Policy Structure and Principles of AIDS United’s Board of Trustees
AIDS United’s mission is to end the HIV epidemic in the United States. Our work is always guided by the voices of people living with and communities most vulnerable to HIV. AIDS United envisions a time when all people, organizations and governments commit to ending the epidemic and strengthening the health, well-being and human rights of everyone impacted by HIV. We are committed to continually understanding, engaging and listening to all voices and entities addressing the epidemic by seeking and bringing them together to help achieve our mission. Convening those many voices and organizations is a tradition and hallmark of AIDS United.
In working to achieve our mission, AIDS United is committed to honoring our responsibility to all our constituents and the trust they place in us by working deliberately, openly and with integrity.
AIDS United policy positions are guided by the Public Policy Council (PPC). AIDS United is committed to sustaining the 35-year leading advocacy role and policy positions of the PPC. The PPC is a membership body of HIV-related organizations convened and empowered to develop the public policy and advocacy agenda and positions of AIDS United. It is an integral part of AIDS United and is structurally a standing committee of our board of trustees, having at all times a board-designated co-chair.
AIDS United policy staff support the PPC and work to carry out the PPC’s agenda, positions and priorities. New members of the PPC must be approved by a majority of current members, and positions of the PPC may only be amended or overturned by a 75% majority of the AIDS United board of trustees.
Focusing always on our mission and the trust placed in our organization, the board of trustees affirms and reaffirms the following principles for AIDS United’s work and policy positions:
- Policy positions of AIDS United cannot be influenced or dictated. AIDS United is committed to working for the best interests of people living with and vulnerable to HIV. No funder, partner or commercial interest may dictate or direct any public policy position of AIDS United.AIDS United does not accept money to influence our public policy positions as a condition of award.
- Transparency. AIDS United is committed to sharing and releasing information about our funding and business to assure transparency in our activities as a public charity and not-for-profit organization.
- Conflicts of Interest and Mandatory Recusal. AIDS United is committed to fiduciary integrity.All trustees and staff of AU are required to disclose all actual and perceived conflicts of interest.Trustees are required to recuse themselves from any discussion or decision that may have a direct impact on them personally or professionally, or on any business or organization associated with them.
- No endorsements of branded products. AIDS United will not endorse any commercially branded product including treatments, medications, and devices for the purposes of enhancing the profits of any named brand.
- Rigorous Assessment. AIDS United is committed to science-based and evidence-based decision making. AIDS United seeks to institute rigorous assessment and analysis prior to making a decision or taking a public position or stand and to communicate accurately about scientific evidence.
- Diversity. AIDS United is committed to engaging and respecting the diversity of perspectives and roles of individuals living with and vulnerable to HIV, and of advocacy groups, funders, faith groups, corporations and foundations, and national, regional and community-based organizations needed to help achieve AIDS United’s mission. AIDS United seeks to embody that diversity on our board of trustees, in our Public Policy Council, in our staff and consultants, and among our funders, partners and grantees.
- Communicating to our constituents. AIDS United is committed to communicating the policy positions of the PPC with our many constituents to promote awareness and build broad stakeholders’ support and engagement with us in ending the epidemic.
Endorsed by the AIDS United Board of Trustees, October 4, 2019
