Long Beach AIDS Foundation

Our Mission:

The Long Beach AIDS Foundation, Inc. (LBAF) serves as a social change agent inspiring and empowering collaborative HIV/AIDS service organizations to embrace new strategic paradigms, motivate existing infrastructures, and enhance leadership with the ultimate aim to end the spread of HIV/AIDS.

About Us:

The Long Beach AIDS Foundation, Inc., is a 501(c)3 tax-exempt charitable organization formed in 2005 upon separation from One in Long Beach at the end of 2004.  The foundation has been operating the annual AIDS Walk Long Beach now in its 22nd year as a program in addition to other HIV/AIDS educational and prevention; client assistance and outreach programs that affect the lives of our Long Beach and South Bay citizens.

The Foundation has an annual operating budget currently under $250,000 consisting of a volunteer-driven staff providing services, outreach and programs to our community. Our financial are available online for inspection at any time as required by law.  The Foundation operates with complete transparency and accountability in service to the community.  In addition to our 990 filings, our original 1023 IRS application is also available online for download.  The Foundation fully supports the IRS Transparency Guidelines that all non-profits should and must make available to the donor community in the name of the greater good for the community at large.  Public record inspect for this agency and all other bonafide non-profit agencies are also available through GuideStar at www.guidestar.org

Our Purpose:

The Foundation wishes to impact underserved communities being impacted by HIV/AIDS. The Foundation also funds AIDS Service Organizations (ASO's) that are not traditionally involved in delivery of direct services but will provide critical education and prevention materials particularly those focus on the emerging youth and adolescent population. Additional funding to ASOs are provided as direct grants and program funding from AIDS Walk Long Beach, Fundraising Events, Collaboration Programs and invitational funding.

AIDS Walk Long Beach program has raised $2.4 million dollars since 1989 benefiting these agencies.  Over 37 agencies have received funding from AIDS Walk Long Beach since the beginning. 

Our goal is to ensure that what we fund is used in direct services for the community in services, education and prevention of HIV/AIDS.  The Long Beach AIDS Foundation does not fund capital improvements, indirect overhead expense or capacity building projects.  Funds raised are given to these agencies to make real impact on the lives of those infected or affected by HIV/AIDS.

The Beneficiary Committee and Chair establishes the criteria and objectives for R.F.P. (Request for Proposals) guidelines.  These RFPs are reviewed for compliance and completion of application.  The Committee then divides up as a group and completes a site visit to the agencies to determine effectiveness of the proposal, ability for the agency to deliver the program to clients, ability to access additional funding to run the program, review any previously funded programs, learn about the staff and administration of the organization, understand the culture of the organization, determine the agency's commitment to end new HIV infections and determine other factors that are reviewed.

The Beneficiary Committee scores each of the agencies on several criteria including participation in AIDS Walk.  The recommendations of the disbursements are proposed by the Committee and recommendations are sent to the Foundation Board for approval.  Grants are distributed in two-parts.  The first installment is at the public celebrations several weeks after the Walk. The second installment is then awarded to the agencies after completing a report  advising the Foundation the progress of the funded program implementation and delivery of services.  Reports include how the funds have been spent in compliance to the grant request.  This ensures that accountability and transparency is taking place.

Annually the Foundation searches the public records of the ASO's IRS tax statements to ensure that the organization remains in compliance with state and federal guidelines on public support, responsible cost of fundraising, and other criteria that we feel ensures that the public good is being served.  We invite the public to also participate in this process by reviewing the public records through Guidestar at www.guidestar.org.  This is a free service from Guidestar but does require enrollment.

Our History:

In the mid 80's Long Beach was severely impacted by AIDS in our community.  During this period, AIDS Project-Long Beach which operated independently of The Center merged its program with The Center Long Beach and in 1988 a group of volunteers formed AIDS Walk of Greater Long Beach in response to the severe impact on our community. The first AIDS Walk in Long Beach was held in February 1989. 

AIDS Walk Long Beach was modeled after AIDS Walk LA to help fund testing, medical services, medication, prevention and education programs. During the early years of the epidemic, many AIDS organization formed to serve as a resource for those needing testing, medical treatment, counseling and advocacy for funding.  AIDS Walk Long Beach was the only organization to respond to the funding crisis that existed for these smaller agencies in the early years. Very little funding came from federal, state or local government, AIDS Walk of Greater Long Beach was the only collective source of funding for many beneficiary agencies.

Recently having celebrated our 21st Anniversary of AIDS Walk Long Beach , the Foundation operates several new programs in our mission to end new HIV infections. To date the Walk has provided funding for over 36 beneficiary agencies totaling more than $ 2.4 million dollars. More than 27years later, there is still no end to AIDS in sight. The foundation has challenged our community to make a real impact into the war on new infections through effective funding of smaller agencies, effective and measurable HIV prevention programs, and continuing education outreach efforts to communities less likely to be receptive to prevent/education information.  In fact, the largest growth rates are occurring in communities who have traditionally shunned HIV/AIDS education and prevention information and among those ages, 15 to 24.

The goal to end AIDS is not realistic in the near future, however, the Foundation feels that a serious dent can be made in new HIV infections by curtailing the youth, adolescent and underserved communities from acquiring the HIV virus in the first place.  Challenging paradigms on how we reach these communities with innovative and culturally sensitive programs may be the only way to reach the UNAIDS goal of a 10% by 2010.  Agencies who have subscribed to this goal have yet to adjust their programs to meet the needs of the community and the Foundation may not always be the same side of the prevention program if we feel the message is not getting through. 

Challenging agencies to do more with less, requires agencies to depend less on government entitlement funding to achieve this goal.  The is by no means a popular stance to take in the social service sector but does provide for a paradigm shift in coming up with new and effective programs that may impact HIV in the affected communities not getting the message.  The Foundation stands firm in this commitment to innovate, impact and investigate effective programs.