FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
AIDS United, The Collective Good and Gilead Relaunch the Sector Transformation Initiative to Strengthen the HIV Sector
April 14, 2025, Washington, D.C. —AIDS United (AU), in partnership with The Collective Good (TCG) and with generous support from GILEAD Sciences, is proud to announce the relaunch of AU’s Sector Transformation Initiative, a multi-pronged grantmaking and capacity-building program designed to strengthen the HIV services of clinical providers, community-based organizations, advocacy groups, and coalitions.
Grounded in The Collective Good’s participatory design and AIDS United’s racial justice frameworks, this initiative aims to support the HIV sector and stakeholders as they navigate the landscape of financial and sociopolitical threats to achieving health and racial equity.
“We’re thrilled to join our long-time partner and leader in the space, AIDS United, to bring this transformational program to jurisdictions across the country,” said Britt Hogue, founder and managing partner of TCG. “This place-based approach to capacity building will strengthen organizations while addressing the complexities of their local ecosystems. The program aims to change the way the sector works so that it can work best for those living with or otherwise impacted by HIV and intersecting epidemics.”
AIDS United’s Sector Transformation Initiative, which originated in 2012, supports organizations in adapting their service models, forming strategic partnerships, and strengthening their financial sustainability to address the impact of the HIV epidemic. Through this initiative, AIDS United has distributed over $1.2 million in grants and provided technical assistance to 20 states and territories, including the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico.
“Sustainability in the HIV sector requires collective action,” said Athena Cross, DrPH, Vice President and Chief Program Officer at AIDS United. “The Sector Transformation Initiative is a bold step toward strengthening the infrastructure of organizations at the forefront of the HIV response. In partnership with The Collective Good, we co-created a participatory design framework grounded in racial justice—one that supports advocacy groups, clinical providers, and community-based organizations in building resilience amid ongoing financial and political uncertainty. We’re deeply grateful to Gilead Sciences for investing in this shared vision for a stronger, more equitable future.”
Within the first year of this reimagined initiative, AIDS United and TCG will directly support three to four regional cohorts engaged in sustainability planning that will factor in financial, epidemiological, racial, and political considerations. Over the course of one year, AIDS United and TCG will guide the selected regional cohorts in mapping their long-term sustainability through the introduction of AIDS United’s and TCG’s Grow, Merge, Go, or Adapt framework. AIDS United and TCG will provide technical assistance to help organizations diversify revenue streams, reduce dependence on single-source funding, and refine their business models. Additionally, AIDS United and TCG will engage the regional cohorts in AIDS United’s Racial Justice Index to measure the organizational responsiveness of the selected jurisdictions to racial equity and participate in peer-to-peer learning sessions leveraging insights from diverse industries to inform best practices AU’s and TCG’s strong network of organizations, funders, and community leaders.
“AIDS United recognizes that long-term sustainability in the HIV sector demands both strategic adaptation and bold decision-making to create lasting impact in communities,” said Carl Baloney Jr., CEO-elect of AIDS United. “With the relaunch of our Sector Transformation Initiative — in partnership with The Collective Good and with generous support from Gilead Sciences — we are committed to collaborating with organizations to provide the tools, resources and strategic frameworks they need to build resilience and drive meaningful, transformative change.”
For more information on AIDS United’s Sector Transformation Initiative, please contact sector@aidsunited.org
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About The Collective Good: The Collective Good (TCG) helps organizations and communities navigate complexity with clarity. We connect Purpose + People, Place + Prosperity through Humanized Strategy to create meaningful, lasting change. Our work spans strategy and planning, community engagement, and culture change, ensuring that every decision reflects the humans behind it. When the path forward feels uncertain, we make it clear. Learn more at the-collective-good.com.
About AIDS United: AIDS United is committed to ending the HIV epidemic in the United States (U.S.) through strategic grantmaking, advocacy, and capacity building. Through our pillars of strategic grantmaking, capacity building, technical assistance, policy, and advocacy, AIDS United has delivered more than $160 million in direct funding and leveraged an additional $184 million to increase the capacity of communities and organizations responding to the HIV epidemic across the U.S. Our grantees and members touch communities representing more than 96 percent of today’s HIV epidemic. We have proudly supported the work of over 600 organizations across 43 states, Washington, DC, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Visit www.aidsunited.org to learn more about our work.
