Elton John may be the best-known advocate on the planet in the battle against HIV/AIDS. He started his nonprofit 25 years ago as the epidemic was bursting into the world’s consciousness. The deaths of Rock Hudson, Arthur Ashe, and Rudolf Nureyev, among many other celebrities, helped fuel concern about the rapid spread of the infection.
John’s foundation has since raised more than $400 million and is getting an extra push because he is making fundraising a part of his farewell tour — and it probably won’t hurt that Rocketman, a biopic of the star, is coming out May 31.
Although many people are now living long lives with the disease, Elton John wants people to know that the fight is far from over.
Anne Aslett, CEO of the Elton John AIDS Foundation, said the charity sees itself as bringing together government officials and nonprofits to multiply the impact of their efforts to prevent disease.
One key change the charity is making is to merge separate arms in the United States and England into one operation with greater global reach. Aslett says the response to the disease in many countries like Russia, Malawi, and the Philippines is still driven by stigma and fear.
“We will focus on people who should have the means to protect themselves from infection but don’t and who are living with HIV and should be on treatment but aren’t,” she says. “We will reinforce their access to health care by fighting to remove harmful laws and change cultural stigmas that keep them in the shadows.
Elton John and his husband, David Furnish, who is active in the charity, answered questions from the Chronicle about the lessons they’ve learned and some changes Aslett is guiding at the charity to deal with the evolving health threat.
Chronicle: What made you want to start your charity, and what keeps you interested in it decades later?
Elton John: When I started the charity, the world was a different place. It was not OK to be gay in much of the world. This fact alone influenced how we approached the HIV/AIDS crisis, not only in terms of the science but our understanding of how to end the epidemic.
If you’re going to be persecuted for being open about who you are, you’re a lot less likely to seek treatment or advocate for your health or that of your partners. We’ve made so much progress, which is why the global goal to end AIDS by 2030 is even possible. It’s still ambitious, but it’s achievable, and I’m more motivated than ever to see it happen.
Chronicle: What does philanthropy need to do more of as a result of inadequate responses by governments?
David Furnish: Working together is the most important thing for the philanthropy community right now. A problem as big as AIDS has many fronts. Public education, better access to health care, culture, government policy — these all play a part in ending AIDS. As funders, we need to understand what’s driving new infections and address that in a coordinated way. By targeting our efforts, we can support strategies that have the best chance at making the biggest impact.
The philanthropic community plays a critical role in convening the right players to accomplish big things. Having the ability to draw not only the activist community but leading researchers, NGOs,[nongovernmental organizations], as well as government leaders to the table means that we can help ensure that key strategies are executed efficiently.
Chronicle: Are there new challenges related to the cause that more groups should be aware of?
John: Education is always an evolving challenge. People need to be willing to get tested and rigorously stay on treatment. There are a lot of obstacles still in the way of making that a reality, from stigma to lack of access to health care.
Furnish: Another surprising challenge is that scientific progress doesn’t help much if the people who would benefit can’t access it. As much as we love inspiring breakthroughs, many of the new treatments simply aren’t available or affordable.
So what we have in front of us oftentimes are policy issues. As philanthropists, our duty is to share with governments the huge benefits of removing barriers to access.
Chronicle: How much money have you personally invested in AIDS-related philanthropic efforts?
John: Since 1992, the Elton John AIDS Foundation has raised more than $360 million.
Sure, David and I have contributed plenty of our own money over the years — but what I’m most proud of is how many individuals, governments, and countries have joined the effort to bring about a world without AIDS. The passion is there, and it’s my mission to make sure that despite everything else going on in the world, despite all the other noble, important causes, that this fight stays front and center in people’s minds and hearts.
Chronicle: How much time do you spend raising funds for your foundation, and what sorts of activities do you use to raise money?
John: Twenty-five years ago, I was certainly doing a lot more fundraising than I am now. As a new foundation, I had to be out there constantly to convince not only people within the AIDS movement but also my fans and potential donors that we had what it takes.
Today we have a proven track record of ambitious programs that have saved millions of lives. That means in terms of fundraising, it’s less about me personally and more about the work.
We are funded by governments, multilateral organizations, charitable trusts, and foundations. We still hold amazing events, but fewer of them. Individual gifts are always very special because you engage with people and can share a passion to make the world a better place.
