2026 AbbVie Foundation Health Equity Accelerator
Ends on
Challenge statement:
Seeking innovative community-led solutions that break down barriers and increase access to care.
Who should apply?
This national call is open to U.S.-based nonprofits focused on implementing community-led solutions that address health access or its non-medical drivers — also known as social determinants of health — and that match the following criteria:
The organization:
- U.S. nonprofit: Must be a 501(c)(3) public charity based in the U.S. and its territories and in good standing.
- Operational readiness: Possesses a strong leadership team with relevant expertise and the organizational capacity to execute the program.
- Financial stability & vision: Demonstrates stable financial health and a clear vision for long-term program sustainability.
- Collaborative & transparent: Has the capacity to provide regular, transparent reports on progress and outcomes.
- Ready to scale: Exhibits readiness to engage with mentors, advisors and the curriculum to grow the solution.
The innovative initiative:
- Challenge-focused: The initiative must directly address the problem statement outlined in the Challenge.
- Beyond the idea: The initiative is past the concept stage and has been tested, even on a small scale, with a focus on growth and impact.
- Scalable solution: The initiative impacts U.S. communities and has clear potential for replication in other geographies or populations.
- Deep community impact: The initiative can provide evidence-based results and demonstrates a significant, measurable impact on underserved communities.
Timeline:
January 27, 2026: Applications open
March 8, 2026: Applications close
March 23-April 3, 2026: Meetings with top candidates
April 13, 2026: Five organizations are selected and notified
May 11-July 17, 2026: Accelerator program, with weekly virtual meetings, except for two in-person meetings hosted at MATTER offices in Chicago, Illinois:
- Week of May 11, 2026: Finalists meet in-person for the program kickoff
- Week of August 3, 2026: Finalists present their solutions at the final showcase in-person