AbbVie Foundation Health Equity Accelerator Grant

The AbbVie Foundation Health Equity Accelerator seeks innovative solutions to enhance healthcare access for underserved communities. This program empowers nonprofit organizations by providing mentorship, resources, and financial support, including a $10,000 stipend for participants and a $50,000 grant for the best solution. By fostering community-led initiatives, the accelerator aims to address health disparities and improve the quality of care through tailored, grassroots approaches. Applications are encouraged from organizations rethinking care delivery models.

Challenge
Seeking innovative solutions that rethink the delivery, space and place of care for communities with limited availability or proximity to healthcare services.
Background
Underserved communities often experience limited access to quality healthcare services due to various factors, including geographical and physical barriers, lack of available culturally competent care, discrimination and bias, constraints on how care is delivered (e.g., in-person vs. virtual) and more. By rethinking the delivery, space and place of care to expand access to care beyond traditional settings to institutions trusted by communities, community-based organizations can address non-medical factors that influence a person’s health outcomes, commonly known as social determinants of health (or non-medical determinants of health).
Innovative, grassroots solutions have the potential to bridge these gaps, improving access and enhancing the quality of care by meeting communities where they are and providing tailored services to address the specific needs of diverse populations.
Community-based organizations are particularly effective in this regard due to their deep knowledge of local community dynamics, cultural nuances and specific needs. They also have the ability to foster partnerships, collaborations and leverage investments beyond the traditional healthcare system, addressing the socioeconomic and structural factors that drive population health.
The AbbVie Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit working to drive transformative change and advance health equity in communities worldwide, in partnership with MATTER, has launched the AbbVie Foundation Health Equity Accelerator. We invite applications for innovative, scalable solutions that rethink the delivery, space and place of care for communities with limited access or proximity to healthcare services.
The accelerator will empower nonprofit organizations to drive innovative, community-led solutions to address health disparities by providing mentorship and access to resources to scale their programs’ impact and drive meaningful change.
Benefits of participation
Participants in this eight-week accelerator will gain access to valuable resources, including a dynamic, interactive curriculum delivered by subject matter experts. This program is designed to enhance participants’ solutions, refine their model and strategies and empower them to drive significant impact in health equity.
Financial support: Each selected participant will receive a $10,000 stipend, recognizing their time and dedication to the program. Additionally, one winning solution will be awarded a $50,000 unrestricted grant to support the implementation and development of their innovative approach to health equity.Expert guidance and mentorship: Participants will benefit from tailored mentorship from industry leaders and health equity experts. This guidance will help refine their strategies and maximize their impact.Networking opportunities: Engage with a diverse cohort of peers, potential partners, and stakeholders in the health equity space. These connections can lead to valuable collaborations and long-term partnerships.Visibility and recognition: Participants will have the opportunity to showcase their solutions to a broader audience. This exposure can open doors to additional funding and support.

Eligibility

Eligible applicants must be 18 years of age or older and represent a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization based in the U.S. We seek community-based organizations that are innovatively rethinking the delivery, space, and place of care for communities with limited access to healthcare services. Organization CriteriaNonprofit status: Be a U.S.-based nonprofit organization with 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status and classified as a public charity under Code 509(a). The organization must be in good standing.Operational capacity: Demonstrate the ability to effectively execute the proposed solution, including:Leadership and team: Have a strong leadership team with proven success and relevant expertise.Financial health: Show reasonable financial health and stability to enable scale or replication of the solution. Preference for solutions with a clear plan or vision for achieving financial sustainability.Reporting: Be capable of providing regular, transparent reports on progress and outcomes.Mentorship readiness: Be ready to engage with mentors and advisors provided by the accelerator program and effectively utilize the provided resources, training and support.Program criteriaProgram focus: Ability to clearly articulate the problem statement addressed in the Challenge description.Development stage: Be in the execution stage or have been tested at least on a small scale (i.e., moved past the idea/concept stage and pursuing growth, whether that is early product-market fit or plans for significant scale).Project reach and scalability: Be focused on impacting U.S. communities and have the potential to be scaled or replicated in other communities or contexts.Community impact: Be focused and demonstrate the potential to make a significant impact on underserved or marginalized communities.