AIDS Foundation of Chicago Announces $1 Million in Grant Awards

Total Giving for the Year Reaches $1.337 Million

CHICAGO -- The AIDS Foundation of Chicago (AFC) awarded grants today to 47 Chicago-area organizations for AIDS care, prevention, education, advocacy and capacity-building projects. The AFC Board of Directors announced the recipients of $1 million in grants at a special recognition breakfast sponsored by Marshall Field's at its State Street store. The grants bring total giving by the AIDS Foundation of Chicago for this year to a record $1.337 million.

One of this year's most innovative grants will support the efforts of three AIDS organizations-Open Hand Chicago, Community Response, and the HIV Coalition (HIVCO)- to pursue a planned consolidation of the three organizations into one. The $60,000 capacity-building grant, a first in AFC's history, will help the groups offset legal and planning costs. The groups anticipate seeing long-term administrative savings and other benefits as a result of successfully completing the merger.

"The AIDS Foundation of Chicago is committed to leading the fight against AIDS in metropolitan Chicago," said Mark Ishaug, AFC's executive director. "These grants will support desperately needed AIDS prevention, care, and advocacy activities and will help strengthen community efforts against the epidemic."

AFC considered 76 funding proposals, requesting more than $2 million. A committee headed by Julio Rodriguez, AFC Board Grantmaking Chair, reviewed grant proposals and forwarded recommendations to AFC's Board of Directors, which determined the funding awards.

More than 40 percent of funds awarded will support prevention, education and risk reduction programs targeting at-risk youth, families, gay and bisexual men, injection drug users and ex-offenders. Projects such as street outreach, group interventions, and needle exchange are supported by these grants.

More than one-third of funds awarded will support direct care services for people living with HIV/AIDS. The remainder is earmarked for AIDS policy and advocacy efforts, evaluation, and for capacity-building and organizational development projects.

In addition, 55 percent of all awarded funds will support organizations that meet AFC's definition of community-based organizations serving communities of color.

Earlier in the year, AFC awarded $200,000 to eight evaluation teams working with AIDS service organizations on AFC's Evaluation for Excellence project. AFC will also award another $137,512 in grants for an intensive case management project designed to reduce mother-to-child HIV transmission.

Established in 1985, the AIDS Foundation of Chicago is the Midwest's largest source of private philanthropic support for HIV/AIDS care and prevention programs. Since it began making grants in 1988, AFC has given away more than $10.7 million to support AIDS care, prevention, education, and advocacy programs. In addition, AFC helps to coordinate the delivery of essential HIV/AIDS services, maintains a 135-member Service Providers Council, and promotes sound HIV/AIDS policy and law at the local, state and federal level.

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