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AIDS Healthcare Foundation
| AIDS Healthcare Foundation | |
 | |
| Basic facts | |
| Location: | Los Angeles, California |
| Type: | 501(c)(3) |
| Top official: | Michael Weinstein, President |
| Year founded: | 1987 |
| Website: | Official website |
The AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) is a 501(c)(3) organization based in Los Angeles, California, that aims to provide education, research, healthcare, and services related to HIV/AIDS.[1]
AHF has advocated for or against at least 10 state or local ballot measures in California and Ohio since 2012.
Background
In 1987, the AIDS Hospice Foundation was founded and was renamed the AIDS Healthcare Foundation in 1990.[1]
AHF opened the first full-service AIDS hospice, which provided housing and medical care to patients, in Los Angeles in 1988.[1] In 1990, AHF opened a chain of thrift stores named Out of the Closet.[2] In 2001, AHF launched AHF Global, an international initiative to help treat AIDS/HIV in developing countries.[1]
Leadership
As of 2025, the president of the AIDS Healthcare Foundation is Michael Weinstein.[3]
As of 2025, the following individuals are on the group's board of directors:[4]
- William Arroyo (chair)
- Cynthia Davis
- Angelina C. Wapakabulo
- Rodney L. Wright
- Condessa Curley
- Curley Bonds
- Diana Hoorzuk
- Steve Carlton
- Scott Galvin
- Agapito Diaz
- Lawrence Peters
- Anita Williams
- Jammie Hopkins
- Albert Ruiz
- Michael Kahane
- Jonatan Gioia
Work and activities
Health care work
The AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) provides treatment for people with AIDS/HIV and educational services regarding AIDS/HIV awareness in various global locations. The organization also conducts clinical trials and research studies.[5] As of July 2025, AHF reported providing services to more than 2.4 million people in 48 countries.[5]
Political activity
Ballot measure activity
Overview of ballot measure support and opposition
You can send information about this influencer’s involvement with ballot measures to editor@ballotpedia.org.
The following table details the AIDS Healthcare Foundation's ballot measure stances available on Ballotpedia:
| Ballot measure support and opposition for the AIDS Healthcare Foundation | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Ballot measure | Year | Position | Status |
| California Proposition 33, Prohibit State Limitations on Local Rent Control Initiative | 2024 | Supported |  Defeated
|
| California Proposition 34, Require Certain Participants in Medi-Cal Rx Program to Spend 98% of Revenues on Patient Care Initiative | 2024 | Opposed |  Approved
|
| California Rent Control Initiative | 2020 | Supported | Defeated
|
| California Proposition 10: Local Rent Control | 2018 | Supported | Defeated
|
| Los Angeles Measure S: Laws Governing the General Plan and Development | 2017 | Supported | Defeated
|
| Ohio Issue 2: Drug Price Standards | 2017 | Supported | Defeated
|
| California Proposition 60: Condoms in Pornographic Films | 2016 | Supported | Defeated
|
| California Proposition 61: Drug Price Standards | 2016 | Supported | Defeated
|
| San Francisco Measure D: Prescription Drug Purchasing | 2013 | Supported | Approved
|
| Los Angeles County Measure B: Condoms in Pornographic Films | 2012 | Supported | Approved
|
California Proposition 33, Prohibit State Limitations on Local Rent Control Initiative (2024)
- See also: California Proposition 33, Prohibit State Limitations on Local Rent Control Initiative (2024)
Justice for Renters, which was led by the AIDS Healthcare Foundation, led the campaign in support of the ballot initiative. California Proposition 33 would have repealed the Costa-Hawkins Rental Housing Act, enacted in 1995. The act prohibits rent control on single-family homes and housing completed after February 1, 1995. It also restricts rent control laws from regulating what a landlord can charge a tenant when they first move in. The Justice for Renters campaign and allied committees reported $49.93 million in contributions. Proposition 33 was defeated with 60.02% of the vote.
California Proposition 34, Require Certain Participants in Medi-Cal Rx Program to Spend 98% of Revenues on Patient Care Initiative
Proposition 34 would establish a new category of entities called prescription drug price manipulators. If an entity is classified as a prescription drug price manipulator, the entity would have to meet the following requirements annually to maintain its tax-exempt status and licensure as health insurance plans, pharmacies, and clinics
- spend at least 98% of revenues from federal discount prescription drug program on direct patient care and
- not engage in unprofessional conduct or conduct contrary to public health, welfare, or safety.
AIDS Healthcare Foundation opposed the measure and sought to block its inclusion on the ballot.[6] Opponents said it was targeted at AIDS Healthcare Foundation for their support of ballot measures to allow local governments to pass rent control policies.[6] Susie Shannon, policy director of Housing is a Human Right, called the measure a "wolf in sheep's clothing."[6] Nathan Click, spokesperson for the Yes on 34 campaign, said the measure would stop the “abuse and misuse of public funds.”[7] Proposition 34 was approved with 50.89% of the vote.
