Elton John AIDS Foundation expands Rocket Fund to $200 million amid global HIV funding cuts

When Elton John founded his AIDS foundation more than three decades ago, the world was still gripped by fear and stigma. “I established the Foundation when the end of AIDS seemed impossible – many would not even say the word,” John recalled. “Resources were scarce, but many brave, passionate people made the world take notice.”

Today, with scientific breakthroughs offering real hope of ending the epidemic, John and his foundation are setting their sights higher than ever. On Monday this week, the Elton John AIDS Foundation announced it is doubling the goal of its Rocket Fund campaign to $200 million, an ambitious move meant to counteract deep cuts in global AIDS funding and accelerate access to lifesaving care for vulnerable communities.

“Today, we stand together on the brink of ending this epidemic, and we won't waste that opportunity,” John said. “We are doubling down and extending the goal of our Rocket Fund to $200 million to make sure we continue to fuel the momentum that will bring us to the end of AIDS for good.”

The urgency is clear. Despite advances like long-acting injectable medications and preventive treatments, HIV continues to spread: there were 1.3 million new infections in 2024, including an average of 570 new infections every day among young women aged 15–24. Even before recent funding reductions, 9.2 million people were living with HIV without treatment, and someone died every minute from AIDS-related causes. In the United States, the South remains the hardest-hit region, with the highest rates of new diagnoses.

Against that backdrop, the Foundation’s leaders see the Rocket Fund expansion as a lifeline. “The 2.2 million people we've reached through The Rocket Fund so far represent more than statistics; they represent mothers, children, partners, and dreamers whose lives have been transformed,” said David Furnish, Chair of the Elton John AIDS Foundation. “As global funding faces drastic cuts, our momentum only accelerates to end AIDS for everyone, everywhere. The expansion of The Rocket Fund will serve as a catalyst for this mission."

The Foundation says the new funding will support bold strategies – from rolling out long-acting injectable PrEP (lenacapavir) in communities most in need, to testing new technologies for care delivery. In partnership with the Global Fund, the first rollout will focus on Kenya, Nigeria, Uganda, and South Africa.

Anne Aslett, the Foundation’s CEO, emphasized both progress and peril. “When we launched the Rocket Fund in 2020, our aim was to accelerate progress toward ending AIDS. Over the last five years, we've done that: doubling our reach in 2024 alone and bringing innovative solutions to millions through our programs – for example, using drone technology to deliver testing and treatment to young people, expanding access to PrEP, and providing humanitarian support for people in Ukraine,” she said. “Now, as global funding faces unprecedented challenges, we are focused on preserving lifesaving gains; ensuring the HIV response remains a core part of public health and pioneering ambitious new approaches that can bring us closer to an AIDS-free future."

For co-chair Donatella Versace, the campaign is also about compassion and justice. “The Elton John AIDS Foundation has always championed young people and vulnerable communities to be able to live their lives with the compassion and justice they deserve,” she said. “I'm proud to support the lifesaving work of the fund and its expansion to continue the much-needed support for our dear friends around the world."

Since its launch, The Rocket Fund has reached more than 2.2 million people across 63 countries. Its programs have tested more than 834,000 people for HIV, distributed nearly half a million self-test kits, initiated treatment for over 78,000 people, connected 43,000 to mental health services, and trained more than 36,000 providers and community leaders.

The Foundation credited its partners and co-chairs – Versace, Furnish, Tani Austin, and David Geffen – as well as founding backers including A+E Networks, Charlotte Tilbury, the David Geffen Foundation, Ford Foundation, Gilead Sciences, Saks Fifth Avenue, Allegra Versace Beck, and The Versace Foundation.

For John, the push to expand the Rocket Fund reflects both a personal journey and a global mission. From a time when “the end of AIDS seemed impossible,” he and his foundation are now helping to make that vision a reality – one investment, one life, one community at a time.