Being Alive

What Being Alive does

Being Alive (legal name: Being Alive/People with AIDS Action Coalition, Inc.) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1986 in Los Angeles by four community members in direct response to the AIDS crisis. The organization provides a unified portfolio of free or low-cost HIV/AIDS wellness services to people living with HIV/AIDS in Los Angeles County, including mental health psychotherapy with LGBTQIA+ affirmative specialization, peer-led support groups (including the Queen Bees group for HIV+ women), wellness programs (acupuncture, chiropractic, Facial Rejuvenation), social and recreational activities, ADAP medication co-pay enrollment assistance, harm reduction services with syringe exchange across four satellite sites, HIV testing, PrEP access, and medical updates. As an open enrollment site for the California ADAP, the organization can provide same-day medication assistance regardless of prior client status.

The organization's core technology is human-delivered service rather than a software platform; there is no proprietary technology stack, no API, no mobile application, and no disclosed AI/ML capability. Operating infrastructure consists of a headquarters at 7080 Hollywood Blvd plus four harm reduction satellite sites co-located with community partners (Out of the Closet, Minority AIDS Project, APAIT) across Hollywood, Center City, Koreatown, and West Hollywood, supported by an organic social media presence and a website serving as the primary digital touchpoint.

Being Alive is funded through a diversified mix of government grants (California Department of Public Health, LA County HIV, City of West Hollywood, SAPC, LA County Department of Disability, COPHRI) and private foundation support (Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS, David Geffen Foundation, QueensCare, Gracelight Community Health, among others), with additional donations channeled through Givebutter and MightyCause. All services are provided free of charge to members. The organization is governed by a 7-member Board of Directors and managed by Executive Director Jamie Baker with approximately 12-15 staff members. Membership is required for service access, obtained through a simple intake application available in English and Spanish. The organization maintains a GuideStar Transparency Seal and operates under Federal Tax ID 95-4137742.

Name

Being Alive

Legal name

Being Alive/People with AIDS Action Coalition

Website

https://beingalivela.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1986

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Being Alive is a Los Angeles-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1986 that provides free HIV/AIDS wellness services — including mental health counseling, peer support groups, ADAP enrollment, harm reduction, and wellness programs — to people living with HIV/AIDS in Los Angeles County through a main headquarters and four satellite harm reduction sites.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

HIV/AIDS Support Services

NAICS

Outpatient Mental Health and Substance Abuse Centers (621420), Individual and Family Services (6241), Health Care and Social Assistance (62)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Health Services (8000), Services-Misc Health & Allied Services, Nec (8090)

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industries

Substance Use Recovery & Harm Reduction Support Services (BPAGAEAO), Rare Disease & Special Needs Support Organizations (BPAGACAM)

Keywords

• HIV/AIDS support services
• Harm reduction program
• Mental health counseling
• Wellness programs
• Peer support groups

Headquarters

HQ city

Los Angeles

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Government Grants and Public Funding: Being Alive receives partial funding from government sources including California Department of Public Health (CDPH), Los Angeles County HIV, and City of West Hollywood. The organization participates in the AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP) which is funded through the California Department of Public Health.
2. Private Grants and Donations: Funding from nonprofit partners including Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS, David Geffen Foundation, QueensCare, and others. The organization conducts fundraising campaigns and accepts donations through platforms like Givebutter and MightyCause.
3. Volunteer Contributions: The organization relies on volunteer support, particularly in peer services and phone answering operations. Volunteers assist with call handling and directing inquiries to appropriate staff.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Being Alive is a nonprofit organization that provides free or low-cost wellness, mental health, support group, harm reduction, and HIV/AIDS medication assistance services to people living with HIV/AIDS in Los Angeles. Core offerings include the Wellness Center (acupuncture, chiropractic, Facial Rejuvenation), Mental Health Psychotherapy with LGBT-affirmative specialization, peer Support Groups (including Queen Bees for HIV+ women), the AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP) for medication co-pay assistance and PrEP access, and a Harm Reduction Program offering syringe exchange and overdose prevention services across multiple LA County sites.