California Proposition 21, Local Rent Control Initiative (2020)
Michael Weinstein, president of AHF, co-filed a ballot initiative to expand the power of local governments to adopt rent control. Housing Is A Human Right, with the support of AHF, led the campaign in support of the ballot initiative. Some of the ballot initiative's provisions were different from the AHF-backed Proposition 10, which was defeated in 2018. Rand Martin, a lobbyist for AHF, said, "The one lesson we learned from Proposition 10 is that the voters were not interested in a wholesale repeal of Costa Hawkins. But the other message we got in polling and focus groups is that people believe there are excesses to Costa Hawkins and there needs to be reforms."[8]
Proposition 21 was defeated with 59.9 percent of voters opposing it. AHF contributed over $40.6 million to the support campaign.[9]
California Proposition 10 (2018)
AHF and Alliance of Californians for Community Empowerment (ACCE) Action organized a campaign for California Proposition 10, which was on the ballot in 2018. Proposition 10 was designed to expand the power of local governments to adopt rent control. Weinstein said AHF was interested in rent control from the perspectives of social justice and public health. Weinstein stated, "From a social justice point of view, we are seeing mass displacement... and we feel like shelter is the most basic right and people are being deprived of that and we don’t believe that the marketplace can handle providing shelter to everyone who needs it." He added, "From a public health point of view, we see our clients being rendered homeless or being pushed further and further out from where our healthcare centers are."[10] Proposition 10 was defeated, receiving 40.6 percent of the vote. AHF provided $21.51 million to the campaign that supported Proposition 10.
Los Angeles Measure S (2017)
In 2017, AHF sponsored the campaign behind Los Angeles Measure S, which would have placed a moratorium on certain development projects and changed the city's zoning and development laws. Measure S was defeated. AHF provided $6.05 million to the campaign. Weinstein wrote an op-ed, titled "Why the AIDS Healthcare Foundation is behind Measure S," for the Los Angeles Times in March 2017. Weinstein said:[11]
| “ | We believe L.A. is in the grip of a social justice crisis over whom our city really serves. As we work to house patients in L.A., City Hall focuses on approving $3,500 apartments that sit empty. Why do billionaire developers profit by tens of millions thanks to backroom favors from City Hall while our homeless population spikes? Why did we lose 22,000 rent-stabilized apartments without any discussion? Why does City Hall designate “open space” land for luxury developments when L.A. is the most park-poor of America’s 65 largest cities? Why does City Hall promote gentrification in Boyle Heights, Frogtown, Westlake, MacArthur Park, South Central, West Adams, Palms, Venice and Van Nuys with no apparent concern for the elderly or working-class Latino and African American families who are displaced by it?[12] | ” |
Los Angeles Controller Ron Galperin (D) commented on Weinstein and Measure S, saying, "The foundation’s president Michael Weinstein has sadly injected his organization into a debate over land use that has nothing to do with HIV or AIDS or healthcare. And, in the process, unfortunately, AHF is squandering millions of dollars that should be spent on HIV prevention and treatment."[13]
Ohio Issue 2 (2017)
Ohio Issue 2 was the first ballot measure outside of California that AHF sponsored. Issue 2 was almost identical to California Proposition 61, which was on the ballot the previous year. Like Proposition 61, Issue 2 was designed to require state agencies to purchase prescription drugs for no more than the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) pays for them. Issue 2 was defeated. Weinstein described AHF's position, stating, "While we’ve seen ample evidence that there is seemingly no limit to the corporate greed of pharmaceutical companies, we also know that Americans are tired of feeling afraid every time they go to the doctor or it’s time to get a prescription filled."[14] AHF provided $18.29 million to the campaign in support of Issue 2.
California Proposition 60 (2016)
AHF President Michael Weinstein filed Proposition 60, which required the use of condoms during the recording of pornographic films. Voters rejected Proposition 60. Describing Proposition 60, Weinstein said, "A lot of people get their sex education through these films, and I think it's sending a bad message. I don't want young people to be educated that the only kind of sex that's hot is unsafe sex."[15] AHF provided $5.05 million to the campaign backing Proposition 60.
