Melinda French Gates pledges $1 billion in support of women’s rights over the next 2 years

Melinda French Gates, a prominent philanthropist and advocate for gender equality, announced a groundbreaking commitment of $690 million towards supporting women’s rights and advancing gender equity in the U.S. Her organization, Pivotal Ventures, will be directing $200 million in new grants to various groups working to protect women’s rights and empower them.

Among the recipients of these grants are organizations like the National Women’s Law Center, the National Domestic Workers Alliance, and the Center for Reproductive Rights. Teresa Younger, the president and CEO of the Ms. Foundation for Women, praised French Gates’ commitment to providing unrestricted, multi-year funding to organizations, highlighting a growing trend among major women donors.

French Gates also pledged to give 12 individuals $20 million each to distribute to nonprofit organizations of their choice by the end of 2026. In total, she has announced $690 million in commitments out of a promised $1 billion, with a focus on improving women’s mental and physical health globally.

French Gates’ efforts come at a crucial time when women’s rights are under threat, with issues like maternal mortality rates, limited access to reproductive healthcare, and lack of paid family leave impacting women across the country. As she prepares to leave the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, her dedication to advancing gender equality remains unwavering.

The impact of French Gates’ philanthropy extends beyond the U.S., with the Gates Foundation, one of the largest philanthropic organizations globally, continuing to address critical issues in global health and other areas. French Gates’ commitment to empowering women and advocating for their rights serves as a beacon of hope for a more equitable and inclusive future.