Product overview

Being Alive is a nonprofit organization offering a unified portfolio of HIV/AIDS wellness and support services, not a software platform. Its core offerings include the Wellness Center (acupuncture, chiropractic, Facial Rejuvenation), Support Groups (Queen Bees, Friday Night Lite), the AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP) for medication co-pay assistance and PrEP access, Mental Health Psychotherapy with LGBT-affirmative counseling, Harm Reduction Program with syringe exchange services, Social & Recreational Activities (ceramics studio, event tickets, field trips), and Medical Updates. Services are free or very low cost to members and are accessed through a membership intake process.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Wellness Center Wellness services including acupuncture, chiropractic care, and a Facial Rejuvenation Program offering Sculptra treatments at low or no cost to members living with HIV/AIDS, along with peer services and referral assistance for medications, STI information, and legal referrals.
• Support Groups Peer-to-peer support groups including Queen Bees (HIV+ women), Friday Night Lite, and CMA Meeting, offered as peer-led, staff-facilitated, or therapist-led sessions for people living with HIV/AIDS.
• AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP) Co-pay assistance for HIV and related medications for uninsured or underinsured HIV+ individuals with income eligibility from under 138% to under 500% of the Federal Poverty Level, including full medical/dental/vision for self-employed or gig-economy workers, PrEP access, and employer-based insurance program enrollment.
• Mental Health Psychotherapy Program Therapist-supervised counseling program offering trainee and associate level counseling extensively trained in HIV, providing Dignity Plus LGBT-affirmative specialization therapy with a goal of no waiting list and same-day crisis management.
• Harm Reduction Program Syringe exchange services offering free sterile needles, safe disposal, overdose treatment and education, HIV testing, condoms, PrEP resources, and referrals to mental health and substance use disorder treatment including Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT).
• Social & Recreational Activities Ceramics studio access, free tickets to events at Hollywood Bowl, Disney Hall, LA Ballet, Outfest, and Geffen Playhouse, field trips, Holiday Party, and virtual educational activities for members.
• Medical Updates Educational presentations hosted by pharmaceutical companies and annual updates from the Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections to keep clients informed of current HIV treatments and research advances.

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Gracelight Community HealthminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner health organization indicated by logo presence. Gracelight Community Health operates community health centers in Los Angeles.
• Minority AIDS ProjectcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCommunity partner location for harm reduction services. Being Alive provides harm reduction services at the Minority AIDS Project site on Wednesdays 10am-3pm at 5149 W Jefferson Blvd.
• Out of the ClosetcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCommunity partner location for harm reduction services. Being Alive provides harm reduction services at the Out of the Closet location on Tuesdays and Fridays 11am-4pm at 4905 Hollywood Blvd.
• APAITcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCommunity partner location for harm reduction services. Being Alive provides harm reduction services at the APAIT site in Koreatown on Thursdays at 3055 Wilshire Blvd.
• Substance Abuse Prevention and Control (SAPC)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartial funder as indicated by logo presence on website. SAPC is part of LA County Department of Public Health focused on substance abuse prevention.
• Local Universities Master's in Clinical Psychology ProgramscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBeing Alive maintains a joint association with local universities' master's in clinical psychology programs. Therapist trainees and post-graduate interns provide mental health services under supervision, providing training opportunities while delivering care to clients.
• Various Pharmaceutical CompaniesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPharmaceutical companies provide lunch or dinner for participants and medical professionals at educational presentations and medical update events hosted by Being Alive.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• AIDS Healthcare Foundation: Large global HIV/AIDS care and advocacy organization (parent of Out of the Closet) offering treatment, testing and pharmacy; overlaps broadly but at far greater scale than Being Alive.
• Los Angeles LGBT Center: Large LA nonprofit offering HIV services, mental health, and LGBTQ wellness programs; overlaps in services and geography but with much wider programmatic scope.

Regional players

• San Francisco AIDS Foundation: California HIV nonprofit offering harm reduction, testing and wellness services in a comparable model, but serving the Bay Area rather than LA.
• Gay Men's Health Crisis (GMHC): Longstanding HIV/AIDS support, counseling and advocacy nonprofit with a peer-rooted history similar to Being Alive, but based in New York.
• Project Angel Food: LA nonprofit serving people with HIV and serious illness through wellness support; comparable community-support mission but focused on medically tailored meals.

Direct peers

• Minority AIDS Project: LA community organization offering HIV prevention, harm reduction and support services; a partner and direct peer serving overlapping populations.
• APLA Health: Los Angeles nonprofit providing HIV/AIDS services, health care, and support programs; directly comparable in mission, geography, and PLWH-focused service model.
• Being Alive San Diego: Peer-based HIV wellness and support nonprofit with nearly identical name and model, serving PLWH in San Diego rather than Los Angeles.
• APAIT (Special Service for Groups): LA-based nonprofit providing HIV services, harm reduction and behavioral health to marginalized communities; an actual partner site and directly comparable service provider.

Others

• Homeless Health Care Los Angeles: LA nonprofit operating syringe exchange and harm reduction/substance use programs; overlaps specifically on the harm reduction service line rather than full HIV wellness.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/beingalive1986
• Facebookfacebook.com/BeingAliveLA
• Instagraminstagram.com/beingalive_la
• TikToktiktok.com/@beingalive_la
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/being-alive-people-with-aids-action-coalition-inc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 Being Alive