AIDS United—a national non-profit organization focused on ending the HIV epidemic—implements harm reduction initiatives that reduce (i) the transmission of HIV and viral hepatitis, (ii) injection-related injuries, and (iii) overdose, while connecting people to comprehensive treatment and support services. In 2020, AIDS United sought support to plan for the future of their harm reduction initiatives, including their Syringe Access Fund. Facente Consulting was hired to design and lead a two-day retreat to help the organization in this effort.
Prior to the retreat, Facente Consulting completed a desk review of existing research and evaluations of AIDS United’s work in the field of harm reduction. We also conducted interviews with key stakeholders, both internal and external to AIDS United. During the retreat, Facente Consulting facilitated the development of a comprehensive theory of change for each of the projects in AIDS United’s harm reduction portfolio. In addition to these strategy-building sessions, we produced a professional one-page illustration of the overarching theory of change that AIDS United will use to communicate their work to current and potential funders.