Greater Community AIDS Project of East Central Illinois

What Greater Community AIDS Project of East Central Illinois does

Greater Community AIDS Project of East Central Illinois (GCAP) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization headquartered in Champaign, Illinois, founded in August 1985 by members of Champaign-Urbana's local gay community in response to the AIDS crisis. The organization provides direct support services to individuals and families living with HIV/AIDS across East Central Illinois, operating a comprehensive suite of programs including transitional housing (Champaign House), emergency housing/motel assistance, short-term housing assistance, health assistance, transportation assistance, nutrition assistance (including cooking classes in partnership with University of Illinois Extension), perinatal/infant support, HIV education and outreach, case management, and emergency financial assistance.

The organization holds and curates AIDS Memorial Quilt panels from Central Illinois and, in 2025, co-launched the 'Sewn in Memory' community-curated exhibit with Spurlock Museum (UIUC), History Harvest, and Illinois Public Media. GCAP operates with a 1-10 employee structure led by Executive Director Darya Shahgheibi and a volunteer board of directors.

The revenue model is donation-based with no fees charged to clients; GCAP relies on tax-deductible donations from community members, annual fundraising events (Artists Against AIDS benefit, Holiday Gala, 40th Anniversary Celebration, 5K Walk/Run), and an active social media presence (Facebook, X, Instagram, LinkedIn) for awareness and donor acquisition. Services are delivered directly to clients and through referrals from regional healthcare and social service providers.

Name

Greater Community AIDS Project of East Central Illinois

Legal name

Greater Community AIDS Project of East Central Illinois

Website

https://gcapnow.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1985

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Greater Community AIDS Project of East Central Illinois (GCAP) is a Champaign, Illinois-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1985 that provides housing, case management, financial, nutrition, transportation, and educational support services to individuals and families living with HIV/AIDS across East Central Illinois.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Champaign

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, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: The organization relies on tax-deductible donations from community members to support its various programs including housing assistance, emergency financial assistance, and support services for individuals living with HIV/AIDS.
2. Fundraising Events: GCAP hosts annual fundraising events including an annual Artists Against AIDS benefit, Holiday Gala, 40th Anniversary Celebration, and 5K Walk/Run events to generate revenue for operations and programs.

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Greater Community AIDS Project of East Central Illinois (GCAP) is a nonprofit organization that delivers direct support services to individuals and families living with HIV/AIDS in East Central Illinois. Its core offerings include transitional housing through Champaign House, emergency housing/motel assistance, short-term rental and utility assistance, case management, emergency financial assistance, nutrition support with food vouchers and cooking classes, transportation assistance, perinatal/infant assistance, and HIV education and outreach. All services are provided at no cost to eligible clients.

Product overview

Greater Community AIDS Project of East Central Illinois (GCAP) is a community service organization offering a comprehensive suite of support programs for individuals living with HIV/AIDS. The organization operates as a single unified service offering rather than a platform architecture. Core programs include transitional housing (Champaign House), emergency housing/motel assistance, short-term housing assistance, health assistance, transportation assistance, nutrition assistance with cooking classes, perinatal/infant assistance, HIV education and outreach, case management services, emergency financial assistance, and volunteer opportunities. The Sewn in Memory program maintains and displays AIDS Memorial Quilt panels commemorating those lost to the disease.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Champaign House Transitional housing program for individuals living with HIV that provides a safe and supportive environment to help residents move towards permanent housing solutions. Clients receive case management, access to an onsite food pantry, and transportation services.
• Emergency Housing/Motel Assistance Emergency Shelter Voucher Motel Program providing up to two weeks of temporary housing assistance to individuals living with HIV/AIDS or at risk who are experiencing homelessness.
• Short-Term Housing Assistance Program that prevents homelessness by offering emergency, short-term assistance with past due rent, mortgage, utilities, and essential housing supplies for individuals living with HIV/AIDS.
• Health Assistance Program supporting the health of individuals living with HIV/AIDS, helping them reach or maintain an undetectable viral load by providing assistance with past-due medical bills, co-pays, prescriptions, and other necessities.
• Transportation Assistance Program assisting individuals living with HIV/AIDS with access to transportation including annual bus passes, Uber rides for medical appointments, and volunteer-assisted transportation.
• Nutrition Assistance Program supporting individuals living with HIV/AIDS with cooking classes (partnering with University of Illinois Extension) and $50 Walmart charitable food vouchers for nutritious groceries.
• Perinatal/Infant Assistance Program providing support to pregnant women including those living with HIV, offering formula, diapers, essential baby items, parenting resources, and assistance with critical needs.
• HIV Education and Outreach Educational sessions and outreach services on HIV prevention and care, empowering individuals and communities with knowledge and support.
• Case Management Services Professional case management providing emotional support and guidance to help individuals navigate the challenges of living with HIV/AIDS.
• Emergency Financial Assistance Financial assistance program offering immediate support to cover essential expenses, helping to alleviate financial burdens during times of crisis for individuals living with HIV/AIDS.
• Sewn in Memory Exhibit Community-curated exhibit of AIDS Memorial Quilt panels from Central Illinois created in collaboration with Spurlock Museum, History Harvest, and Illinois Public Media. Features panels commemorating individuals who died of AIDS.

