Community-Rooted Funders

One of the main findings, as detailed in the recent FCAA and Elton John AIDS Foundation “Converging Epidemics: COVID-19, HIV & Inequality” report, was that HIV-related intermediary funders are best positioned to provide flexible, strategic support for the most critical needs of community members and community-led groups working at the intersection of HIV, human rights and racial justice.

The purpose of this follow-up briefing paper is to help make the case for greater investment in HIV-related intermediaries, particularly those that are community-rooted and community-led.

It explores their role, added value and impact, and key challenges and needs. It also looks at the strategic and practical considerations that donors who currently support intermediaries take into account when developing relationships with their intermediary partners.

Finally, this briefing paper also offers new benchmark data to contextualize the level of HIV-related philanthropy moving to intermediary and community-rooted funding organizations.

We hope that the case studies and insights from interviews conducted and data analyzed for this paper will encourage donors — whether public or private, large or small — to invest in community-rooted funders and/or adopt some of the community-rooted practices described within.

A series of recommendations for putting this into practice is included at the conclusion of this briefing paper.

LEARN MORE

• Read the full report.
• Share the report with this social media toolkit
• Read the individual report case studies
  • Initiative Sankofa d’Afrique de l’Ouest
  • Southern AIDS Coalition and the Contigo Fund
  • Global Network of Young People Living with HIV and Advocates for Youth
  • Red Umbrella Fund
• Read the accompanying report: Converging Epidemics: COVID-19, HIV and Inequality