Frontline Aids

Charity Number: 1038860

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Quick Stats

  • Annual Income: £13.8 million (2023)
  • Decision Time: 2 weeks
  • Grant Range: Up to $15,000 USD (Rapid Response Fund)
  • Geographic Focus: International (47 countries in Africa, Asia, Caribbean, Latin America)
  • Total Rapid Response Grants Since 2016: $5.1 million across 600+ grants

Contact Details

Website: www.frontlineaids.org

Email: mail@frontlineaids.org

Phone: 01273 718900

Headquarters: Brighton, United Kingdom

Overview

Frontline AIDS (formerly International HIV/AIDS Alliance), established as charity number 1038860, is the UK-based secretariat of a global partnership working to support community-led action on HIV and AIDS. With an annual income of £13.8 million (2023), the organization works with partners in over 100 countries to tackle HIV-related human rights challenges. Their strategic approach focuses on emergency response through grant-making, technical support to national partners, global advocacy for HIV prevention, and promoting integrated healthcare approaches. The organization operates primarily through partnerships with community-led organizations in the Global South, with grant-making being a core method of achieving their charitable purposes.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Rapid Response Fund: Up to $15,000 USD per grant (rolling basis)

  • Emergency financial grants for organizations facing HIV-related human rights crises
  • Standard 12% indirect cost recovery allocated to each successful grant
  • Established in 2016, has distributed $5.1 million through 600+ grants across 45 countries
  • Rolling application basis with 2-week decision timeline

Previous Programs (now closed):

  • HIV Prevention Advocacy Grants: Up to $25,000 USD (closed 2021)

Priority Areas

Frontline AIDS recognizes 8 areas of HIV-related human rights work:

  • Stigma and discrimination reduction
  • Legal services and legal literacy
  • Training healthcare providers
  • Sensitizing lawmakers and enforcement agencies
  • Reducing discrimination against women including gender-based violence
  • Monitoring and reforming relevant laws, regulations, and policies
  • Emergency response to human rights violations
  • Integration of prevention and treatment for conditions increasing HIV risk (hepatitis C, Female Genital Schistosomiasis)

Target Populations: LGBT+ people, sex workers, and people who use drugs in emergency situations

Key 2025 Priorities:

  • Building collective resistance to anti-rights attacks
  • Promoting integration of prevention and treatment for health challenges that increase HIV risk
  • Supporting communities to fight for human rights and promote justice

What They Don't Fund

  • Humanitarian relief or direct aid for individuals (housing, food, medication)
  • Activities relating to women and girls without intersection with LGBT+ people, sex workers, or people who use drugs
  • Situations previously awarded an emergency response grant
  • Regular staff salaries (only short-term technical expertise where critical)
  • Applications from individuals (only organizations)
  • Countries outside their eligible 47-country list
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Governance and Leadership

Executive Director: John Plastow (appointed permanently in 2024)

“It has been an immense privilege to witness first-hand how Frontline AIDS works with an inspirational network of civil society organisations who are thought and practice leaders in their own contexts.”

Board of Trustees:

  • Professor Nana K Poku – Chair of the Board: Vice-Chancellor and Principal of the University of KwaZulu-Natal, one of the world's leading experts on the political economy of Africa's HIV and AIDS epidemic. On John Plastow's appointment: “We have worked closely with John over the past six months and have been hugely impressed with his leadership and his focus on strengthening the Frontline AIDS Partnership.”
  • Dr Joan Nyanyuki – Chair of the Accreditation Committee: Former medical doctor working with survivors of torture and sexual violence, transitioned into human rights and gender equality work
  • Maya Mungra – Chair of the Finance and Audit Committee: Economist and chartered accountant with over 25 years of experience in audit, finance, corporate governance, risk management and compliance
  • Pauline Hayes – Chair of the People and Reward Committee: Experienced UK public service professional, most recently with the Department for International Development
  • Abby Maxman: President and Chief Executive Officer of Oxfam USA

Director of External Relations: Lois Chingandu

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

Rapid Response Fund:

