Melinda French Gates. PHOTO[COURTESY]
Melinda French Gates, has announced a monumental pledge of $1 billion over the next two years to bolster women and families worldwide. This commitment follows Melinda’s decision to step down from her role at the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, signaling a renewed and dedicated focus on championing women’s rights on a global scale.
Melinda receives a substantial $12 billion from Bill Gates, positioning herself to make a significant impact in philanthropy. This decision coincides with critical research from the Women’s Philanthropy Institute at Indiana University, which indicates that less than 2% of philanthropic donations in the U.S. benefit women and girls.
In recent weeks, Melinda has directed substantial funding towards organizations like the Center for Reproductive Rights, National Domestic Workers Alliance, and National Women’s Law, with crucial support from the Pivotal Ventures Organization. These grants aim to provide essential operational backing for impactful initiatives.
Notably, the Gates Foundation, under Melinda’s stewardship, has spearheaded initiatives spanning diverse causes, from narrowing the wage gap to empowering women in leadership roles and advocating for policy reforms. Now, Melinda is set to unveil a comprehensive $250 million plan geared towards enhancing the physical and mental well-being of women and girls globally.
Melinda French Gates is leaving the foundation she co-founded with Bill Gates, thereby initiating a re-branding to the Gates Foundation. With assets valued at a remarkable $75 billion, the Gates Foundation emerges as a premier philanthropic force, ready to catalyze impacting change under Melinda’s visionary guidance.
