Harm Reduction Futures Fund

AIDS United, in partnership with the U.S. People Living with HIV Caucus and the Center for Health Law and Policy Innovation at Harvard University, organizes AIDSWatch, the nation’s largest and oldest constituent-led national HIV advocacy event. Recognizing that ending the HIV epidemic cannot be accomplished solely through federal action, AIDS United developed AIDSWatch@Home to support state-based advocacy. This initiative equips community organizations with tools and training to conduct local policy advocacy, which has become increasingly necessary as state legislatures introduce restrictive policies targeting LGBTQ+ rights and HIV-related services, while federal resources decline. Through the AIDSWatch@Home program, AIDS United is soliciting applications from community-based organizations and coalitions to host branded state-level AIDSWatch@Home advocacy events. For the 2025–2026 grant period, AIDS United will fund up to eight organizations, each receiving a grant of up to $15,000. These funds are designated to support planning, hosting, and follow-up activities related to state legislative advocacy events scheduled during the state legislative session, with events to be conducted no later than November 2026. Grantees will also receive technical assistance from AIDS United throughout the grant cycle, including monthly check-ins, event planning support, and opportunities to network with peer organizations through webinars. Applicants must be nonprofit organizations with 501(c)(3) status or have a fiscal sponsor that meets IRS requirements. Organizations with only 501(c)(4) status are not eligible, though those holding both designations may apply under their 501(c)(3). Applicants must operate within the United States, including all states, the District of Columbia, U.S. territories, and tribal lands. Organizations must demonstrate financial stability and compliance with prior AIDS United grant requirements, if applicable. Both current and first-time grantees are eligible. The AIDSWatch@Home program requires grantees to integrate intersectionality and social justice frameworks into their work. Funded organizations are expected to recognize how racism, homophobia, and HIV stigma intersect to create systemic barriers to health care and advocacy. Projects must also incorporate the meaningful involvement of people living with HIV (MIPA), ensuring community voices guide decision-making at every level. Applicants are encouraged to consult existing resources, such as the Black AIDS Institute’s “We the People Report” and HIV Racial Justice Now!’s “Declaration of Liberation,” to strengthen their proposals. Recipients must comply with detailed reporting requirements, including event attendance data, participant demographics, social media reach, number of legislative contacts, advocacy outcomes, and follow-up plans. AIDS United will provide technical assistance to facilitate data collection and evaluation. Organizations must also participate in required technical assistance activities, including planning calls, monthly check-ins, a year-end webinar, and a post-event debrief with AIDS United. The application opens on September 8, 2025, and closes on October 6, 2025, at 6:00 p.m. Eastern Time. Applicants will be notified of funding decisions on November 24, 2025. The grant period runs from December 1, 2025, through November 30, 2026. Funds may not be used for medication purchases, direct medical costs, clinical research, pharmaceutical promotion, lobbying, deficits, or discriminatory activities. Organizations from all U.S. jurisdictions are eligible, provided they meet nonprofit and programmatic requirements.

Applicants should demonstrate intersectionality and MIPA frameworks; consult recommended HIV racial justice resources.