Step by step

When it comes to racial equity, 2020 was a catalyst for change. The events of that year challenged us, and organizations across America, to do more to address the root causes of racial disparities and advocate for greater equity, diversity and inclusion.

But where to begin? Our approach is to first listen, then act. Listening to community and nonprofit leaders, we consistently heard that reducing health disparities and providing educational and workforce-related opportunities to underserved Black and historically marginalized communities were areas where the AbbVie Foundation could continue to stand up and support organizations driving for a more just and equitable world.

Taking what we learned from those conversations, in June 2020 we contributed $5 million in unrestricted support to the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, Inc. and the Equal Justice Initiative. And in December 2020, we launched a $50 million, five-year program to advance health and education equity in underserved Black and historically marginalized communities across the U.S.

“We’ve heard the call and took action – first to listen closely, then partner with nonprofits who are experts at driving change,” said Tracie Haas, president of the AbbVie Foundation and vice president of corporate responsibility, brand and communications, AbbVie. “We are proud of the dedication and progress so far and excited to see our partners expand and create important programs to address the long-term, systemic impact of racism.”

One year since we made this important philanthropic commitment, our nonprofit partners have set the foundation for their programs and are accelerating progress. Here are a few highlights of our partners’ early achievements:

Direct Relief

The Equal Justice Initiative (EJI) works to end racial and economic injustice, protect basic human rights for the most vulnerable people in America, and to advance an era of truth and justice. This year, with support from AbbVie and others, EJI reached millions of people with groundbreaking reports, films and other educational resources bringing awareness to critical issues regarding America’s history of racial injustice and its legacy. EJI also challenges wrongful convictions and excessive punishment, and in 2021 won release, parole or reduced sentences for several individuals.

NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, Inc.

Grant support has enabled the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, Inc. (LDF) to continue to be a vanguard in the battle for civil rights and racial justice in the U.S. With support from AbbVie and other organizations, LDF successfully challenged restrictions to voting rights in the courts; made progress toward reducing economic injustices within employment, housing and lending; advanced measures to improve officer accountability and eradicate racial bias and discrimination in policing; and pushed for equitable access to high quality education. The organization also conducted new litigation, research and strategic communications to advocate for the rights of Black Americans disproportionately impacted by COVID-19, and ensure they gained equal access to related resources and relief.

National Urban League

The National Urban League is expanding opportunities for historically marginalized youth in urban communities through its mentorship program Project Ready: Mentor. With our support, they’ve built capacity at 17 affiliate sites across the U.S. and implemented a new model for their program that’s enabling nearly 300 mentors – including 50 AbbVie employees – to access virtual training and certification to ultimately support youth.

“We live in a time where young people have taken the brunt of this pandemic. Too many have not had an opportunity to keep up with their work due to the challenges of remote learning. AbbVie has stepped up in this very important moment,” said Marc H. Morial, chief executive officer, National Urban League.

Our philanthropic partners have taken on a broad range of approaches to overcoming barriers perpetuated by systemic racism, and by 2026, anticipate measurable improvements in health, education and workforce disparities.

The foundation we’ve laid together has reiterated the value of collaboration as a vehicle for driving meaningful change. Our employees have also taught us this valuable lesson. For every dollar our employees invest in nonprofits that foster racial equity, our foundation is matching their donation with three dollars. With their contributions, we’ve been able to donate a total of $1.6 million in just the last year.

“I’m tremendously proud of the people of AbbVie who have stepped up to embrace inclusion and reject racism through their donations and their actions,” said Rick Gonzalez, chairman of the board and chief executive officer, AbbVie. “We know there is a lot of work to do but we believe we can help drive real action on the issues of racial equity and social justice and fundamentally, we believe it’s the right thing to do.”