The Well Project 2025 Annual Report
Increasing participation in advocacy and research
Enriching
Improving
quality of life
linkage to and engagement in care
Expanding health literacy
Enhancing community engagement
www.thewellproject.org
Letter from Our Executive Director The Well Project has been a leader addressing the needs of women living with and vulnerable to HIV across the gender spectrum for more than 20 years. This leadership has never been more necessary than it is today, as we endure a second year of US federal government cuts to the HIV research, services, and protections that are critically needed by the communities we serve. The government’s actions have severely curtailed the availability of evidence-based information, education, and research around HIV, and undermined its standing as a reliable resource. The Well Project has long been a trusted and widely accessed resource; we are resolved to further fill the ensuing gap created by this administration. Evidence demonstrates that our resources deliver essential, measurable services to women that help improve their health outcomes and quality of life, among other indicators. As we share our work from 2025, we are excited to highlight the ways that our outcomes-oriented work impacts women living with and vulnerable to HIV. • Expands health literacy: Our online library of up-to-date, women-centered HIV information reached ~4 million individuals around the world in the last year alone • Improves linkage to and engagement in care: We disseminate information on trusted providers and institutions as well as linkage to services and local community organizations • Enhances community engagement: Our resources foster community support, improving mental health, social connectedness, and agency • Enriches quality of life: For decades, we have modeled a whole-woman approach that goes beyond viral suppression and attends to all measures of women’s health and well-being • Increases participation in advocacy and research: Our efforts and cross-sector collaborations equip women living with HIV to advocate for themselves and their communities and engage with research As challenging as the present is for so many in our community, I continue to find hope in the work our amazing team accomplishes every day and in the interactions and collaborations we have with you, our valued community. We remain steadfast in our commitment to our values and advancing this work in partnership with all of you. Even amid these dark days, together we can envision and build a brighter future. In solidarity,
Krista Martel, Executive Director
www.thewellproject.org
Mission and Vision Mission: The Well Project is a non-profit
organization whose mission is to change the course of the HIV/AIDS pandemic through a unique and comprehensive focus on women and girls across the gender spectrum.
Changing the course of the HIV epidemic...
Vision: The Well Project envisions a world in
which women living with or vulnerable to HIV have the information, support, and tools they need to advocate for their health and well-being, and live free from stigma.
www.thewellproject.org
one woman at a time
The Well Project’s Core Values Women-led response
Community at the heart
Women-led
most impacted
Collective power
Evidence-based and always learning
Eviden
Community at heart
Centering those most impacted by HIV
Power
Collective
Learn more about The Well Project's values from some of the essential voices in our community. www.thewellproject.org
Why Our Work Matters Globally, HIV remains the leading cause of death among women of reproductive age Women and girls = more than 1/2 of all people living with HIV
Women of trans experience = 66x more likely to live with HIV than the general population
Black women and Latinas = nearly 80% of US women living with HIV, despite being less than 1/3 of the female population
Despite these disturbing statistics, women remain consistently underserved and underprioritized in the HIV response As the US government cuts funding for HIV research and eliminates vital information from their formerly comprehensive resources, The Well Project’s independence and longstanding trust from key stakeholders (including women living with and vulnerable to HIV, researchers, healthcare providers, educators, and others) make us a digital lifeline for accurate, evidence-based resources. www.thewellproject.org
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EDUCATION & INFORMATION
www.thewellproject.org
COMMUNITY SUPPORT
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ADVOCACY & LEADERSHIP Ad g on wo vance m p a gful me adv i h s oc er n n li ving acy and build lead meani w par ir ticip ith HIV to secure the tables ation at decision-making
www.thewellproject.org
RESEARCH ▼
Identify opportunities to advance the research agenda
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Engagement
Driving Impact and Positive Change Research shows that The Well Project's resources directly impact women in a multitude of ways: Expanding health literacy: • I ncreased knowledge of HIV and its treatment (81%) •K new difference between science-based information and misinformation (78%) • Knew how HIV specifically affects women (72%)
Enhancing community engagement: •M ore likely to collaborate with other women living with HIV (80%) •M ore connected to community of support (78%) • Less likely to experience HIV self-stigma (74%)
Improving linkage to and engagement in care: • More likely to talk with providers about medication options, concerns, side effects (81%) • More likely to take their medications as prescribed (76%) • Improved relationship(s) with healthcare provider(s) (71%)
