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Established by Sir Elton John in 1992, the Elton
John AIDS Foundation (EJAF) is one of the world’s
leading nonprofit organizations supporting innovative
HIV prevention programs, efforts to eliminate
stigma and discrimination associated with HIV/AIDS,
and direct care and support services for people
living with HIV/AIDS. Since its founding, EJAF
has raised over $150 million to support urgently
needed programs across the US and in 55 countries
around the globe. EJAF supports its work through
proceeds from special events, cause-related marketing
projects, and voluntary contributions (large
and small) from individuals, corporations, and
foundations.
EJAF reviews and awards grants to worthy projects
in the Americas and the Caribbean. In addition,
EJAF participates in a partnership with the National
AIDS Fund (NAF) to provide challenge grants to
NAF member community organizations domestically
that must be matched two to one as an incentive
to leverage additional local support for their
work from other sources. Our sister organization
in Great Britain, EJAF-UK, focuses its grant
making on grassroots HIV prevention and care
efforts in Africa (Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, South
Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zambia), Asia (Bangladesh,
Cambodia, India, and Nepal), and Europe (UK,
Ireland, the Russian Federation, and the Ukraine).
Visit www.ejafuk.com for further information
on EJAF-UK.
EJAF regularly evaluates its grant-making priorities
within the context of the ever-changing challenges
and needs of the evolving HIV/AIDS epidemic,
targeting its grant awards where they will make
the greatest impact. This approach has clearly
resonated with our donors, and their generous
response over the past two years has enabled
us to increase EJAF’s grant making by 140%.
We have expanded not only the amount of money
given but also strategically targeted key populations
that are poorly served by current prevention
efforts and most at risk of infection including:
critically under-funded communities of the Southern
United States, the Caribbean, and Latin America;
highly marginalized populations such as injection
drug users, men who have sex with men, and incarcerated
individuals; and underserved populations such
as African Americans and young people.
EJAF focuses on supporting community-based prevention
programs, harm reduction programs, public education
to reduce the stigma of HIV/AIDS, advocacy to
improve AIDS-related public policy, and direct
services to persons living with HIV/AIDS, especially
populations with special needs. Direct services
include HIV/AIDS-related medical and mental health
treatment, testing and counseling, food distribution,
assisted living, social service coordination,
and legal aid.
The Foundation’s greatest asset and strength
is its Founder and Chairman, Sir Elton John.
No mere figurehead, Sir Elton serves as EJAF’s
chief fund-raiser – conducting benefit
concerts, meeting with major donors, foundations,
and corporations, and participating in numerous
public events – and also as a highly visible
and outspoken advocate – testifying before
Congress, appearing at press conferences, writing
editorials, and delivering speeches at events
and awards ceremonies. His status as an entertainment
icon and his many years as a dedicated AIDS activist
and philanthropist bring tremendous visibility
and credibility to EJAF’s work.
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