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AIDS Healthcare Foundation

Annual Giving
$17.5M
Grant Range
$5K - $0.2M

AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF)

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $17,456,629 (2023)
  • Grant Range: Estimated $5,000 - $200,000+ (varies by program)
  • Total Grants Awarded: 135 grants (2023)
  • Geographic Focus: International - 45 countries across Africa, Asia, Latin America, Caribbean, Europe, and North America
  • Organization Type: 501(c)(3) nonprofit healthcare provider and grant-maker
  • EIN: 95-4112121

Contact Details

Main Organization:

Grant-Related Contacts:

  • AHF Africa Fund: [email protected]
  • Communications: [email protected]

Overview

AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF), founded in 1987, is the world's largest HIV/AIDS healthcare organization and provider. With total assets exceeding $684 million and annual revenues of over $1.3 billion (2023), AHF operates approximately 400 clinics, 69 outpatient healthcare centers, 62 pharmacies, and 22 Out of the Closet thrift stores across 16 U.S. states and 49 countries worldwide. The organization provides medical care and services to more than 1.75 million clients globally.

AHF's mission, as articulated by President Michael Weinstein, is to provide "cutting-edge medicine and advocacy regardless of ability to pay." While primarily a direct service provider, AHF established the AHF Fund in 2012 to support smaller HIV/AIDS community service organizations globally. As of October 2023, the AHF Fund has funded over 1,000 projects across five continents with grants totaling over $27 million. In recent years, AHF has expanded its focus beyond HIV/AIDS to include housing advocacy, food security, pandemic response, and tuberculosis prevention.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

AHF Fund (Core Program)

  • Small to medium-sized grants to community-based organizations
  • Focus on short-term project funding
  • Average grant size approximately $25,000 (based on 120 grants totaling $3 million in recent program year)
  • Has funded over 1,000 projects across five continents since 2012

AHF Africa Fund

  • Specifically targets grassroots community organizations in Africa
  • Supports innovative advocacy and treatment ideas with ongoing impact
  • Application process includes eligibility quiz
  • RFP cycle: Annual (2025 applications closed; 2026 expected later in year)
  • Organizations outside Africa should contact [email protected]

Emergency Relief Grants

  • Activated during crises (e.g., 215 emergency COVID-19 grants in 2020)
  • Provides fast, accessible relief to community-based organizations
  • Supports urgent needs such as food distribution, hygiene products, and essential services

Strategic Partnership Investment

  • Invested $20 million in partner organizations for testing and vital services
  • Supports organizations in 31 Global Fund-supported countries
  • Long-term capacity building for service delivery

Priority Areas

AHF Fund grants support organizations whose activities advance:

  1. HIV/AIDS Awareness, Prevention, and Treatment

    • HIV testing and linkage to treatment
    • Prevention services including PrEP access
    • Awareness campaigns and community education

  2. Tuberculosis Prevention and Treatment

    • TB screening in HIV clinics
    • Prevention and treatment of HIV/TB co-infection
    • Community education on TB risks for people living with HIV

  3. STI and Hepatitis C Prevention and Care

    • Testing and treatment access
    • Transmission prevention programs

  4. Stigma and Discrimination Reduction

    • Community-based programs fighting HIV-related stigma
    • Support for marginalized populations

  5. Advocacy and Policy Change

    • Programs advocating for beneficial policies
    • Community mobilization and organizing
    • Access to affordable medications

  6. Income Generation and Food Security

    • Agricultural initiatives for people living with HIV
    • Food distribution programs
    • Economic empowerment projects

What They Don't Fund

While not explicitly stated in available materials, AHF's focus indicates they likely do not fund:

  • Research-focused projects (they are a service delivery organization)
  • Capital projects or major infrastructure
  • Programs outside their priority health areas
  • Organizations outside their geographic focus areas (primarily Global Fund-supported countries)
  • Projects not aligned with HIV/AIDS, TB, STI, or Hepatitis C work

Governance and Leadership

Executive Leadership

  • Michael Weinstein – President and Co-founder (since 1987)

    • Quote: "Given the Global Fund's outstanding track record of saving lives around the world, the pledge was one of the best investments donors can make in global health."

  • Peter Reis – Senior Vice President

  • Lyle Honig Mojica – Chief Financial Officer

  • Dr. Carl Millner – Chief Medical Officer

  • Laura Boudreau – Chief of Operations/Risk Management and Quality Improvement

  • Tom Myers – Chief of Public Affairs and General Counsel

  • Terri Ford – Chief of Global Advocacy and Policy

Board of Directors

  • Cynthia Davis – Board Chair (joined 1988)
  • Curley Bonds – Board Vice Chair, Domestic (Professor and Chair of Psychiatry, Charles Drew University)
  • Dr. Rodney L. Wright – Vice Chair, Domestic
  • Steve L. Carlton, Esq. – Treasurer
  • Scott Galvin – Board Member
  • Albert Ruiz – Board Member (advocate since 1987)
  • Dr. Stephen Karau – Board Member (joined 2017, founder of AHF Kenya)

Organizational Values

AHF maintains "zero tolerance for fraud, corruption, and financial mismanagement" in all funded projects and partnerships.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

AHF Africa Fund (Most Structured Process):

  1. Complete eligibility quiz on www.aidshealth.org/africafund/
  2. If eligible, invitation to submit full application
  3. Applications accepted during annual RFP cycle
  4. Organizations outside Africa must email [email protected] first

