Voices of Community Activists and Leaders

What Voices of Community Activists and Leaders does

Voices of Community Activists and Leaders (VOCAL-NY) is a 501(c)(3) grassroots membership organization founded in 1999 and headquartered at 300 Douglass Street, Brooklyn, NY. The organization builds political and service-delivery power among low-income New Yorkers directly affected by HIV/AIDS, the war on drugs, mass incarceration, and homelessness. It operates a chapter-based structure across seven New York State locations — Albany, Buffalo, Hudson Valley, New York City, Rochester, Syracuse, and Westchester County — and is part of a multi-state national VOCAL network that includes VOCAL-US, VOCAL-KY, VOCAL-Texas, and the affiliated VOCAL-NY Action Fund for electoral and policy work.

VOCAL-NY runs a portfolio of direct services delivered primarily from its Brooklyn office, including syringe exchange, peer-delivered syringe exchange outreach, overdose prevention, care coordination, healthcare and wellness programs, a community drop-in center, and the LOUD peer job training program. These services are paired with community organizing, advocacy campaigns, and direct action focused on drug policy reform, bail reform (including the NYC Bail Settlement initiative), supportive housing, and economic democracy. The organization uses a peer-led delivery model in which staff and members with lived experience in the issues addressed serve as frontline service providers.

Revenue is generated through individual donations (including the VOCAL-NY Insiders monthly recurring donor program), the annual Gala for Justice, Compassion, and Love (with tiered sponsorships such as Drug Policy Powerhouse, Bail Reform Boss, and Supportive Housing Star), and online giving processed through the Classy platform. Technology use is limited to CiviCRM-based member management via OurPowerBase; the organization does not develop or sell technology products and has no disclosed AI/ML capabilities.

Name

Voices of Community Activists and Leaders

Legal name

Voices Of Community Activists & Leaders-Vocal-Ny-Inc

Website

https://vocal-ny.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1999

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

VOCAL-NY is a Brooklyn-based 501(c)(3) grassroots membership organization that delivers harm reduction, healthcare coordination, and peer job training services to low-income New Yorkers affected by HIV/AIDS, drug use, incarceration, and homelessness, while organizing across 7 statewide chapters and an annual gala.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Nonprofit Social Services and Advocacy

NAICS

Other Social Advocacy Organizations (813319), Social Advocacy Organizations (8133), Civic and Social Organizations (81341), Human Rights Organizations (813311), Civic and Social Organizations (8134)

SIC

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

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYBPAGADAI

Youth Leadership, Civic Education & Service-Learning Nonprofits

Business & Public Services/Nonprofit, NGO & Social Services/Education & Youth Development Nonprofits

Keywords

• Harm reduction services
• HIV/AIDS advocacy
• Community organizing
• Syringe exchange programs
• Peer job training

Headquarters

HQ city

Brooklyn

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, Others

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: Tax-deductible donations from individuals supporting the organization's mission to end AIDS epidemic, war on drugs, mass incarceration, and homelessness. Donations can be made as one-time gifts or monthly recurring contributions through the VOCAL-NY Insiders program.
2. Event Fundraising: Annual gala events (Gala for Justice, Compassion, and Love) featuring ticket sales, sponsorships, and in-kind donations. The 2026 gala includes sponsorship tiers such as Drug Policy Powerhouse, Bail Reform Boss, and Supportive Housing Star.
3. Membership Program: VOCAL-NY Insiders monthly donor program where members contribute regularly to support organizational capacity and campaigns.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Voices of Community Activists and Leaders (VOCAL-NY) is a grassroots 501(c)(3) membership organization that delivers direct harm reduction and social services — including syringe exchange, overdose prevention, peer-delivered outreach, care coordination, healthcare and wellness programs, a peer-led job training program (LOUD), and a community drop-in center — while simultaneously organizing members to advocate for systemic policy change on HIV/AIDS, drug policy, mass incarceration, and homelessness across six New York State chapters.

Product overview

VOCAL-NY is a grassroots membership organization rather than a technology product company. The organization operates through community organizing, leadership development, advocacy, direct services, and direct action to build power among low-income people affected by HIV/AIDS, the drug war, mass incarceration, and homelessness. The service portfolio includes harm reduction services (Syringe Exchange, Overdose Prevention, Peer Delivered Syringe Exchange Outreach), healthcare coordination (Care Coordination, Healthcare and Wellness Programs), employment support (LOUD: Peer Job Training Program), and community space (Drop-In Center), all based out of their Brooklyn office serving New York City.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Syringe Exchange Harm reduction service providing syringe exchange for people who use drugs in New York City, operated out of the Brooklyn office.
• Overdose Prevention Harm reduction service focused on preventing overdoses among people who use drugs.
• Peer Delivered Syringe Exchange Outreach Peer-based outreach service delivering syringe exchange directly to community members who use drugs.
• Care Coordination Service coordinating healthcare and support services for community members affected by HIV/AIDS, drug use, incarceration, or homelessness.
• Healthcare and Wellness Programs Health and wellness programming for community members served by VOCAL-NY.
• LOUD: Peer Job Training Program Peer-led job training program providing employment skills and opportunities for community members.
• Drop-In Center Community drop-in center providing a safe space and access to services for community members in Brooklyn.

