For decades, the global HIV response has relied on large-scale international funding to build life-saving infrastructure, from clinics and supply chains to prevention programs. That environment is now shifting. International funding is tightening, political priorities and narratives on HIV and AIDS are changing, and the systems that supported progress are under increasing strain.

Against this backdrop, and as our most recent five-year strategic period concludes, we have reviewed where the Foundation can have the greatest impact. We are proud to have supported thousands of programs and reached millions of people across over 100 countries. But we cannot meaningfully fill the widening gaps in the global response left by the significant reduction in bilateral funding. To keep advancing our mission in this time of such urgency, we must focus our resources on investments with the potential for transformative change.

Over the last 34 years, the Elton John AIDS Foundation has consistently backed promising ideas early, built bridges between innovation and access, and helped solutions reach people most at risk. Our review of the past five years confirms that we are most effective when we act as a catalytic force, spotting potential others miss, investing early in bold ideas, and creating partnerships that enable programs to grow and deliver at scale.

For our next strategic period, the Foundation will double down on this area of work, concentrating on a small selection of high-impact opportunities that can drive systemic change, influence policy, and reach people at scale. We will continue to work in the U.S. and U.K., where we were founded and where leadership remains essential to global progress; in Africa, where the burden of HIV/AIDS remains highest; and in Eastern Europe and Central Asia, the only region in the world where AIDS-related deaths are rising.

To identify the approaches with the greatest potential, we will assess emerging technologies, care-delivery models, financing options, and non-traditional partners, building systems and services designed to reach millions of people. We will work closely with funded partners across multi-year investments to test, learn, improve, and embed what works.

This shift will require changes to our organizational structure, affecting some roles and dedicated colleagues.

“Over the past 34 years, our strength has come from adapting to changing realities: from palliative care to antiretroviral treatment, and from self-testing to PrEP. That ability to evolve is what has enabled us to make a meaningful difference in people’s lives. With global funding under pressure and the world becoming more complex, we must adapt once again to focus on where we can make the biggest difference." Anne Aslett, CEO

“Our mission remains unchanged; Elton and I are as committed as ever to ending AIDS and supporting the communities we serve. This evolution is about focusing our energy where it matters most, helping people access care, live with dignity, and build a future where HIV is no longer a barrier to a healthy life. It reflects our responsibility to align our model with today’s realities, while remaining effective, relevant, and ambitious for the communities we serve.” David Furnish, Chair