Melinda French Gates has announced plans to grant $1 billion over the next two years to programs and people working on women’s and family issues. This decision comes in the wake of the Supreme Court’s 2022 decision that gutted abortion protections and the need to fund reproductive initiatives in the U.S. French Gates, who has long focused on improving contraceptive access overseas, now aims to support reproductive rights at home as well, prompted by the need to level the playing field for organizations fighting for women’s rights.
The announcement of this massive grant comes on the heels of her resignation from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, where she left with $12.5 billion for her own initiatives following her divorce from Bill Gates. French Gates will use her independent company, Pivotal Ventures, established in 2015, to deploy the newly committed $1 billion. Specifically, she plans to issue $200 million in grants to U.S. groups focused on women’s rights, including the Center for Reproductive Rights and the National Women’s Law Center, among others.
French Gates is personally selecting 12 people from across the globe whose work she admires to receive $20 million each to distribute as grants. Notable recipients include former New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, filmmaker Ava DuVernay, Olympic athlete Allyson Felix, and Crystal Echo Hawk, an advocate for Native American issues. Additionally, she will launch a $250 million global initiative this fall focused on the mental and physical health of women and girls, with a specific emphasis on supporting grassroots organizations that may not have access to major funders.
Similar to other major philanthropists, French Gates’ initiatives aim to disperse some of her wealth for the greater good. Jeff Bezos and his fiancée Lauren Sanchez have issued “Courage and Civility Awards” and MacKenzie Scott held an open call for nonprofits, resulting in significant grant distributions. Together with Lever for Change, a group that partnered with Scott on her initiative, French Gates is working to make a substantial impact in supporting women and girls, especially those of color, who are currently underfunded in charitable giving.
In her op-ed, French Gates emphasized the importance of funding organizations that support women and girls, noting that only a small percentage of charitable giving in the U.S. is directed towards these groups, with an even smaller fraction focused on women of color. She highlighted the collective cost of underfunding this cause and the potential impact on future generations, including her own granddaughter. As part of the $1 billion grant, 16 U.S. organizations were announced as grant recipients, including The 19th, a nonprofit news organization focusing on issues important to women and LGBTQ+ people.
Overall, French Gates’ commitment to supporting reproductive rights and women’s issues in the U.S. through a significant grant highlights her dedication to making a positive impact in the world. By using her resources to fund initiatives and organizations that champion gender equity and empowerment, she aims to address critical issues facing communities at home and abroad. Through her philanthropy, French Gates hopes to inspire and uplift those working tirelessly to advance women’s rights and create a more equitable society for all.
