise and resources for harm reduction policy initiatives.
• CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFederal public health agency whose Drug User Health Framework guides IHRC's services and which has recommended expansion of naloxone distribution to community-based organizations.
• NASTADminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational coalition of state health department HIV/AIDS and hepatitis directors providing technical assistance.
• Cedar Valley Recovery ServicesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides Medication Assisted Treatment in Cedar Falls, Dubuque and Marion. Jen Kositzky (Executive Director) serves on IHRC board.
• UCS HealthcareminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHealthcare organization partner providing services to IHRC community.

Scale indicators18 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• NEXT Distro: Online and mail-based harm reduction supply distributor serving people who use drugs nationwide. Closely comparable to IHRC's mail-based and hotline distribution channels and similar syringe/naloxone/fentanyl-test-strip offering.
• Prevention Point Philadelphia: One of the oldest U.S. syringe services programs offering syringe exchange, naloxone, primary care, and housing support. Directly comparable in service mix, low-barrier model, and advocacy footprint.
• National Harm Reduction Coalition: National nonprofit building capacity for harm reduction programs across the U.S. Directly comparable mission (drug user health, advocacy, naloxone access) and shares CDC-aligned framework; IHRC operates as a state-level affiliate implementing similar model.
• HIPS (HIPS): Washington, D.C.-based syringe services and harm reduction program where IHRC founder Sarah Ziegenhorn previously worked. Operates nearly identical core services (syringe access, naloxone, HV/HCV testing, peer outreach) for people who use drugs and sex workers.
• Chicago Recovery Alliance: Chicago-based harm reduction organization providing syringe access, naloxone, drug checking, and outreach. Closely comparable operating model and population served.
• New York Harm Reduction Educators (NYHRE): NYC-based harm reduction program offering syringe exchange, drop-in services, overdose prevention, and housing referrals. Comparable service mix to IHRC's syringe access, naloxone, HIV/HCV testing, and rapid re-housing programs.
• North Carolina Harm Reduction Coalition: State-level harm reduction coalition providing syringe access, naloxone distribution, and policy advocacy in North Carolina. Near-identical scope, structure, and advocacy priorities to IHRC.

Others

• Drug Policy Alliance: National drug policy reform organization that is one of IHRC's named strategic partners. Not a direct service competitor but a peer in harm reduction advocacy, providing policy expertise and coalition support that mirrors IHRC's legislative work.
• AIDS United: National HIV/AIDS policy and grantmaking organization that funnels resources to syringe services and harm reduction programs. Listed as a major IHRC partner; adjacent ecosystem participant rather than a direct service peer.

Broad incumbents

• San Francisco AIDS Foundation: Established HIV/AIDS nonprofit operating syringe access, naloxone, and sexual health services at much larger scale. Overlapping harm reduction capabilities but broader HIV/LGBTQ health portfolio; relevant incumbent comparable.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/iowa-harm-reduction-coalition

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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