Chronicle: What’s the hardest part about having a namesake charity?
John: The toughest part is that people, and especially the media, want to focus as much on celebrity aspects as they do on the issues. When I’m spending time fighting AIDS, it’s serious work.
I really don’t have an ego when it comes to this work. It’s about getting results, maximizing the effectiveness of our grantees on the front lines, and bringing the right people together to make progress. That’s where I want the focus to be.
It’s not about me, it’s about the millions of people living with AIDS. And it’s about what we can do. I wish more attention would get paid to the impact of making medication available to everyone who needs it.
I want to hear more stories about how changing laws and attitudes about homosexuality has allowed more people to come forward for testing and treatment. That’s how change happens. But when I talk about the importance of this work, I don’t always get asked the right questions.
Chronicle: Your group is announcing some changes in its structure, particularly in the United States. What are the goals of the changes and what will be done differently?
Furnish: Our 25th anniversary last year was a great opportunity to take stock. It’s important for organizations like us not to become complacent, to challenge what we do.
A series of tough external reviews gave us a great score card. But one thing that needed to change was running essentially two separate organizations, one arm in the U.K. and another in the U.S. This structure was set up at a time when AIDS was a North American and Western European problem. But a global epidemic needs a global approach, and we wanted our structure to better reflect the work we are doing around the world.
John: Ultimately, the people most vulnerable to HIV are receiving a disproportionately small amount of support. We want to double down on those who need the most. This includes transgender women, sex workers, people who inject drugs, adolescents, gay men, and other MSM (men who have sex with men), as well the sexual partners of these groups.
We need to make sure these groups know the facts and aren’t afraid of getting tested or going on antiretroviral treatment.
Chronicle: Tell us about the MenStar partnership with Prince Harry launched last year at the International AIDS Conference in Amsterdam.
Elton John: Men are a critical link in the infection cycle. If we can inspire men to step up, we can dramatically cut new infections. Our goal is to test 400,000 men in Kenya and create a culture of testing and treatment in sub-Saharan Africa. Prince Harry, who knows about AIDS in Africa firsthand from his own charitable work, helped energize the coalition of governments and NGOs that are a part of this effort.
Chronicle: How much of your organization’s efforts in the future will be in the United States? How much in other countries?
Furnish: We are planning significant investments around the world, with a focus on regions where we see the greatest potential to close the gaps. Our focus areas are Africa, Eastern Europe, and Central Asia. But we are also focused on building collaborations, and U.S. cities have a big role to play.
John: One of the major things we want to focus on around the world, but you may be surprised to know is still a particular challenge in the U.S., is the role of stigma. Legalizing gay marriage helped, but there is still a long way to go before people, especially in the South, are comfortable being out not only about their sexuality but about their status — and are willing to seek out testing and treatment.
Chronicle: If another public figure told you they wanted to start an organization focused on HIV and AIDS, how would you advise them?
John: Being famous isn’t enough to earn credibility. It takes more than just being able to contribute or raise a lot of money.
You need to be able to inspire people and show them why they should share your passion and desire to see a change in the world. And you need to stick at it.
It’s hard when you are building a career to devote time to a cause. But I can say the foundation is truly one of the most precious things in David’s and my lives. It connects us to our humanity. It humbles us to work on something that’s bigger than us.
I’d say to anyone, do it. It will be the most rewarding thing you can do, and it won’t jeopardize your role as a public figure. It will show people you care about others.
Chronicle: What’s something you wish more fans of your music knew about your philanthropy?
John: Philanthropy really saved my life. I was in a very selfish place and deep into addiction. It was committing to the fight against AIDS and setting up the foundation that got me out of that.
Over the last 25 years, my work with the foundation has brought me together with some of the most wonderful, brave, smart, kind, selfless people imaginable. They have inspired me and above all reinforced for me and David that love and compassion are the most important qualities in life.
I have a section of my farewell tour show that talks about this and about the power of love. It might sound corny, but it is the truest thing I know, and the foundation really taught me that.
This interview was edited for clarity and brevity.
Correction: This article has been updated to say that the Elton John AIDS Foundation has raisied more than $400 million.
