SAVE THE DATE! HIV 101 Training on May 16, 2013, 8 a.m.-Noon, at Trinity Commons (Room C/D). Space is limited. Preference will be given to those attending ODH HIV Testing Trainings. To RSVP, contact Melissa Federman at 216-781-2944 x440 or mfederman@CommunitySolutions.com.
AIDS FUNDING COLLABORATIVE RELEASES RFA FOR AMERICORPS HOST AGENCIES
The AFC has been selected as an operating site for the AIDS United AmeriCorps program for 2013. The new program will bring five AmeriCorps service members to the Cleveland area to engage in HIV/AIDS prevention and care work during their 11-month service commitment, beginning in August, 2013.
Recruitment of service members began January 1, 2013, and the AFC is receiving applications via AIDS United through May. For those interested in applying, the program appplications for members can be found here; search for "health" and "Ohio" to be directed to the specific AIDS United AmeriCorps program.
Host agencies are now also being recruited through an RFP process to house AmeriCorps service members. The deadline for submission is Noon on Friday, April 26, 2013. Click here for details.
Please contact Lindsay Marcus at lmarcus@CommunitySolutions.com or 216-781-2944 with questions about the program.
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Highlights from the AFC's 2013 Annual Community Briefing may be found here.
The AFC's 2011 Annual Report is available here. The 2010 Annual Report is available here.
Information about the AFC-commissioned evaluation of the K-12 Responsible Sexual Behavior Initiative in the Cleveland Metropolitan School District (CMSD) for the 2010-2011 school year can be found here.
Mission Statement
The AIDS Funding Collaborative (AFC) strengthens the community's response to HIV/AIDS as a public/private partnership providing coordination, leadership, and funding in Greater Cleveland.
The AFC is one of 30 Community Partnerships of AIDS United. The primary function of Community Partnerships is to raise, leverage, and invest resources in local HIV/AIDS programs. Community Partnerships like the AFC also serve as conveners, technical assistance providers, community builders, and policy advocates.
Since its inception the AFC has secured over $8 million to support HIV/AIDS-related services, activities, and prevention efforts in the Greater Cleveland region.
Structure and Role
The AFC is comprised of representatives of our funding partners, designated organizations, and community-at-large members. In carrying out its work, the AFC is mindful of core values and strategic commitments that reflect its members' intentions regarding the role, responsibilities, and range of activities most suited to fulfilling the AFC's mission.
The AFC’s traditional role has been to provide a structure for allocating and distributing community-based funding from local public and private funding partners. Since 2005, when the AFC hired its first full-time staff person, the AFC has engaged in an expanded range of activities. The AFC aims not only to continue to fill gaps in funding for essential HIV/AIDS-related programs and services in our region, but also to raise awareness about the impact of HIV/AIDS in our community, and encourage support of coordinated prevention efforts and high quality services for those affected by and at-risk for HIV/AIDS.
The AFC participates in community advisory and planning groups and works in collaboration with agencies whose activities and interests overlap with those related to the AFC’s mission. The AFC also leads community initiatives and hosts educational forums and briefings as topics for such events emerge.
AFC History
The AFC was established in the Fall of 1994 in response to a recommendation by the Citizens' Committee on HIV/AIDS to develop a "method of allocating and distributing community-based funding from local government, health departments, and the private sector." For its first ten years, the AFC was housed at United Way of Greater Cleveland (formerly United Way Services) and carried out its work with generous in-kind staff support from United Way and The Cleveland Foundation, through the volunteer efforts of its members, and using staff consultants.
In 2004, the AFC began a strategic planning process to address questions about its future direction, structure, governance, management, and grantmaking. That process resulted in a decision to expand the AFC's role to include not only grantmaking, but also advocacy and community leadership activities. In order to carry out this new level of programming, the AFC formed a new partnership with The Center for Community Solutions in September 2005 aimed at raising the visibility of HIV/AIDS in Greater Cleveland and attracting new forms of support to the cause of prevention, intervention, and service. In November 2005 the AFC hired director Laureen Tews Harbert as its first full-time staff person. The AFC is located within The Center for Community Solutions, which provides fiscal and administrative oversight.
The AFC is a Community Partnership of AIDS United. There are approximately 30 NAF Community Partnerships throughout the country. The AFC was one of the original eight and Cleveland’s philanthropic community played a central role in the development of this national Community AIDS Partnership model. An article in the December, 2008, issue of Planning & Action describes this history in more detail.
To learn more about our work, please feel welcome to contact Melissa Federman, director of the AFC, mfederman@CommunitySolutions.com.