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• VOCAL-UScoreOthersNational VOCAL network organization. VOCAL-NY is part of a multi-state network of grassroots organizations working on HIV/AIDS, drug policy, mass incarceration, and homelessness issues.
• VOCAL-KY (Kentucky)minorOthersSister organization in Kentucky operating under the VOCAL network brand. Part of the national affiliated network of community organizations.
• VOCAL-NY Action FundcoreOthersRelated advocacy organization focused on policy action and electoral work in New York. Affiliated but distinct entity from the 501(c)(3) VOCAL-NY.
• VOCAL-TexasminorOthersSister organization in Texas operating under the VOCAL network. Part of the national affiliated network of community organizations.
• Roulette IntermediumminorGTM or Marketing PartnerEvent venue host for the annual VOCAL-NY Gala. Located at 509 Atlantic Avenue, Brooklyn NY 11217. DJ Cali Torrez provides entertainment at the gala event.
• Housing WorksminorGTM or Marketing PartnerHarm reduction heroes level sponsor for the 2026 Gala. Healthcare and advocacy organization serving people living with HIV/AIDS.
• Division of General Internal Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount SinaiminorGTM or Marketing PartnerHarm reduction heroes level sponsor for the 2026 Gala. Academic medical institution partnering to support harm reduction work.
• New York State Nurses AssociationminorGTM or Marketing PartnerHarm reduction heroes level sponsor for the 2026 Gala. Labor union representing nurses in New York State.
• Center for Supportive Housing (CSH)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerSupportive housing star level sponsor for the 2026 Gala. Organization working to end homelessness through supportive housing solutions.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Drug Policy Alliance: National nonprofit focused on drug policy reform, harm reduction promotion, and decriminalization advocacy. Directly comparable to VOCAL-NY's drug policy vertical and overall harm reduction advocacy posture, though operating nationally rather than statewide.
• GMHC (Gay Men's Health Crisis): Long-established NYC HIV/AIDS services and advocacy nonprofit offering case management, mental health, and policy work. Comparable to VOCAL-NY on HIV/AIDS service delivery and the integrated advocacy model in the same New York market.
• Treatment Action Group (TAG): NYC-based HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis policy advocacy organization. Comparable to VOCAL-NY on the HIV/AIDS advocacy vertical and the NYC-based policy-and-grassroots footprint.
• Housing Works: NYC-based 501(c)(3) that combines direct services for people living with HIV/AIDS and experiencing homelessness with advocacy and direct action. Directly comparable to VOCAL-NY in mission overlap, service-plus-advocacy model, and NYC operating geography; already a 'Harm Reduction Heroes' level sponsor of VOCAL-NY's gala.
• National Harm Reduction Coalition: National organization advancing harm reduction interventions, syringe access, and overdose prevention with grassroots chapters. Closest national peer to VOCAL-NY on the harm reduction service and advocacy portfolio.
• VOCAL-KY: Kentucky-based sibling organization in the VOCAL network working on HIV/AIDS, drug policy, incarceration, and homelessness. Operates the same member-driven service-plus-advocacy model in a different state, making it a structurally comparable peer.

Broad incumbents

• AIDS United: National HIV/AIDS organization providing grantmaking, capacity building, and policy advocacy. Overlaps with VOCAL-NY's HIV/AIDS mission and harm reduction posture but operates as a broader portfolio funder rather than a direct service provider.

Emerging players

• VOCAL-US: National coordinating organization of the VOCAL affiliate network, of which VOCAL-NY is the flagship state chapter. Direct sibling peer sharing the VOCAL brand, organizing model, and policy priorities.
• Center for Community Alternatives: New York-based nonprofit providing alternatives to incarceration, reentry support, and youth justice advocacy. Comparable to VOCAL-NY on the mass incarceration reform vertical and the integration of direct services with policy advocacy.
• New York Civil Liberties Union (NYCLU): Statewide affiliate of the ACLU focused on criminal justice reform, drug policy, and civil liberties in New York. Overlaps with VOCAL-NY on mass incarceration and drug decriminalization advocacy and shares the New York State operating geography.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/VOCALNewYork

Compliance1 record

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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Frequently asked questions about Voices of Community Activists and Leaders