Cascade AIDS Project (CAP) provides HIV services, housing, education and advocacy in Oregon and Southwest Washington. Its mission is to lead efforts to prevent new HIV infections, care for people infected and affected by HIV/AIDS, educate communities and advocate for immediate action in combating the pandemic. CAP provides outreach, education, housing, prevention, life-skills training, support for children and families, and two statewide hotlines. CAP’s work with MissionWise focused on their Kids’ Connection program, which provides comprehensive services for children and youth whose parent or primary caretaker is HIV-positive and whose physical wellbeing, mental health, and personal safety are at risk.

CAP worked with MissionWise to develop a business venture for the Kids’ Connection program, to serve as a pilot for the rest of the organization. In one year, MissionWise helped CAP develop an attainable business plan and earned-income strategy, create a product line called “Revolution Begins Here: Slogan-Based Merchandise with a Mission,” generate a new revenue stream from merchandise sales, and expand the organization’s capacity by helping the Kids’ Connection director and staff develop new skills.

Working with MissionWise, CAP Kids’ Connection created an additional source of revenue to support their programs and raised the organization to a new level of operational excellence.
www.cascadeaids.org/