Enriching quality of life: • Felt more valuable as a person (79%) • Felt less isolated (70%) • More likely to practice self-care (68%) • More likely to seek out care for mental/emotional/ behavioral health (65%)
www.thewellproject.org
Increasing participation in advocacy and research: • More likely to advocate for others living with HIV (81%) • More likely to advocate for themselves (80%) • More likely to join an advisory board for an HIV organization (69%)
highlights from
Education and Information UPDATED
Fact sheets:
111 English 60 Spanish
UPDATED
Slide decks:
35 English 24 Spanish
Published and disseminated
29 articles including nine conference updates
Authored four new fact sheets (English and Spanish):
• Shingles and HIV / Culebrilla y VIH • Preparing for Labor and Birth /Preparándose para el parto y el nacimiento • Preparing Your Home and Community / Preparación de su hogar y su comunidad • Postpartum Visits to My Providers / Visitas posparto a mis proveedores
Created a series of
menopause infographics (English and Spanish)
Reached
~4,000,000 people
with our educational resources through our website, newsletters, printed materials, and social media platforms
www.thewellproject.org
highlights from
Community Support Published 101 blogs on A Girl Like Me / Una Chica Como Yo (91 English/10 Spanish)
Hosted 11 community-led live virtual events (A Girl Like Me LIVE, WATCH 2.0, Menopause roundtable)
Maintained and promoted
two private Facebook groups
around aging with HIV and infant feeding with HIV
“The Well Project not only acknowledges and affirms women of transgender and non-binary experience, but also celebrates their existence. The organization is very intentional about the language they use on their website and in their programs reflecting that affirmation, and they commit themselves to growing and improving this practice and becoming more inclusive in their language.” – The Well Project CAB member
Engaged frequently with >8,000 website members and nearly 16,000 social media followers
Maintained active listserv for infant
feeding and HIV(~400); launched new listserv for HIV cure research and women (~90)
www.thewellproject.org
highlights from
Advocacy and Leadership Development Engaged 13-member Community Advisory Board
Had six abstracts co-authored by women living with HIV accepted for conference presentations
Provided 94 compensated opportunities for women living with HIV (outside of staff) Facilitated participation of women living with HIV in seven conferences including CROI, International Workshop on Women and HIV, USCHA, and more
“ The information that I am learning within the SHE/HER/THEY programming has been transformative for my life. Getting the chance to speak with other leaders inside and outside of the HIV field who also see this as a problem has been life changing. Yes, I want to take care of my HIV but I also want to take care of, and find pleasure in, other things too!”– The Well Project CAB member
www.thewellproject.org
The Well Project team and CAB members presenting on aging across the lifespan at 2025 Iris House Summit
The Well Project team members, CAB member, and frequent collaborator presenting on sexual health and pleasure at 2025 USCHA
highlights from
Collaborative Engagement Maintained nearly 60 partnerships with mission-aligned organizations through regular communications and virtual/in-person meetings
The Well Project team members were exhibitors, presenters, and advisors for the Women as the Face of AIDS Summit, hosted by our partner Iris House
Initiated engagement with
2 new potential partners working at the intersections of maternal-child health, aging, research, and HIV
The Well Project executive director Krista Martel with partners from Iris House and Positively Aware, among others
Engaged in 19 collaborations with partners on presentations, events, and initiatives
www.thewellproject.org
highlights from
Women-Focused HIV Research Women’s Research Initiative on HIV/AIDS (WRI): HOSTED MEETING ON “ Evolving Landscape of Women and HIV Cure”
A Survey on Language and HIV Care for Women Living with HIV We invite you to participate in an important anonymous survey called
WORDS MATTER:
Experiences of Stigmatizing Language Among Women Living with HIV
PUBLISHED "Bolstering HIV Cure Research in the Current Political Context: A Statement from The Well Project and the Women's Research Initiative on HIV/AIDS"
Developed and disseminated IRB-approved “Words Matter: The Impact of Language on Healthcare Experiences” survey
“The WRI approach of including investigators
(basic, clinical, and social science) together with advocates, community members, and people living with HIV is critical to advancing a person-centered HIV cure agenda, and for me, made WRI uniquely special compared to other meetings.” – WRI 2025 participant
Engaged in 4 federally funded research projects + grant development with academic partners related to infant feeding & HIV, menopause & HIV, PrEP & Black women, and lifetime survivors
www.thewellproject.org
Financial Overview Source of Revenue
Expenditures
Total: $1,793,000
Total: $1,524,000
14%
In-Kind Donations $251,000
75% Programs* $1,150,000
13%
Fee for Service/ Subcontract † $232,000
2%
Individual Donations $32,000
4%
Government $75,000
5%
67%
Private/Foundation $1,203,000
20% Operations* $304,000
† Fee for service/subcontracts were primarily through academic
institutions and non-profit organizations.
