Akron AIDS Collaborative

What Akron AIDS Collaborative does

Akron AIDS Collaborative is a 501(c)-style non-profit community organization founded in 2000 and headquartered at 652 W Exchange Street, Akron, Ohio, operating under the Bayard Rustin LGBTQ+ Resource Center brand. It serves LGBTQ+/SGL individuals and people of color in Summit County, Ohio, delivering culturally centered HIV/AIDS prevention and care services through a drop-in resource center model. The organization was formed following the evolution of the Akron Brother Circle, a 2000-era support group for same-gender-loving men, and has expanded its mission to address broader LGBTQ+ community needs including trans advocacy and anti-violence programming.

The organization's service portfolio includes HIV testing, PrEP access (via a strategic partnership with NPS Pharmacy's Q Care Plus telehealth microsite), mental health and housing referrals, outreach case management, an anti-violence program, DEBI trainings and workshops, a clothing bank, food pantry and community meals, art therapy, and structured center programming. Event-based offerings include Akron Pride, Family Black Pride, Akron Trans Day of Visibility, Akron Trans Day of Remembrance, and the Ladies First monthly forum. Services are delivered free of charge at the drop-in center (Monday–Friday, 10am–4pm) and through partner-enabled telehealth.

The business model is donation-driven: the organization offers one-time, quarterly, monthly, and yearly donation tiers, supplements funding through a GoFundMe campaign for facility relocation, and accepts no fees for services. With a team of 5 employees and no disclosed parent organization or institutional investors, the organization operates as a grassroots non-profit dependent on community contributions and in-kind partnerships. Its GTM approach is community-led and event-driven, relying on partnerships with organizations such as Trans Joy Akron and Delta Sigma Theta Sorority for outreach amplification.

Name

Akron AIDS Collaborative

Legal name

Akron AIDS Collaborative

Website

https://ohioaac.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2000

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Akron AIDS Collaborative is a non-profit founded in 2000 operating the Bayard Rustin LGBTQ+ Resource Center in Akron, Ohio. It delivers HIV testing, PrEP access, mental health and housing referrals, food and clothing assistance, and community programming to LGBTQ+/SGL individuals and people of color across Summit County.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Health Services

NAICS

Individual and Family Services (6241), Community Housing Services (62422), Community Food Services (62421)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

LGBTQ+ Rights & Advocacy Organizations (BPAGAFAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Racial & Ethnic Justice Organizations (BPAGAFAC), Health & Support Communities (BPAMABAL)

Keywords

• HIV prevention services
• LGBTQ+ community support
• Public health programs
• Community resource center
• HIV/AIDS advocacy

Headquarters

HQ city

Akron

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations: Nonprofit organization funded primarily through donations. Offers one-time, quarterly, monthly, and yearly donation options for community support.

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Akron AIDS Collaborative operates the Bayard Rustin LGBTQ+ Resource Center, Ohio's only statewide LGBTQ+ drop-in facility, providing free culturally centered services including HIV testing, PrEP access via telehealth, mental health and housing referrals, anti-violence programs, food pantry, clothing closet, community meals, art therapy, and DEBI trainings. The organization serves LGBTQ+/SGL individuals and people of color in Summit County, funded primarily through community donations.

Product overview

Akron AIDS Collaborative operates the Bayard Rustin LGBTQ+ Resource Center as a single unified community services organization offering a comprehensive suite of programs addressing HIV/AIDS care, LGBTQ+ advocacy, and community support. The organization provides direct services including HIV Testing, PrEP Access, Mental Health Referrals, Housing Referrals, Outreach Case Management, an Anti-Violence Program, DEBI Trainings & Workshops, a Clothing Bank, Food Pantry & Community Meals, Art Therapy, and Center Programming. Event-based programming includes Akron Pride, Family Black Pride, Akron Trans Day of Visibility Celebration, Akron Trans Day of Remembrance Commemoration, and Ladies First Community Forum. These services are offered as integrated community programs rather than separate product lines, all designed to address health disparities affecting BIPOC and LGBTQ+ individuals in Summit County.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• HIV Testing Free and confidential HIV testing services provided at the resource center to help identify and support individuals living with HIV.
• PrEP Access Program Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) access through partnerships with NPS Pharmacy and Q Care Plus, providing telehealth prescriptions and HIV prevention resources for the Akron community.
• Mental Health Referrals Referral services connecting LGBTQ+ individuals to mental health support and counseling resources.
• Housing Referrals Referral services helping individuals access stable housing resources.
• Outreach Case Management Case management services providing ongoing support and resource coordination for individuals affected by HIV/AIDS.
• Anti-Violence Program Programs and support services addressing violence affecting LGBTQ+ individuals and communities.
• DEBI Trainings & Workshops Dissemination of Evidence-Based Interventions (DEBI) trainings providing HIV prevention education and community capacity building.
• Clothing Bank Clothing closet providing free clothing and essential items to community members in need.
• Food Pantry & Community Meals Food pantry and community meal programs addressing food insecurity among LGBTQ+ individuals.
• Art Therapy Therapeutic programming using creative arts to support mental health and community healing.
• Center Programming Structured programming including discussions, support groups, and community events for LGBTQ+ individuals.
• Medical Referrals Medical referral services connecting community members to appropriate healthcare providers.

