Melinda French Gates bid farewell after nearly 25 years at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation in a letter to colleagues and alumni. In the letter, she expressed gratitude for their work and shared a mix of emotions, including sadness over the goodbye, pride in accomplishments, and excitement for the future. French Gates noted the exceptional nature of the people she had the privilege to work with and the impact they had on her life.
French Gates, along with then-husband Bill Gates, co-founded the foundation in 2000, which grew to become the world’s largest charitable foundation with a focus on global health. After announcing their decision to divorce in May 2021, French Gates agreed to leave the foundation with $12.5 billion that she intends to commit to her work on behalf of women and families. The foundation has more than 2,000 employees and an endowment exceeding $75 billion, making it a significant player in the philanthropic world.
Despite the divorce and her departure from the foundation, French Gates remains committed to her work and announced plans to grant $1 billion over the next two years to programs and people working towards women’s and family issues. She will be using her independent company, Pivotal Ventures, to deploy the funds. While her resignation marks the end of a chapter at the foundation, French Gates emphasized that it is not a goodbye, as she will continue working on the issues that matter to her and advocating for a healthier, more prosperous, and more equal future for all.
French Gates did not mention Bill Gates in her resignation letter, which coincided with the foundation’s announcement of a name change to the Gates Foundation. The couple’s divorce and French Gates’ departure from the foundation mark significant changes for the organization, but she remains focused on her ongoing efforts to make a positive impact on society. French Gates acknowledged the support and contributions of her colleagues and alumni at the foundation, recognizing the pivotal role they played in her journey over the past two and a half decades.
As French Gates prepares to embark on a new chapter in her philanthropic work, she expressed gratitude to the foundation colleagues and alumni for their dedication and taught her valuable lessons over the years. She highlighted the significant impact they have had on her life and expressed confidence in their ability to continue carrying forward the mission of the foundation. French Gates’ departure marks the end of an era at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, but her dedication to making a difference in the world remains unwavering, as she looks towards a future focused on empowerment, equality, and progress.