*Includes in-kind expenditures
www.thewellproject.org
Fundraising/ Development $70,000
Our 2025 Programs
A PROGRAM OF
A Girl Like Me LIVE is an interactive, livestreaming series that advances key topics related to health and wellness education among women living with and vulnerable to HIV.
WATCH!2.0 Women’s Advocacy and Treatment Coalition on HIV
SHE/HER/THEY (Sexual Health Education/HIV Empowerment Resources/Treating HIV Equally) improves engagement in care, health outcomes, and well-being for women living with and vulnerable to HIV while promoting language justice and holistic wellness. SHE/HER/THEY en español
The Women’s Research Initiative on HIV/AIDS (WRI) is a multidisciplinary and multisectoral effort dedicated to identifying gaps and recommending solutions for women in HIV prevention, treatment, and cure research and policy.
WATCH! 2.0 (Women’s Advocacy and Treatment Coalition on HIV) is a treatment advocacy webinar series that emphasizes a women-led response to the HIV epidemic.
Women Like Us – Aging Positively increases health and wellness among women aging with HIV by increasing social connectedness and access to relevant health information. Mujeres Como Nosotras: en español
NEW!
HIV Cure and Women Programming Sign up here to join the listserv and get updates!
www.thewellproject.org
Thank you to our 2025 Supporters! Funders and Major Donors The Well Project is deeply grateful to the funders and major donors whose support makes our work possible:
• Gilead
• Merck
• ViiV Healthcare
• Dick and Sandi Averitt •S cientific Consulting Group
In-Kind Donors We sincerely appreciate the following individuals and organizations who donated their services to The Well Project: • Allison Agwu • Judith Auerbach • Richard Averitt • Latesha Elopre
• Google AdWords • Terry Kush • Tonia Poteat • Eileen Scully
Individual Donors
• Laramie Smith • Shema Tariq • Underwood & Roberts, PLLC
Wewant also want to thank allallthe donors whoincontribute The Well drive. Project during (andthis beyond) We to heartily thank of individual you who participated our annual to fundraising Please follow link for a our annual drive! For a complete list of individual donors please click here. complete listfundraising of individual donors.
www.thewellproject.org
Who We Are (as of July 2026) TEAM
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
COMMUNITY ADVISORY BOARD (CAB)
Kelly Bower, Operations Manager
Allison Agwu, MD, ScM Johns Hopkins University
Robin Barkins, Louisiana, US
Judith D. Auerbach, PhD Board Vice-Chair University of California San Francisco
Ashley Cason, Florida, US
Richard Averitt Co-Founder Starchive.io
Jyoti Dhawale, India
Ciarra Brown, MS, HS-BCP, Director of Programs Jenna Conley, Director of Communications, WRI Director Jyoti Dhawale, Global Ambassador Olivia G. Ford, Editorial Director Darlene Harden-Fuller, Art Director Juliana Hawawini, Director of Online Resources Theresa Mack, MD, MPH, Medical Editor Krista Martel, Executive Director Maria Mejia, Global Ambassador Abosede Olotu, Global Ambassador Bridgette Picou, LVN, ACLPN, Stakeholder Liaison Lauren E. Richey, MD, MPH, FIDSA, Medical Editor
Aryah Lester Board Secretary Linda H. Scruggs, DHL, MHS, LPC Board Chair Ribbon Consulting Group Melissa Tischler Board Treasurer PA Consulting
www.thewellproject.org
Kimberly Canady, New York, US
Justine Davenport, Georgia, US
Marissa Gonzalez, Florida, US Tiommi Jenae Luckett, Arkansas, US Maria Mejia, Florida, US Heather O’Connor, Virginia, US Angel Stetson, Florida, US Lynette Trawick, CAB Co-Chair, Maryland, US Louise Vallace, CAB Co-Chair, UK
Learn more and support our work!
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