  • Online application through Frontline AIDS website
  • Only organizations can apply (not individuals)
  • Coalitions and networks can apply where there is clear need for their role
  • Organizations not required to be legally registered, but may need to provide evidence of existence and recent work

Eligibility Requirements:

  • Organization must work on HIV-related human rights issues
  • Must have implemented HIV-related human rights projects focused on marginalised communities in the last 12 months
  • Annual income must be less than $1 million USD
  • Must be based in one of the 47 eligible countries
  • Must work with LGBT+ people, sex workers, or people who use drugs

Eligible Countries (47 total): All East, Central, West, and Southern African countries, plus select countries in Caribbean, South East Asia, and Latin America. Countries selected based on high HIV burden and restricted civil society freedoms.

Required Documentation:

  • Organization registration certificate (if applicable)
  • Project reports, funding contracts, evaluation reports
  • Organization's annual report
  • Documented evidence of urgent situation
  • Referee contacts for due diligence

Decision Timeline

  • Application acknowledged immediately upon receipt
  • Decision provided within 2 weeks (processing time varies based on information provided and verification speed)
  • Due diligence checks conducted including contacting referees and in-country advisors
  • May contact applicant for further information during review

Success Rates

Specific success rate percentages are not publicly disclosed. The fund has made 600+ grants since 2016.

Reapplication Policy

  • No restrictions on number of applications an organization can make
  • Cannot normally consider new grant until existing grant is completed and reported on
  • Will not provide new grants for situations previously awarded an emergency response grant
  • Unable to provide specific feedback on why applications are unsuccessful

Common Rejection Reasons:

  • Does not meet eligibility criteria
  • Requests for ineligible items/activities
  • Misrepresentation in application
  • Incomplete application
  • Alternative responses identified (reallocation of existing funds, collaboration with other organizations)

Application Success Factors

Key Success Factors:

Budget Accuracy: “Make your budget as accurate as possible. We may ask questions about your proposed budget and you may not receive the full amount you apply for. You will be required to report against your budget so we encourage you to think carefully about the proposed activities and costs.”

Strong Documentation: Provide comprehensive supporting documentation including registration certificates, project reports, funding contracts, evaluation reports, and documented evidence of the urgent situation

Clear Emergency Context: Applications must demonstrate genuine emergency response needs related to HIV services access for marginalized populations

Due Diligence Readiness: Be prepared for thorough due diligence checks including referee contacts and in-country advisor consultation. All applications are considered on a case-by-case basis.

Organizational Capacity: Must demonstrate track record of HIV-related human rights work with marginalized communities in the last 12 months

Examples of Funded Projects:

  • Lebanon: Sensitization with religious leaders challenging negative attitudes toward HIV/AIDS and promoting acceptance for marginalised populations
  • Kenya: Emergency responses to gender-related rights violations affecting HIV service access
  • Refugee Support: Support for LGBT+ refugees facing violence, including advocacy for refugee status
  • Rapid Response: 101 grants totaling $900,000 to 76 CBOs supporting 2,000+ LGBT people responding to crises affecting HIV service access (2022)

Language and Terminology:

Frontline AIDS emphasizes:

  • “Community-led” approaches
  • “Marginalised communities” and “key populations”
  • “Human rights violations” and “emergency response”
  • “Civil society strengthening”
  • “Frontline” work and organizations

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • This is NOT a UK grant-maker: Frontline AIDS is a UK-based charity that makes grants internationally to organizations in developing countries with high HIV burden. UK organizations cannot apply.
  • Highly Specialized Focus: Only organizations working on HIV-related human rights issues with LGBT+ people, sex workers, or people who use drugs in 47 eligible countries can apply
  • Emergency Response Priority: The Rapid Response Fund specifically targets emergency situations where human rights violations are affecting access to HIV services
  • Fast Turnaround: Two-week decision timeline makes this suitable for genuine emergency situations requiring rapid funding
  • Small Grant Amounts: Maximum $15,000 USD means this is for emergency interventions, not long-term programming
  • Rolling Applications: No deadlines, applications accepted and processed on ongoing basis
  • Budget Precision Critical: Be extremely accurate in budgeting as you'll be held accountable to your proposed budget in reporting

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