Melinda French Gates announced Tuesday she plans to donate $1 billion over the next two years amid a “new chapter” in her philanthropy. The funds will go towards supporting women, families, and reproductive rights, French Gates said.
In an op-ed in The New York Times, the philanthropist shared her spending mission as she embarks on work beyond the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. She will be leaving the nonprofit, which she co-founded with her ex-husband Bill Gates almost 25 years ago.
Earlier in May, it was reported that French Gates would receive $12.5 billion as part of a divorce agreement with Gates, and she has pledged to use that money to support women and families, according to The Associated Press.
In her op-ed, French Gates highlighted the challenges women and girls face in the global agenda and emphasized the importance of gender equality. She emphasized the benefits of investing in women and girls and pointed out various threats to their safety around the world.
French Gates cited issues such as the impact of the Taliban takeover on progress for women and girls, malnourished pregnant women in low-income countries, and high maternal mortality rates in the U.S., particularly among Black and Native American mothers.
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French Gates highlighted the limited amount of charitable giving that goes to organizations focused on women and girls, especially women of color. She expressed hope that her new $1 billion commitment will help shift those numbers.
She stated that the funds will be distributed through her organization Pivotal Ventures to organizations such as the National Women’s Law Center, the National Domestic Workers Alliance, and the Center for Reproductive Rights. Additionally, she has provided grants of $20 million to 12 individuals to distribute as they see fit, including notable figures like Jacinda Ardern, Allyson Felix, and Shabana Basij-Rasikh.
French Gates also announced a $250 million initiative to improve women and girls’ physical and mental health worldwide, with an open call for grassroots organizations to request funding. She expressed her determination to seize the opportunity to empower women and girls to set their own agendas.
