Health Care Advocates International Inc

Public charity · Grantmaker Stratford, CT EIN: 81-4538081

Health Care Advocates, based in Stratford, Connecticut, is a public charity that combines health care services and advocacy with grantmaking through The HCAI Fund. Its work focuses on LGBTQ+ and HIV communities, and its grants support organizations addressing needs such as safety, wellness, basic needs, equality, education, and discrimination.

Health Care Advocates International Inc at a glance

In short: Health Care Advocates International Inc gave $355K across 14 grants in 2024 (avg $25K), top state Connecticut. 93% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990.

Annual giving (2024)
$355,069
-0.2% vs 2023
Grants made (2024)
14
+16.7% vs 2023
Average grant
$25,362
-14.4% vs 2023
Median grant
$22,260
Total assets
$4,497,002
+1.8% vs 2023
New grantees (estimate)
93% first-time grantees (13 of 14, 2024; small sample)
Primary geography
Connecticut (48% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
Latest 990 filing
Form 990, 2024 View filing

Data from IRS Form 990, 2024; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).

How to apply to Health Care Advocates International Inc

Contact

Mailing address: 2595 Main Street, Stratford, CT 06615
Phone: (203) 345-0404

Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.

Who Health Care Advocates International Inc funds

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2024

The Health Collective: $50KThe Health Collective$50KLiberations Program Inc: $50KLiberations Program Inc$50KMid Fairfield AIDS Project: $40KMid Fairfield AIDS Project$40KStop AIDS: $40KStop AIDS$40KTrans Housing Coalition: $35KTrans Housing Coalition$35KSouthwest Center for Hivaids (Now Prisma Community Care): $25KSouthwest Center for Hivaids(Now Prisma Community Care)$25KBallroom We Care: $23KBallroom We Care$23KTony's Place: $22KTony's Place$22KVisiting Nurse Services in Westchester: $15KVisiting Nurse Services inWestchester$15KStonewall Youth: $15KStonewall Youth$15K

The largest 2024 recipient was The Health Collective ($50K). Together the top 10 received $315K.

Grant Size Distribution

46 grants across all recorded years

33<$50K10$50–100K3$100–250K$250–500K$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

The most common grant size was under $50K: 33 grants of 46 (72%).

Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

The organization is based in Stratford, Connecticut. Its 2024 grants went to recipients in multiple states: Connecticut received 48% of grant dollars, California and New York each received 11%, Georgia 10%, and Arizona 7%. The organization’s filing also describes health-care work in Zimbabwe.

Grant Distribution by State

17states

Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 14 itemized grants.

Cities

New HavenNew YorkHartfordNorwalkCharlotteNew MilfordSan FranciscoStratfordAnchorageAtlantaBaton RougeBirminghamBridgeportCambridgeCheshireChicagoFarmingtonHoustonIndianapolisKnoxville

Is Health Care Advocates International Inc open to new grantees?

93%

first-time grantees, 2024

In 2024, 13 of 14 grantees (93%) were first-time recipients. With only 14 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 7 points. First grants averaged $24K; repeat grants $40K. How we count

Medians: $22K first-time, $40K repeat.

  • 7% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
  • Giving grew 51% from 2021 to 2024. Method

Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2019–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.

Giving History

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

$0$200K$400K$600K5 grants2019 8 grants2020 6 grants2021 6 grants2022 12 grants2023 14 grants2024

From 2019 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $86K (2019) to $538K (2020). In 2024 it made 14 grants totaling $355K.

