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CONTEXT
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 The issue of HIV has lost some attention of the broader U.S-based philanthropic community, with only 64 cents of every US$100 awarded by U.S. foundations and charities going to HIV issues.
FCAA's recent resource tracking report also found that smaller U.S.-based funders (those funding US$300k or less) in particular reduced HIV-related grantmaking, with 58 fewer organizations reporting funding to HIV in 2013 compared to 2012
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Across the country, an increasing number of cities and states are announcing new multi-stakeholder plans to address and end their local HIV epidemics.
But what is/could/should be the role of the philanthropic sector? While only roughly 9% of the total domestic resources for prevention and social services, philanthropy has long supported critical strategies - such as advocacy - and at-risk populations - such as men who have sex with men - that are essential to addressing HIV and AIDS.
This year FCAA is introducing a new, ongoing series exploring the role of philanthropy in ending AIDS in America. The series will highlight different municipal, state, or regional approaches to ending AIDS, with a special focus on the potential role of philanthropy.
Do you live in a city or state that is considering their own plan to end AIDS? Let us know! FCAA is current in the process of scheduling the next webinar in the series. Please contact [email protected] with recommendations on where we should focus the next call.
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4 Ways Funders Can Support Plans to End AIDS
From Webinar #1: NYS Plan to End AIDS
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"Philanthropy is where we get the resources for innovation,"
Charles King, Housing Works
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1. Understand the promise and potential of the "ending AIDS" message, which represents a conceptual pivoting of the response to HIV that looks toward what can be achieved with renewed intensified efforts.
New York State, with one of the largest HIV epidemics in the US, is showing how the "ending AIDS" message is both energizing and realistic. Some facts:
- In 1993 at the height of the epidemic, 15,000 New Yorkers were newly diagnosed with HIV. In 2012, that number of new annual infections had shrunk to 3,400. The goal is to bring that number down to 700 or lower.
- Of 154,000 New Yorkers living with HIV, 44% are treated with good virus suppression. The goal is to bring that up to 80% or higher.
- New York City, with 80% of the state's epidemic, is making strong progress in reaching people with testing, treatment, care, and prevention. As of 2013, an estimated 86% of the people in NYC who are infected with HIV have been diagnosed, and among those taking HIV treatment, 69% have undetectable serum levels of the virus that causes AIDS,
2. Fund innovative programming to help communities and health organizations demonstrate what's possible in the fight against HIV. In the webinar about New York State, panelists highlighted the example of Robin Hood Foundation's funding of the Undetectables Project at Housing Works, a campaign to help over 80% of Housing Works' 1500 HIV+ clients achieve and maintain viral suppression. Webinar participants also discussed the opportunities to fund new work to improve HIV testing, surveillance, and rapid response efforts, expand delivery of PrEP, and expand access to housing.
3. Fund coalition-building and advocacy to help legislators and governments fulfill their responsibility to end the HIV epidemic. In New York, for example, the M.A.C AIDS Fund was praised for its funding of eight years of an annual policy summit on housing. Webinar participants also talked about how community activists played a crucial role, starting in 2013, in advocating to the State government to develop a plan to end AIDS.
4. Fund vital health programming when governments and communities do not (yet) have the resources or political will to act. Webinar participants highlighted the role of the Syringe Access Fund and amfAR for supporting syringe access in New York for over 20 years, and thereby helping to save lives and building life-saving programs.
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