Charities run a variety of programs to stop and slow the spread of HIV/AIDS. These programs vary in effectiveness (some have a strong track record of success and some don't) and cost-effectiveness (some can prevent a case of HIV/AIDS for around $150; others cost $150 to just treat, not cure HIV/AIDS for 1 year).
HIV/AIDS programs are just a useful illustration of a fact that cuts across charities working in many different areas. Variation in effectiveness and cost-effectiveness occurs in a wide variety of sectors, from other global health programs to charities focused on reducing poverty or increasing equality in the United States. Your choice of charity makes a huge difference to the impact you ultimately achieve with your donation.
What do you get for your dollar? An overview of charities running HIV/AIDS programs
The table below provides information on four HIV/AIDS charities that met our criteria for a deeper investigation. We also considered seven other charities that work on HIV/AIDS but none met our initial criteria.
| Charity | GiveWell rating | Activities | Impact | Cost-effectiveness | More information |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population Services International |
|
Approximately 50% of activities devoted to HIV/AIDS prevention, largely condom promotion and distribution | Prevents cases of HIV/AIDS | Good. $550-2,240 per case of HIV/AIDS averted | Charity review |
| The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB, and Malaria |
|
Approximately 50% of activities focused on HIV/AIDS. Includes drug treatment with anti-retroviral therapy (ART) | Delays deaths from HIV/AIDS | Poor. $130-550 per year of treatment provided | Charity review |
| Partners in Health |
|
Provides primary care. Focuses heavily on providing drug treatment with anti-retroviral therapy (ART) | Delays deaths from HIV/AIDS | Poor. $130-550 per year of treatment provided | Charity review |
| None | - | Prevention of mother-to-child transmission | Prevents cases of HIV/AIDS | Excellent. $150-$300 per case of HIV/AIDS averted | Program review |
| mothers2mothers |
|
Peer support groups | Unclear if any | Unclear if effective | Charity review |