Grants by year

Grant recipients and amounts by year

RecipientPurposeAmount
The Health Collective Hartford, CTPresenting Sponsor for Sogie Con Event at Uconn$50,000
Liberations Program Inc Bridgeport, CTSubstance Abuse and Recovery Support and Housing$50,000
Mid Fairfield AIDS Project Norwalk, CTFunding for hiv positive people through case management program$40,000
Stop AIDS San Francisco, CAHIV/LGBTQ Support$40,000
Trans Housing Coalition Atlanta, GATo expand their housing first program for transgender and gender non-confirming people experiencing homelessness.$35,000
Southwest Center for Hivaids (Now Prisma Community Care) Phoenix, AZTo support their mission in providing affordable, affirming and inclusive services for diverse communities. Funding helped center to cover patient's out of pocket costs in addition to increasing access to services$25,000
Ballroom We Care New York, NYEvent Sponsorship$23,000
Tony's Place Houston, TXTo fund the emergency housing program/ to provide a lifeline to lgbtq+ youth experiencing homelessness and housing instability in houston$21,520
Visiting Nurse Services in Westchester White Plains, NYIncrease its capacity addressing the unique home health care needs of members of the lgbtq+ community living throughout the lower hudson valley and the bronx, ny and launch a first-of-its-kind lgbtq+ care navigation program, providing targeted home care navigation services to members of the lgbtq+ community.$15,199
Stonewall Youth Olympia, WAProvide Basic Needs to LGBTQ+ Youth$15,000
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Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Figures from IRS filings, by filing year
Filing yearTotal AssetsRevenueExpensesGrants paidGrantsNet Investment Income
2024$4,497,002$14,624,514$14,507,631$355,06914$258,231
2023$4,419,557$13,209,904$12,058,007$355,60612$35,061
2022$3,087,190$9,767,076$9,813,002$272,4706$95,676
2021$3,474,224$8,108,967$7,493,826$235,5816$73,447
2020$2,897,230$5,387,489$5,004,840$538,2058$57,442
2019$2,250,228$3,617,270$2,574,952$85,9505$6,970

Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.

Mission & Focus Areas

The organization’s stated mission is to reduce HIV- and STI-related morbidity and mortality by fighting stigma and discrimination and ending homelessness through prevention programs, education, advocacy, and treatment, with a focus on LGBTQ+ and HIV communities.

The HCAI Fund considers support for 501(c)(3) organizations whose missions align with its own and whose programs address one or more of these areas: basic-needs assistance; substance abuse affecting treatment and care; equality in community life, including work, housing, education, and health care access; mental-health support; stigma and discrimination; HIV/AIDS education, prevention, and support; and advertising or similar services for the program seeking support.

Grantees’ stated missions illustrate the range of organizations supported. Trans Housing Coalition says it helps chronically homeless transgender and gender-nonconforming people in Atlanta move into long-term housing. Mid Fairfield AIDS Project describes its work as direct and indirect services and advocacy for people affected by HIV/AIDS, including prevention education. Triangle Community Center says it empowers and advocates for LGBTQIA+ people in Connecticut through community, health, and learning programs.

Grantmaking

In filing year 2024, the organization reported 14 grants totaling $355,069. Grant amounts ranged from $10,000 to $50,000, with a median of $22,260.

Notable 2024 grants included $50,000 each to The Health Collective for a SOGIE conference event at UConn and Liberations Program for substance-abuse recovery support and housing; $40,000 to Mid Fairfield AIDS Project for its case-management program for people with HIV; and $40,000 to Stop AIDS for HIV/LGBTQ+ support. Other awards included $35,000 to Trans Housing Coalition for its housing-first program, $25,000 to Southwest Center for HIV/AIDS (now Prisma Community Care) to support services and patient costs, and $21,520 to Tony’s Place for emergency housing for LGBTQ+ youth.

The organization says it formalized an application process for The HCAI Fund. Its grant-program page directs interested organizations to check for updates and announcements about the next grant cycle and application details. The HCAI Fund is listed as currently open, but the available program information does not specify application materials or a deadline.

Leadership & Key People

Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings

The 2024 filing lists Gary Blick as CMO; Patricia McKnight as executive director; Gary Garrison and Dr. Shandurai Takavarasha as directors; Rose Daley as secretary; Sheryl Morrison as treasurer; Erin Norton as president and Carl O’Donnell as vice president, both as of October 2024; Elysia Cerreta as M.A.; and Leonard Courtemanche as advocacy director.

Health Care Advocates International Inc is led by Patricia McKnight, Executive Director on every filing since 2019; 6 of 12 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.

