Six nonprofits selected to join the AbbVie Foundation Health Equity Accelerator

April 21, 2026, CHICAGO, IL — The AbbVie Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit working to drive transformative change and advance health equity in communities worldwide, in partnership with MATTER, the premier healthcare incubator and innovation hub, are pleased to announce the second cohort of the AbbVie Foundation Health Equity Accelerator.

Building on the momentum of the inaugural program in 2025, the AbbVie Foundation and MATTER have selected six nonprofit organizations advancing innovative solutions that expand access to care across communities in the United States and its territories. Applicants were evaluated based on program focus, stage of development, potential for scalability and demonstrated community impact.

The following organizations have been selected to participate in the 2026 Accelerator:

Black Heart Association
Black Heart Association is expanding cardiovascular health equity through a community-centered model that delivers no-cost heart screenings, education and referrals in trusted local settings. By identifying risk factors — including genetic markers — and offering year-long clinical support, the organization is addressing disparities in heart health outcomes.

Grassroots Health
Grassroots Health embeds comprehensive health education into Title I middle schools throughout the school day. NCAA student-athletes serve as trained near-peer mentors and educators, delivering program curriculum in nutrition, sexual health and mental wellness literacy. This approach removes logistical and transportation barriers while increasing access to consistent, standards-aligned health education.

Health Justice Initiative
Health Justice Initiative is breaking down medical, legal and bureaucratic barriers that limit access to essential care. By training local advocates to help residents navigate complex systems and providing free legal representation through a network of pro-bono attorneys, the organization ensures that socioeconomic status does not determine health outcomes.

MedCycle Network
MedCycle Network is closing care gaps by redirecting usable hospital surplus to safety-net clinics. Its AI-enabled circular supply chain matches real-time clinic demand with available medical supply inventory, helping stabilize operations and enabling providers to expand care for the communities they serve.

SPEAK
SPEAK is addressing a critical shortage of culturally responsive mental health care in Asian American and Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander (AANHPI) communities by training community leaders to deliver micro-interventions. By treating mental wellness as a shared community responsibility, SPEAK helps reduce stigma and break down barriers that prevent families from seeking care.

The Community Grocer
The Community Grocer is reinventing the corner store as integrated health infrastructure by combining SNAP-eligible nutrition access with a revolutionary hot meal exchange approved by the Harvard Food Law Policy Clinic & the USDA, a workforce development program and direct health system partnerships — creating a replicable model where food becomes medicine and community infrastructure becomes a hub of community care and local resilience.

Through the Accelerator, the cohort will receive mentorship, exclusive resources and tailored programming designed to strengthen their models, refine their strategies and accelerate their impact. The program brings together subject matter experts, partners and peers to support each organization’s growth and long-term sustainability.

Each participating organization will receive a $10,000 stipend in recognition of their time and commitment. Following a final showcase, one organization will be awarded a $50,000 unrestricted grant to support the continued development and scaling of its solution.

About the AbbVie Foundation
The AbbVie Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit committed to driving transformative change in communities worldwide and advancing health equity so that every individual can realize their full potential.

About MATTER
At MATTER, we believe collaboration is the best way to improve healthcare. The MATTER collaborative includes more than 1,000 current and alumni startups from around the world, working together with dozens of hospitals and health systems, universities and industry-leading companies to build the future of healthcare. Together we are accelerating innovation, advancing care and improving lives. For more information, visit matter.health and follow @MATTERhealth.