Grindr Supports Together TakeMeHome in Delivering One Million HIV Self-Test Kits, Expanding Access to At-Home Testing

When Together TakeMeHome launched in March 2023, we knew access could change everything. The program, created to make HIV testing more accessible across the U.S. by mailing free at-home kits, has now reached an extraordinary milestone: one million tests delivered nationwide. 

One in four were first-time testers, and nearly half ordered their kits through Grindr’s in-app link, demonstrating how trusted technology, when guided by community purpose, can change lives.

Removing Barriers

Together TakeMeHome is a public–private partnership led by Emory University, Building Healthy Online Communities (BHOC), the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), NASTAD, OraSure, Signal, and Grindr. Grindr has supported TakeMeHome since 2020, before the program scaled nationally. By integrating a self-testing kit delivery button directly into the Grindr app, we’ve made it possible for users across the U.S. and Puerto Rico to order a free test in less than a minute, removing barriers like cost, transportation, and stigma that have long kept many from getting tested.

As Jen Hecht, Co-Founder of BHOC, puts it:

“Together TakeMeHome shows what’s possible when public health meets people where they are: online, in their communities, and on their terms. Reaching one million test kits is an incredible milestone for our program and the communities it serves. This program helps overcome barriers to testing, such as transportation, time, and concerns about privacy and judgment. We hear from our users that they appreciate the ease and convenience of ordering online and testing at home. 

This program is supported not only by the reach of Grindr’s digital platform but also by its advocacy, which has made a significant difference in our ability to navigate funding challenges and keep this work moving forward. It’s a powerful example of what partnership looks like in action – and we’re only getting started.”

This summer, when concerns arose about continued funding, Grindr, along with other community partners, emphasized the program’s positive impact on US residents to congressional supporters and federal agencies, helping ensure the renewal moved forward so the program and partnership could continue. At the end of September, Together TakeMeHome received its requested funding, allowing for another 360,000 free HIV tests to be distributed in the next year. This milestone shows what’s possible when partnership, advocacy, and communities come together to protect access to public health programs.

Expanding Access

Globally, one in five people remains unaware of their HIV status, and the World Health Organization now recommends HIV self-testing as a key strategy to reach global “95-95-95” goals: ensuring that 95% of people living with HIV know their status, 95% of those who know their status receive treatment, and 95% of those on treatment are virally suppressed.

The success of Together TakeMeHome shows that digital access can be a powerful equalizer by helping reach the communities most affected by HIV and accelerating progress toward ending the epidemic.

A Model for the World

Funded by the CDC and implemented by BHOC and Emory, Together TakeMeHome is now being recognized as a global model for digital health innovation. The program has inspired similar efforts around the world, where Grindr for Equality, in partnership with BHOC, works with community partners to adapt the approach to local needs and languages.

From launched programs in Australia, Namibia, New Zealand, Georgia, Ireland, and across London to pilot initiatives in Cambodia, Spain, Switzerland, and Vietnam, Grindr for Equality has teamed up with local organizations to integrate HIV self-testing into the Grindr app and connect users to nearby resources. In each country, these collaborations share the same foundation: community partnership, cultural relevance, and user trust.

Looking Ahead

Reaching one million HIV self-tests is a major milestone, but it’s also just the beginning. The need for accessible testing remains urgent, especially as funding cuts and anti-LGBTQ laws threaten to reverse progress. Together, TakeMeHome proves that there’s a way forward that relies on collaboration, innovation, and the belief that everyone deserves the right to know their status.

At Grindr for Equality, we’re continuing to expand this model globally with public health officials, local advocates, and community organizations to remove barriers to prevention. Every test sent out is an act of care, an act of trust, and a step toward a healthier, more equitable world.

You can order your free HIV self-test kit in the U.S. through the Together TakeMeHome button in the Grindr app or at together.takemehome.org.