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Spurlock Museum (UIUC)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025GCAP collaborates with Spurlock Museum as co-creators of the Sewn in Memory exhibit featuring AIDS Memorial Quilt panels from Central Illinois. GCAP holds the panels and assists in exhibit research and creation. The partnership commemorates 40 years since the first cases of HIV/AIDS and preserves the stories of those lost to the disease.
• History Harvest (UIUC)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025History Harvest, a course at UIUC that gathers historical stories and documents from local communities, collaborated on the Sewn in Memory exhibit, bringing student voices and community engagement to the project.
• Illinois Public Media (WILL)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Illinois Public Media (WILL) is working with UIUC Journalism students to create documentary films about the AIDS Memorial Quilt panels featured in the Sewn in Memory exhibit.
• University of Illinois ExtensioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGCAP partners with the University of Illinois Extension to offer cooking classes for individuals living with HIV and their family members as part of the Nutrition Assistance program, promoting healthy eating habits and food literacy.
• National AIDS MemorialminorOthersThe National AIDS Memorial became the permanent caretaker and steward of the AIDS Memorial Quilt in 2019. GCAP holds quilt panels from Central Illinois that are part of this larger memorial. The quilt comprises nearly 50,000 panels commemorating 105,000 individuals who lost their lives to AIDS.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Chicago House and Social Service Agency: Chicago-based nonprofit providing housing, case management, and supportive services for people living with HIV/AIDS — directly comparable to GCAP's Champaign House transitional housing and case management programs, and a former employer of GCAP's current Case Manager.
• TPAN (Test Positive Aware Network): Chicago-based nonprofit offering HIV/AIDS case management, mental health services, and peer-led support programs — directly comparable peer serving a similar client population with overlapping supportive service categories.
• Cascade AIDS Project: Oregon and Southwest Washington-based HIV/AIDS services, housing, and education nonprofit — directly comparable in scope and program mix (housing, case management, food/nutrition, HIV education) but serving a larger Pacific Northwest region.

Broad incumbents

• AIDS Foundation of Chicago: Major Chicago-based HIV/AIDS services and advocacy organization providing housing, case management, and policy leadership across Illinois — directly comparable to GCAP's wraparound HIV support model but operating at a far larger regional scale.
• Howard Brown Health: Chicago-based LGBTQ-focused community health organization providing HIV/AIDS medical care, housing, and supportive services — comparable mission overlap with GCAP's HIV/AIDS and LGBTQ+ community roots, though operating as a larger multi-site federally qualified health center.
• Whitman-Walker Health: Washington DC-based community health organization providing HIV/AIDS care, housing support, and legal services — directly comparable mission to GCAP with a similar focus on LGBTQ+ community roots and wraparound HIV services.
• San Francisco AIDS Foundation: One of the largest community-based HIV/AIDS service organizations in the US, offering housing, financial assistance, case management, and HIV prevention — comparable mission and program mix but operating at a much larger urban scale than GCAP.
• APLA Health: Los Angeles-based nonprofit providing HIV/AIDS medical care, housing, behavioral health, and supportive services — comparable wraparound service model and HIV-focused mission though operating at significantly larger scale.
• AIDS Resource Center of Wisconsin (Vivent Health): Multi-state HIV/AIDS medical home and social services organization offering primary care, housing, case management, and pharmacy — comparable integrated services model though serving a multi-state footprint rather than a single rural region.

Others

• National AIDS Memorial: National nonprofit steward of the AIDS Memorial Quilt and partner of GCAP on the Sewn in Memory exhibit — comparable HIV/AIDS remembrance mission and a direct ecosystem partner rather than a service-delivery competitor.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/gcapnow
• Facebookfacebook.com/gcapnow
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/gcapnow
• Instagraminstagram.com/gcapnow

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Greater Community AIDS Project of East Central Illinois