Melinda Gates announced on Tuesday the first steps in her new philanthropy initiative, working toward advancing women’s rights around the world.
Gates, who recently announced her departure from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, will commit $1 billion through 2026 to charities and individuals working on issues like reproductive freedom and mental health.
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“With the rollback of women’s rights and headwinds to social progress in the U.S. and around the world, Melinda believes that now is the time to provide urgent capital to people and organizations fighting to protect and further equality and remove the barriers that hold women back,” Pivotal Ventures, her new fund, said in a statement.
The commitment
Among the $1 billion will be $200 million in grants, structured to provide flexibility to spend as the organizations see fit, according to the press release.
The organizations and individuals that will see those grants include the Center for Reproductive Rights, MomsRising Education Fund, Ms. Foundation for Women, National Partnership for Women and Families, New America, Time’s Up Legal Defense Fund, award-winning filmmaker Ava DuVernay and former New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern.
An additional $240 million will be devoted to partnerships with a “diverse group” of 12 global leaders, according to the press release. Each leader will be provided with a $20 million fund to distribute to charitable organizations that they consider to be doing “urgent, impactful and innovative work to improve women’s health and well-being in the U.S. and around the world.”
Gates will also award $250 million through an open call, launching later this fall in partnership with the advocacy group Lever for Change. The work is meant to identify organization that are improving women’s mental and physical health worldwide.
Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
Gates, who divorced the Microsoft co-founder in 2021, announced on May 13 that she would step down as co-chair of the philanthropy she co-founded with her ex-husband 24 years ago, which has since grown to become one of the world’s largest private charitable organizations.
“Under the terms of my agreement with Bill, in leaving the foundation, I will have an additional $12.5 billion to commit to my work on behalf of women and families,” Melinda posted on X, formerly known as Twitter. “The time is right for me to move forward into the next chapter of my philanthropy.”
At the time of their divorce, both had pledged to continue their philanthropic work together.
“I am sorry to see Melinda leave, but I am sure she will have a huge impact in her future philanthropic work,” Bill Gates said in a statement.
The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation has spent more than $59 billion to combat poverty and diseases since its inception in 2000. Last year, the charity funded grantees in 48 states and the District of Columbia, as well as work in 135 countries.
Melinda will not bring the foundation’s work with her when she leaves on June 7, according to Mark Suzman, the foundation’s CEO.
“I truly admire Melinda, and I will deeply miss working with her and learning from her,” he said.
Uncommon Knowledge
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