Melinda French Gates has decided to resign as co-chair of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, the foundation she co-founded with her ex-husband Bill Gates in 2000. In a message shared via the foundation, French Gates announced that her last day of work at the foundation will be on June 7. She expressed her pride in the work the foundation has done to address inequities around the world and assured that the foundation is in strong shape. The organization will change its name to the Gates Foundation to honor the contributions of both Bill and Melinda Gates.
In response to the announcement, Bill Gates thanked French Gates for her critical contributions to the foundation from its beginning. He acknowledged her influence in shaping the foundation’s strategies and initiatives, particularly in the areas of global health and gender equality. While he expressed sadness at her departure, Gates assured that he remained fully committed to the work of the foundation going forward. French Gates will not be taking any of the foundation’s work with her when she leaves, and Bill Gates will become the sole Chair of the foundation.
The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, launched by Bill Gates Sr. and formed through the consolidation of multiple charitable organizations supported by the Gates family and Microsoft, grew to become the world’s largest charitable foundation and a leader in global health. The foundation has had a significant impact on addressing various issues around the world, including supporting initiatives such as the RTS,S malaria vaccine trial. Gates and French Gates announced their divorce in May 2021, leaving the future of the foundation uncertain. In July 2021, the foundation initiated a two-year trial period to assess how effectively the pair could continue to work together.
French Gates’ decision to step down from the foundation enables her to allocate $12.5 billion towards her own philanthropic efforts. This funding could be managed through Pivotal Ventures, an executive office she established in 2015 to pursue ideas and investments that didn’t align with the Gates Foundation’s structure. Since the divorce, Pivotal Ventures has focused on initiatives empowering women and families, supporting women in running for public office, and advocating for policy changes. However, the impact of Pivotal Ventures has been overshadowed by the significant charitable contributions made by Mackenzie Scott, who divorced Jeff Bezos in the same year as French Gates separated from Bill Gates.
The departure of Melinda French Gates from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation marks a significant moment in the foundation’s history. While French Gates’ philanthropic efforts will now be directed through Pivotal Ventures, the Gates Foundation will continue its work to address global challenges and inequities. Moving forward, the foundation will be known as the Gates Foundation to honor the contributions of both Bill and Melinda Gates. French Gates’ decision to resign opens up new opportunities for her to pursue philanthropic endeavors aligned with her personal mission, while also allowing the foundation to build upon the legacy she helped create.