Officers on the 2024 filing

  • Patricia McKnight

    Executive Director

    On filings since 2019

    40 hrs/week

    $188K (2019) → $264K (2024)

  • Erin Norton

    President

    Director → President, 2024

    On filings since 2023

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Leonard Courtemanche

    Advocacy Director

    On filings since 2021

    40 hrs/week

    $106K (2021) → $114K (2024)

  • Tony Ferraiolo

    Director of Youth & Family

    Director of Youth & Family Programs → Director of Youth & Family, 2022

    On filings since 2021

    40 hrs/week

    $141K (2021) → $154K (2024)

  • Gary Garrison

    Director

    On filings since 2019

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Shandurai Takavarasha

    Director

    On filings since 2023

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Gary Blick

    CMO

    On filings since 2019

    40 hrs/week

    $414K (2019) → $532K (2024)

  • Elysia Cerreta

    M.a

    On filings since 2020

    40 hrs/week

    $149K (2020) → $203K (2024)

  • Laura Snyder

    Rnbsn

    New on the 2024 filing

    40 hrs/week

    $137K (2024)

  • Rose Daley

    Secretary

    On filings since 2019

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Sheryl Morrison

    Treasurer

    On filings since 2019

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Carl O'Donnell

    Vice President

    Director → Vice President, 2024

    On filings since 2023

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.

Compensation Overview

From 2024 IRS filing

Gary Blick — CMO: $532KGary BlickCMO$532KPatricia McKnight — Executive Director: $264KPatricia McKnightExecutive Director$264KElysia Cerreta — M.A: $203KElysia CerretaM.A$203KTony Ferraiolo — Director of Youth & Family: $154KTony FerraioloDirector of Youth & Family$154KLaura Snyder — RNBSN: $137KLaura SnyderRNBSN$137KLeonard Courtemanche — Advocacy Director: $114KLeonard CourtemancheAdvocacy Director$114K

The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $532K, to Gary Blick (CMO). 6 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.

Frequently asked questions about Health Care Advocates International Inc

How much does Health Care Advocates International Inc give each year?

Health Care Advocates International Inc gave $355K across 14 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. In 2023 it gave $356K across 12 grants.

What is Health Care Advocates International Inc's typical grant size?

Health Care Advocates International Inc's median grant in 2024 was $22,260, and its average grant was $25,362, across 14 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Organizations receiving their first grant from Health Care Advocates International Inc that year got $24K on average.

Where does Health Care Advocates International Inc give grants?

Health Care Advocates International Inc's top state is Connecticut, with 48% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990. The next largest states were California (11%) and New York (11%). The most frequent recipient cities were Hartford, CT (2 grants) and Norwalk, CT (2 grants).

Does Health Care Advocates International Inc give general operating support?

Not in 2024: none of the 14 grants with a stated purpose on Health Care Advocates International Inc's 2024 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support.

Who are Health Care Advocates International Inc's largest grantees?

Health Care Advocates International Inc's largest 2024 grantees include The Health Collective ($50,000), Liberations Program Inc ($50,000) and Mid Fairfield AIDS Project ($40,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. Together they received 39% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.

How large is Health Care Advocates International Inc?

Health Care Advocates International Inc reported $4.5M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $14.6M.

What does Health Care Advocates International Inc fund?

The organization’s stated mission is to reduce HIV- and STI-related morbidity and mortality by fighting stigma and discrimination and ending homelessness through prevention programs, education, advocacy, and treatment, with a focus on LGBTQ+ and HIV communities. See mission & focus areas ↑

How do I apply for a grant from Health Care Advocates International Inc?

Health Care Advocates International Inc has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.

What is Health Care Advocates International Inc's EIN?

Health Care Advocates International Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 81-4538081. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2024.

Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.

Data update history

(7)

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

  1. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS November 16, 2020)
  2. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS November 15, 2021)
  3. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 14, 2022)
  4. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 14, 2023)
  5. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS October 28, 2024)
  6. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS April 2, 2026)
  7. IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2019–2024

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Cite this profile

Grantable. (2026). Health Care Advocates International Inc funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 23, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/health-care-advocates-international-inc-morg_13f1162296f84472bc7a9a54791e77d2

BibTeX
@misc{grantable_814538081_2026,
  author       = {{Grantable}},
  title        = {{Health Care Advocates International Inc funder profile}},
  howpublished = {GrantGraph},
  year         = {2026},
  url          = {https://grantable.co/funders/health-care-advocates-international-inc-morg_13f1162296f84472bc7a9a54791e77d2},
  note         = {Accessed 2026-10-23. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}

The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.

Figures come from Health Care Advocates International Inc's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.

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