Other Grant Programs: AHF does not maintain a public, open application process for most grant-making activities. Grants appear to be awarded through:

  • Direct partnerships with organizations in countries where AHF operates
  • Strategic identification of organizations by AHF's global advocacy team
  • Emergency response programs activated during crises
  • Relationship-building with local stakeholders including ministries of health and NGOs

Getting on Their Radar

For African Organizations:

  • Monitor www.aidshealth.org/africafund/ for annual RFP announcements
  • Download FAQs from their Dropbox to understand eligibility requirements
  • Complete eligibility quiz when applications open (typically late in calendar year)

For Organizations in AHF's 31 Global Fund-Supported Countries:

  • AHF works in partnership with local stakeholders including ministries of health and non-government organizations
  • Connect with AHF regional offices or bureau chiefs in Africa, Latin America, Caribbean, Asia, and Europe
  • Organizations already working in HIV/AIDS service delivery in these regions are most likely to be identified

For U.S.-Based Organizations:

  • While AHF has significant U.S. presence, grant-making appears more focused internationally
  • Emergency relief grants have been provided domestically during crises (e.g., COVID-19)
  • Contact communications team at [email protected] to inquire about partnership opportunities

Decision Timeline

Specific timelines are not publicly documented. Based on available information:

  • AHF Africa Fund: Annual cycle with RFP released late in year; organizations invited to apply receive responses "soon" (within weeks to months)
  • Emergency grants: Fast turnaround during crisis response (weeks)
  • General grant-making: No standard timeline published

Success Rates

Success rate data is not publicly available. However:

  • AHF awarded 135 grants in 2023 (down from 452 in 2020)
  • The fund has supported over 1,000 projects since 2012
  • Emergency programs reached 214-215 organizations during COVID-19 crisis

Reapplication Policy

No formal reapplication policy is publicly documented. However:

  • Organizations like Suruwat in Nepal have received recurring support since 2016
  • This suggests successful grantees can receive ongoing funding
  • Multi-year relationships appear possible for high-performing partners

Application Success Factors

Key Success Factors Based on AHF's Priorities

1. Geographic Alignment

  • Organizations in Africa, Latin America, Caribbean, Asia, and Europe where AHF operates have strongest chance
  • Must be in or connected to one of AHF's 31 Global Fund-supported countries for most programs

2. Focus on Direct Service Delivery

  • AHF values "innovative advocacy and treatment ideas that are likely to have an ongoing impact"
  • Income-generating projects that support people living with HIV (like Suruwat's agricultural initiative)
  • Programs that directly reduce transmission, improve testing, or expand treatment access

3. Community-Based Approach

  • Grassroots organizations with deep community connections
  • Programs addressing food insecurity, hygiene needs, and daily necessities for vulnerable populations
  • Organizations fighting stigma and discrimination at community level

4. Sustainability and Impact

  • Projects with potential for "ongoing impact" beyond grant period
  • Programs that cut costs for beneficiaries (e.g., Suruwat's farming reduced food costs by one-third)
  • Measurable outcomes in testing, treatment linkage, or community reach

5. Partnership Capacity

  • Ability to work synergistically with AHF's clinical operations
  • Organizations that complement rather than duplicate AHF services
  • Demonstrated track record in HIV/AIDS work (though emerging organizations supported)

6. Financial Integrity

  • Strong financial management systems (AHF has "zero tolerance for fraud, corruption, and financial mismanagement")
  • Transparency in budget and reporting
  • Realistic project budgets appropriate to organization size

Example of Funded Project

Suruwat (Nepal) - Receiving AHF Fund grants since 2016:

  • Supports people living with HIV, families, and individuals recovering from drug use
  • Income-generating agricultural initiative teaching community members to grow produce
  • Results: Cut food costs by one-third, generated income, reduced stigma
  • Eight events with 19 training sessions, agricultural supplies to 85 people living with HIV
  • Community Care Center supported nearly 1,200 people overall

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  1. AHF is primarily a service provider, secondarily a grant-maker - They operate 400 clinics globally and make grants strategically to complement their service delivery model, not as a traditional foundation.

  2. Geographic targeting is critical - Focus is on grassroots organizations in Global Fund-supported countries across Africa, Asia, Latin America, Caribbean, and Europe where AHF maintains operations. U.S.-based organizations have limited access except during emergency responses.

  3. The AHF Africa Fund offers the most accessible application process - With an annual RFP cycle and eligibility quiz system, African organizations have the clearest pathway to funding. Monitor their website late in the calendar year for 2026 opportunities.

  4. Small, impactful, and sustainable projects are favored - With an average grant around $25,000, AHF supports short-term projects that demonstrate innovation, measurable impact, and potential for ongoing benefit beyond the grant period.

  5. Relationship-based grant-making predominates - Most grants flow through existing partnerships, local stakeholder relationships, and strategic identification by AHF's global advocacy team rather than competitive open calls.

  6. Emergency response creates special opportunities - During crises like COVID-19, AHF activates rapid-response grant programs with streamlined processes (215 emergency grants in 2020), providing accessible funding for urgent community needs.

  7. Financial integrity is non-negotiable - AHF maintains "zero tolerance for fraud, corruption, and financial mismanagement." Strong financial systems and transparent reporting are essential for consideration and ongoing partnership.

References

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