California Proposition 61 (2016)
Proposition 61 was the most expensive ballot measure election in 2016, with supporters and opponents raising a combined $128.28 million. AHF was the largest donor to the support campaign, providing $18.72 million. Proposition 61, which was rejected, would have restricted the state's purchasing agreements with drug companies to no more than what the VA pays for the drugs. Weinstein said the goal of Proposition 61 was "to strengthen the hand of government in negotiating prices, and make clear the public ire over the cost of drugs and the lack of transparency, and that profit is an issue that has to be dealt with."[16]
San Francisco Proposition D (2013)
In 2013, AHF backed San Francisco Proposition D, which required the city's Public Health Department to negotiate with drug manufacturers to reduce the cost of prescription drugs that the department purchases. After the approval of Proposition D, Weinstein stated, "This is just a tremendous, tremendous victory for those needing access to lifesaving medications but have difficulty getting them because of enormous costs of drugs today. ... This is also only a first stop: we plan to take this measure to other cities around the country in a full frontal attack on the pricing and policies of the entire pharmaceutical industry."[17] AHF provided $402,553 to the campaign backing Proposition D.[18]
Los Angeles Measure B (2012)
Los Angeles County Measure B was the first AHF-sponsored ballot initiative. Measure B, which was approved, required actors in pornographic films to wear condoms. AHF contributed $2.33 million to the campaign in support of Measure B.[19] Weinstein said, "This is a prudent public health and safety measure that will require adult film producers operating in the County to obtain public health permits as a condition of doing business here in Los Angeles."[20]
Notable endorsements
This section displays endorsements this organization made in elections within Ballotpedia's coverage scope.
Finances
The following is a breakdown of the AIDS Healthcare Foundation's revenues and expenses for 2020 to 2023, according to documents submitted to the Internal Revenue Service and compiled by ProPublica:
| Annual revenue and expenses for the AIDS Healthcare Foundation, 2020–2023 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Tax Year | Total Revenue | Total Expenses |
| 2023[21] | $2,291,607,567 | $2,152,217,807 |
| 2022[21] | $2,064,984,362 | $1,883,598,116 |
| 2021[21] | $1,819,096,328 | $1,618,264,865 |
| 2020[21] | $1,619,194,375 | $1,472,915,663 |
Recent news
The link below is to the most recent stories in a Google news search for the terms 'AIDS Healthcare Foundation'. These results are automatically generated from Google. Ballotpedia does not curate or endorse these articles.
See also
- California Proposition 60, Condoms in Pornographic Films (2016)
- California Proposition 61, Drug Price Standards (2016)
- Ohio Issue 2, Drug Price Standards Initiative (2017)
- California Proposition 10, Local Rent Control Initiative (2018)
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 AIDS Healthcare Foundation, "About," accessed July 30, 2025
- ↑ Out of the Closet , "About," accessed July 30, 2025
- ↑ AIDS Healthcare Foundation, "Leadership," accessed July 30, 2025
- ↑ AHF , "Board of Directors," accessed July 30, 2025
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 AIDS Healthcare Foundation, "Home" accessed July 30, 2025
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 AHF , "AHF Files to Halt California Apartment Association Bogus Ballot Initiative," accessed July 30, 2025
- ↑ Sacramento Bee, "California’s biggest loser this election? LA nonprofit admits double defeat on ballot props," November 16, 2024
- ↑ The Sacramento Bee, "New California rent control initiative allows homeowner exemptions, affects fewer units," June 25, 2019
- ↑ Cal-Access, "Campaign Finance," accessed December 9, 2019
- ↑ CALMatters’ Gimme Shelter: The California Housing Crisis Podcast, "Is Rent Control Good or Bad, with AIDS Healthcare Foundation President Michael Weinstein," November 22, 2017
- ↑ Los Angeles Times, "Op-Ed: Why the AIDS Healthcare Foundation is behind Measure S," March 2, 2017
- ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ Curbed Los Angeles, "City Controller blasts AIDS Healthcare Foundation for pushing Measure S," February 24, 2017
- ↑ Business Wire, "AHF: Advocates Submit 171,205 Signatures for 2016 Drug Pricing Ballot Measure in Ohio," December 22, 2015
- ↑ NPR, "From Maverick AIDS Activist To Porn Cop: The Man Behind Proposition 60," November 2, 2016
- ↑ San Jose Mercury News, "Measure slashing drug prices may go to California voters next fall," November 3, 2015
- ↑ AIDS Healthcare Foundation, "Landslide Win for Prop D, SF Drug Pricing Measure!" November 6, 2013
- ↑ San Francisco Ethics Commission, "Ballot Measures Dashboard – November 5, 2013 Election," accessed August 22, 2019
- ↑ Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder, "Campaign Finance Reports: Measure Index," accessed August 21, 2019
- ↑ AIDS Healthcare Foundation, "‘Yes on B’ Condoms in Porn Campaign Launches in L.A.," September 17, 2012
- ↑ 21.0 21.1 21.2 21.3 ProPublica, "AIDS Healthcare Foundation" accessed July 22,2025
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