The Elton John AIDS Foundation (EJAF), a leader in the global effort to end AIDS, today announced nearly $1.6 million in grants awarded in December 2017 to 26 organizations addressing the HIV/AIDS epidemic in critical and innovative ways. This final grant cycle brings EJAF’s total investments for 2017 to almost $9.5 million, and builds on the Foundation’s ongoing strategy to strengthen organizations doing essential work at local and national levels throughout the Americas and the Caribbean.

“The Elton John AIDS Foundation remains deeply committed to supporting organizations working to end the HIV/AIDS epidemic,” said EJAF Chairman David Furnish.  “At a time when HIV transmission rates remain high for vulnerable populations, and funding for programs that advance the health and human rights of people affected by HIV/AIDS is being dramatically reduced, now is as critical time as ever to continue providing resources that help meet the needs of people affected by the disease.”

In this grant-making cycle, EJAF is continuing to prioritize marginalized populations who often face significant barriers to care and resources and have a uniquely heightened risk of contracting HIV: LGBT people, Black people, HIV-positive people in the criminal justice system, sex workers, and young people in the United States and Puerto Rico, Colombia, Jamaica, and Mexico.

“We believe it’s vital to invest in organizations and leaders working to address the unique needs of the communities they serve,” said EJAF Executive Director Scott Campbell. “Whether that means bolstering support for people who use drugs in Mexico or supporting state-level advocacy efforts in the U.S. South, aggressively investing in grassroots organizations is key to achieving an AIDS-free generation.”

Grants awarded as part of this cycle include:

• Two new grants in Mexico that support HIV prevention, treatment access, and general health for people who use drugs in Tijuana, Mexico, and fund HIV-related peer support among women in Mexico City and Oaxaca.
• One new grant in the Caribbean toward organizational development and capacity building for at-risk youth in Jamaica and the Dominican Republic.
• Five new grants for state-level advocacy in Alabama, Florida, New Jersey, New York, and Tennessee to advance state policies and funding related to health care access and human rights.
• Three new grants for national efforts, including a grant to the Harm Reduction Coalition to support harm reduction advocacy in multiple states. Grants will also go to the AIDS Institute and National Alliance of State and Territorial AIDS Directors for their work informing policy makers about the need and potential actions to sustain commitments for international and domestic health programs.

A complete list and descriptions of all 26 grants are posted at www.ejaf.org.