About SFAF

Our Mission & History

SFAF was founded in 1982 in response to the emerging HIV and AIDS health crisis as a single volunteer telephone operated hotline. Over more than 40 years, we have innovated and expanded to sexual health and substance use services, community support, prevention, and advocacy in order to meet the growing needs of our communities.

We envision a future where health justice is achieved for all people living with or at risk for HIV. Ultimately, we strive for a day when: race is not a barrier to health and wellness; substance use is not stigmatized; HIV status does not determine quality of life; and HIV transmission is eliminated.

Who We Serve

SFAF provides services, community, and spaces for people of all ages, races, ethnicities, immigration status, HIV status, gender identity, and sexual orientation. Our priority communities are people living with HIV; gay, bisexual, and queer men; transgender and gender non-binary people; and people who inject drugs. Within these communities, we further prioritize people of color, people experiencing homelessness and unstable housing, people over age 50, people living with hepatitis C, people who use substances, and people with mental health care needs.

 

Info about HIV

More than 40 years later, the HIV epidemic continues and there is still no cure.

Number of new HIV infections per year:

  • 146 in San Francisco (2024)
  • More than 30,000 in the U.S.
  • 1.2 million worldwide

Effective HIV prevention and treatment options exist, but remain inaccessible or unaffordable to many.

PrEP is an effective way to prevent HIV, but nearly two-thirds of people in the U.S. who may benefit from PrEP have never been prescribed it.

  • Almost 1 in 8 of people in the U.S. who are living with HIV do not know it.
  • Nearly a quarter of people living with HIV in the U.S. are not receiving any HIV care.
  • More than 35% of people in the U.S. living with HIV are not virally suppressed.

HIV stigma and discrimination persists.

Many people living with HIV have experienced stigma or discrimination—in ways that affect HIV testing and use of HIV or prevention services.

Steadfast leadership in uncertain times

Despite recent attacks on public health, San Francisco AIDS Foundation has remained steadfast in advancing its mission.

As the lead plaintiff in San Francisco AIDS Foundation v. Trump, we are standing up to oppose anti-transgender and anti-DEI executive orders. In coalition with thirteen health, HIV, and LGBTQ+ organizations across the nation, we have stood up to condemn the Trump administration’s plans to defund HHS, the CDC, and other public health initiatives. Through our public policy efforts, we have advocated for millions in HIV funding at the local, state, and national levels.

We refuse to back down because our communities deserve nothing less than dignity, equity, and the right to thrive.

When funding falls short, our community helps make the difference

Political headwinds have shifted dramatically in recent years, and philanthropic giving has collapsed by $100 billion nationwide since 2021 — gutting nearly a quarter of nonprofit resources in just a few short years.

Within that larger crisis, HIV-related private funding faces even sharper cuts. In 2022, two funders alone made up 67% of all HIV institutional giving. Since 2023, overall HIV-related institutional support has dropped by 17%.

That’s why your support is not just important — it’s essential. As traditional funding streams dry up, we must arm ourselves for the tough road ahead: standing shoulder to shoulder with our community, pushing forward with bold and creative revenue strategies, and mobilizing every ally to help fortify us in this fight. Together, we will not just weather these storms — we will keep advancing, protecting, and demanding health justice for all.

Your participation benefits the HIV movement nationally and globally 

SFAF’s programs and services are models of care and prevention that have been replicated worldwide. We share our best practices and data at conferences, in published scientific research, and with collaborators from clinics and HIV care providers around the world.

Our policy and advocacy operates at the local, state, and federal levels–through national coalitions and with policy representation in Washington, D.C. Health and education resources shared by SFAF reach over 1 million online visitors around the world yearly.