Our Impact

Our annual report highlights the progress we’ve made, the lives we’ve transformed, and the lasting difference our work is making around the world. Together, we can and will move to a world where everyone can get the HIV care they need so that we can finally end AIDS for all.

We are enormously proud of what we achieved in 2023 and the impact we’ve had on the lives of people in every corner of the world. As the result of our network of generous donors, supporters, and partners we were able to fund 102 innovative programs across four continents and approved 56 new grants to the value of over $21 million – the highest amount we have ever awarded in one year.   2023 also marked the public launch of The Rocket Fund, our $125 million campaign to redouble the fight against AIDS.
 

OUR IMPACT IN 2023

• Tested over 113,000 people for HIV
• Reached over 280,000 people with lifesaving care
• Trained over 11,000 change agents and providers to improve the quality of and access to care
• Funded in 42 countries to reach those who need it most

In 2020, the Elton John AIDS Foundation awarded a grant of $997,400.00 to Population Council to expand delivery of and access to evidence based comprehensive HIV/SRH services among men who have sex with men and Transgender people in Nigeria. Stigma and discrimination is fuelling increasing HIV prevalence rates and resulting in many not knowing their status. The goals of this project were to:

• increase HIV service delivery to MSM, transgender women (TGW), and their sexual partners;
• build capacity of a local NGO to function as a one-stop-shop for HIV and STI services;
• generate evidence related to service delivery, access and stigma reduction among MSM and transgender populations;
• sensitize health care providers in spoke facilities on the needs of key populations and reduce stigma and discrimination.

In 2022, our progress towards ending AIDS by 2030 was at risk—by the world’s ongoing recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, economic and political turbulence, and war in Europe. Despite these challenges, the Elton John AIDS Foundation continued our dedicated work to realise our mission, learn from our projects, and sustain our achievements.

Our Impact in 2022

• 90,000 people reach with services
• 62,000 people tested for HIV
• 9,500 people initiated on HIV treatment

None of this would be possible without the support of our incredible donors and partners. Every grant, event ticket bought, donation made or legacy gift is what powers us in our work.

Kenya has the third largest HIV epidemic in the world, with an estimated 1.3 to 1.7 million people living with HIV as of 2020.

• 90% of Kenyans infected with HIV know their status
• 74% of those individuals were on treatment as of 2020
• 68% had a suppressed viral load
• 42% of new infections are among young people aged 15-24, up from 29% in 2013.

In response to this, in 2022, the Elton John AIDS Foundation awarded a grant of $1,015,000.00 to Zipline to increase HIV prevention, testing, and treatment amongst adolescents and young people in Western Kenya through a decentralized, de-medicalized, and differentiated service delivery model.

Over the span of three years, automated drones will deliver HIV commodities, including self-test kits, PrEP, ARVs, educational materials, and other related supplies to adolescents and young adults who live in remote areas. Once enrolled in the program, adolescents and young adults can place orders for the HIV commodities they need via community health workers, and peer educators supported by the project. Community-based organizations are trained by Zipline to promote HIV prevention and sexual health empowerment, complementing the commodity linkages they facilitate.

2021 marked 40 years since the first AIDS cases were diagnosed in North America. Since then, we have lost more than 36 million people to the disease, and families and communities around the globe have been devastated. We are proud to have led extraordinary progress that now enables 28 million people to access lifesaving HIV treatment and has led to a decline in new HIV infections in many parts of the world.

Thanks to your support we have funded more than 3,000 HIV projects in over 90 countries in that time, reaching more than 100 million people with lifesaving information and services. Our 2021 Annual Report reflects on the Foundation’s work, and you’ll hear from some of the individuals whose lives we’ve helped to change together.

Our Impact in 2021

• 882,493 people reached across all projects
• 359,586 people tested for HIV
• 87 active grants in 54 countries