This is the final round of funding for Gilead’s groundbreaking COMPASS program, a 10-year, more than $100 million collaboration between Gilead Sciences, Emory University Rollins School of Public Health, Southern AIDS Coalition, University of Houston Graduate College of Social Work and Wake Forest University School of Divinity.
June 17, 2024
Today, Gilead Sciences’ COMPASS Initiative® awarded $3 million in funding to 34 organizations working to address the HIV epidemic in the Southern United States as part of its 2024 Transformative Grant awards. This new investment represents the final round of funding for the COMPASS Initiative®, the company’s 10-year commitment to partner with local communities and support evidence-based solutions that meet the needs of people living with and impacted by HIV in the U.S. South.
Over a 15-month period, organizations will use the funding to help improve access to and quality of health care services for people living with HIV, increase local leadership and advocacy and change public perception of HIV in the Southern United States. This year’s awardees were chosen by the four COMPASS Coordinating Centers: Emory University Rollins School of Public Health, Southern AIDS Coalition, University of Houston Graduate College of Social Work and Wake Forest University School of Divinity.
“Ending the HIV epidemic in the United States starts in the South, which is why COMPASS grant funding is so important for national prevention efforts,” said Kia Colbert, Director, COMPASS Coordinating Center at Emory University. “As a COMPASS Coordinating Center, Emory University plays a critical role in providing capacity-building services to organizations on the frontlines of the HIV crisis. We’re looking forward to working with some of the South’s most impactful advocacy organizations to address this issue head-on.”
In 2021, the Southern United States accounted for almost half of all HIV deaths and 51% of new HIV diagnoses in the U.S., even though it is home to just over a third of the country’s population. Furthermore, communities of color account for nearly 70% of all HIV diagnoses and Black Americans share the most severe burden of HIV of all U.S. racial/ethnic groups.
To help mitigate these disparities, COMPASS has provided more than $100 million to nearly 500 organizations working to end the HIV epidemic in the region. Additionally, COMPASS has engaged nearly half a million individuals affected by HIV through its programs and services. During the final years of the program, COMPASS will continue to provide ongoing training and technical assistance as grantees work to put their findings into action, and help organizations prepare to share best practices across the United States and the globe in 2027.
“I’m thrilled to welcome this new cohort of community partners as COMPASS continues to deliver essential support to those in need,” said Dr. Shanell L. McGoy, Director of Public Affairs, Corporate Giving at Gilead Sciences “Gilead has been in the fight against HIV for over 30 years and has an unwavering commitment to supporting on-the-ground advocacy efforts that reach populations in need, reduce health disparities and educate communities. As the COMPASS Initiative® nears its 10-year culmination, we will continue providing grantees with ongoing training and technical assistance as they prepare to share best practices with communities in the U.S. and around the world.”
“In order to truly end the HIV epidemic, we must first address the profound stigma that exacerbates the spread of HIV and creates additional barriers to care,” said Kevin D. Anderson, Founding Chief Executive Officer, The T.R.U.T.H. Project. “The T.R.U.T.H. Project works to dispel HIV stigma among LGBTQ+ communities of color and this funding will help us expand our programming to reach even more individuals in Texas.”
The 2024 COMPASS Transformative Grant organizations are:
About the Gilead COMPASS Initiative
The Gilead COMPASS Initiative is a 10-year, more than $100 million commitment in the Southern United States supporting organizations working to address the HIV/AIDS epidemic. COMPASS aims to build capacity and increase knowledge sharing among community-based organizations in the South, explore interventions that respond to patients’ needs and fund awareness and anti-stigma campaigns. Through COMPASS, Gilead plans to dramatically increase the reach of organizations working to address the epidemic and ultimately to improve the lives of those affected by HIV/AIDS. To learn more, visit https://www.gileadcompass.com.
Atlanta, Georgia (November 30, 2018) – In recognition of the 30th anniversary of World AIDS Day and in support of
Our first contributors need no introduction. Well-known in their respective fields, Patrick Sullivan, PhD, DVM, Nic Carlisle, JD, and Samira
Column By: Tiffany Smith Tiffany lives in Atlanta, GA and works with the Emory COMPASS Coordinating Center. She previously worked
Column By: Tiffany Smith Tiffany lives in Atlanta, GA and works with the Emory COMPASS Coordinating Center. She previously worked
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