Quantifiable outcome

• PrEP reduces risk of HIV transmission by up to 99% when taken as prescribed

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

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and flagship.

• Akron Brother CirclecoreOthers · 1 January 2000Originally formed in 2000 as a support group for same-gender-loving men. This group grew to become part of the Akron AIDS Collaborative, forming the foundation of the organization's community-based approach.
• NPS Pharmacy (Q Care Plus)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic partnership to bring PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis) access to the Akron community. Through NPS Pharmacy's Q Care Plus microsite, provides telehealth services for easy PrEP prescriptions, HIV prevention resources, and confidential discreet support.
• Trans Joy AkroncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Bayard Rustin-Trans Joy Partnership to protect trans community rights. Joint advocacy against Ohio politicians' attacks on bodily autonomy of trans people, demanding basic civil rights and refusing to be erased.
• Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, IncorporatedflagshipGTM or Marketing PartnerCollaboration to spread awareness through workshops and community events, ensuring the message of HIV prevention reaches all of Akron. Partnership leverages sorority's community presence for health equity outreach.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Direct peers

• Howard Brown Health: Chicago-based LGBTQ+ and HIV healthcare organization providing testing, PrEP, primary care, and community programs. Closely aligned as a culturally centered LGBTQ+ health organization with wraparound services for BIPOC communities.
• Center on Halsted: Chicago's LGBTQ+ community center offering comprehensive programming including HIV testing, mental health, housing referrals, and anti-violence programs. Highly comparable as a regional LGBTQ+ community hub with wraparound service delivery.
• Cascade AIDS Project: Pacific Northwest LGBTQ+ and HIV/AIDS service organization offering testing, PrEP navigation, housing support, and community programs. Closely comparable wraparound LGBTQ+/HIV service model with similar regional CBO scope.
• Equitas Health: Ohio-based LGBTQ+ and HIV/AIDS healthcare organization providing primary care, PrEP, mental health, and case management across multiple Ohio cities. Highly comparable as a regional Ohio peer with similar LGBTQ+/HIV service mix and cultural-centering approach.

Broad incumbents

• San Francisco AIDS Foundation: Long-standing HIV/AIDS services nonprofit offering testing, PrEP, harm reduction, and community programs. Comparable prevention-focused service stack but operates at a larger urban scale.
• AIDS Healthcare Foundation: The largest global HIV/AIDS organization providing testing, treatment, PrEP access, and advocacy. Comparable as the dominant incumbent in HIV services but operates at vastly greater scale and geographic breadth than Akron AIDS Collaborative.
• Callen-Lorde Community Health Center: New York LGBTQ+ community health center providing primary care, HIV testing/PrEP, mental health, and transgender services. Comparable as an LGBTQ+ health-focused organization serving BIPOC and trans communities with wraparound care.
• Fenway Health: Boston-based LGBTQ+ healthcare and research organization providing primary care, PrEP, behavioral health, and advocacy. Comparable in mission and PrEP/sexual health focus, with broader clinical infrastructure.
• GMHC (Gay Men's Health Crisis): Historic HIV/AIDS and LGBTQ+ services organization in New York providing testing, prevention, mental health, and wraparound support. Comparable mission and program mix, though operating at significantly larger scale.

Others

• Transgender Law Center: National trans-led organization providing legal advocacy, policy work, and community support. Comparable in serving the trans community of color but operates primarily in advocacy/legal services rather than direct HIV/social service delivery.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/akronaidscollaborative
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/akron-aids-collaborative

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Akron AIDS Collaborative