Small Business Forum Magazine Online July 2014 The Non Profit issue | Page 13

Non Profits Cont'd

Bridge HIV San Francisco based but serves nationwide http://www.BridgeHIV.org

Bridge HIV is a Bay Area based leader in innovative global HIV prevention research. Bridge HIV is a global leader in HIV prevention, research, and education. We work with local and international communities to discover effective HIV prevention strategies through our research, community partnerships, and educational initiatives. Operating as a clinical trials unit within the San Francisco Department of Public Health and affiliated with the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), we conduct innovative research that guides global approaches in HIV prevention. Our heritage in the early fight against HIV/AIDS has made us a trusted and renowned resource for understanding HIV infection and disease. We value our diverse study volunteers and build local and global partnerships with communities, scientists, and policy makers.

StartOut http://startout.org/

StartOut is a national 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to creating great business leaders by fostering Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) entrepreneurs. Since it’s founding in 2009, StartOut has produced over 150 events with more than 13,500 participants nationwide to inspire, educate and support LGBT entrepreneurs. StartOut has chapters in Austin, Boston, New York, and San Francisco with Los Angeles in development.

StartOut approaches its mission through a variety of methods, including:

Creating educational events that build entrepreneurial skills and knowledge – we create a wide range of programming to help people develop businesses, thereby increasing the prevalence of entrepreneurship in the LGBT community.

Building a community where LGBT professionals help each other – we bring together members of the LGBT community, as well as supporters of the LGBT community, with a common interest in entrepreneurship and who are at various stages of building their entrepreneurial careers to help each other collectively and in doing so, we help members of the LGBT community, and its supporters, benefit in their entrepreneurial path.

Combating discrimination by increasing visibility of LGBT entrepreneurs in the media – we promote LGBT entrepreneurs to the general public, thereby working to create positive images of openly gay entrepreneurs and eliminate discrimination that still faces out entrepreneurs.

Connecting mentors with members of the LGBT community starting their own companies – our Lesbian Entrepreneur Mentorship Program connects new entrepreneurs with experienced professionals who provide support to help them build, fund and grow their businesses.