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Melinda French Gates’ $1 Billion Pledge to Women, Families, and Abortion Rights
Edited by: TJVNews.com
In a groundbreaking announcement, Melinda French Gates revealed her intention to donate $1 billion over the next two years to support organizations and individuals dedicated to women’s rights, family support, and abortion rights, as was reported on Tuesday in The Wall Street Journal. This monumental pledge comes through her organization, Pivotal Ventures, and was made public shortly after her resignation from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
On June 7, Melinda French Gates formally stepped down from her role at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. This decision follows a strategic agreement with Bill Gates, which allocated $12.5 billion to her philanthropic endeavors specifically targeting women and girls, the WSJ reported. The timing of her departure and subsequent announcement highlights her commitment to addressing what she perceives as urgent and neglected areas of need within the global landscape.
As was reported by the WSJ, French Gates’ $1 billion pledge will be distributed through grants to more than a dozen organizations. Notable recipients include:
The Center for Reproductive Rights: This organization is at the forefront of advocating for abortion rights, especially crucial in the aftermath of the 2022 Supreme Court decision that rescinded the constitutional right to an abortion in the U.S.
The Institute for Women’s Policy Research: A think tank dedicated to producing rigorous research and policy recommendations that address issues affecting women.
Time’s Up Legal Defense Fund: This fund provides legal support to individuals who have experienced workplace harassment, emphasizing the intersection of gender equality and workplace rights.
In her op-ed published in the New York Times, French Gates articulated her reasons for this substantial financial commitment. She highlighted the chronic underfunding of organizations that fight for women’s rights, which forces them into a defensive stance against well-resourced opponents, the WSJ report said. By infusing these organizations with significant capital, she aims to level the playing field and bolster their capacity to effect change.
“For too long, a lack of money has forced organizations fighting for women’s rights into a defensive posture while the enemies of progress play offense. I want to help even the match,” she wrote, according to the WSJ report.
The Supreme Court’s 2022 decision to eliminate the constitutional right to an abortion was a pivotal moment for French Gates. She expressed her profound concern over the rollback of women’s rights and emphasized the need for robust support for abortion rights in the U.S, as was detailed in the WSJ report. Her pledge is a direct response to this judicial action, reflecting her belief that women’s rights should be a paramount concern in the contemporary social and political climate.
French Gates’ advocacy for women and girls spans nearly two decades. She has consistently encountered resistance, with critics often suggesting that discussions on gender equality are ill-timed or less critical compared to other global issues.
The report in the WSJ said that In her New York Times piece, she reflected on this persistent challenge: “In nearly 20 years as an advocate for women and girls, I have learned that there will always be people who say it’s not the right time to talk about gender equality. The second the global agenda gets crowded, women and girls fall off.”
The Gates Foundation quickly became one of the largest and most impactful philanthropic organizations in the world, addressing a myriad of global health, education, and poverty issues.
The couple’s divorce in 2021 raised questions about the future direction of the foundation. Despite the personal upheaval, French Gates, 59, decided to stay with the foundation, ensuring continuity in its mission.
In 2021, French Gates published her own Giving Pledge, declaring her intention to donate the bulk of her $13.3 billion fortune to various causes rather than limiting her contributions to the Gates Foundation, the WSJ report indicated.
Pivotal Ventures, the organization she founded in 2015, plays a central role in this new phase of her philanthropy. The organization recently announced a novel initiative, distributing $20 million each to a dozen notable figures, including filmmaker Ava DuVernay, Olympian Allyson Felix, and former New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, according to the information provided in the WSJ report. These funds are earmarked for charities focused on women’s health and well-being, representing an innovative approach to grant-making that French Gates hopes will unlock new funding opportunities.
In her opinion piece, French Gates expressed her profound sense of responsibility and opportunity: “As a young woman, I could never have imagined that one day I would be part of an effort like this. Because I have been given this extraordinary opportunity, I am determined to do everything I can to seize it and to set an agenda that helps other women and girls set theirs, too.”
The WSJ reported that among the recipients of French Gates’ largesse are organizations deeply engaged in gender, racial, and reproductive issues. Notable beneficiaries include:
The Collaborative for Gender + Reproductive Equity: This organization addresses the intersections of gender, racial, and reproductive justice, working to create a more equitable society.
The Institute for Women’s Policy Research: A think tank dedicated to producing rigorous research and policy recommendations on issues affecting women, thereby informing and influencing public policy.
MomsRising Education Fund: This group advocates for economic security for families, addressing issues such as paid family leave, affordable childcare, and workplace equality.
The 19th: A news organization focused on women’s and LGBT people’s issues, the 19th expressed profound gratitude for French Gates’ support, stating, “Sometimes dreams do come true. We are beyond grateful for French Gates’ confidence in our team and our mission.”