Since its founding in 1982, AIDS Emergency Fund (AEF) has provided over $20,000,000 in emergency financial assistance to people facing the challenges of debilitating HIV and AIDS. Each year approximately 3,000 low-income San Franciscans get help from AEF – enabling them to maintain housing and utility services, make medical co-payments, and meet other critical expenses that might otherwise tip the scales against these already over-burdened men and women. 

To qualify for up to $600 in emergency financial assistance from AEF, clients must have disabling HIV or AIDS and an income below $1,900 per month. 90% of AEF’s clients live on less than $800 per month. About 80% of all AIDS clients use their emergency funds to pay rent in order to avoid eviction and homelessness.

AIDS Emergency Fund has raised over $2,000,000 in coin donations through its Penny Jars program. Over 500 coin jars are on countertops in retail stores and restaurants around San Francisco. On Every Penny Counts Day, over 50 Bay Area middle and high schools end their month-long coin collection campaigns and donate their change to AEF.

True to its roots, AIDS Emergency Fund today remains a largely volunteer driven and supported organization. Its handful of full-time staff are augmented exponentially by dozens of client in-take volunteers, the fundraising efforts of thousands of local school students, businesses and community groups, and countless men and women throughout San Francisco who support the agency through their personal donations and gifts of time and dedicated service. 100% of contributions raised from the community go directly to support our clients!