Melinda French Gates says she will donate $1 billion over the next two years to ‘individuals and organizations working on behalf of women and families globally, including on reproductive rights in the United States.’
Earlier this month, she stepped down from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and vowed to focus on women and families in the U.S. Up to this point, Most of her philanthropic giving has been focused overseas.
In an essay for the New York Times, French Gates explained that she’s been frustrated over the years by people who say it’s not the right time to talk about gender equality.
“Decades of research on economics, well-being and governance make it clear that investing in women and girls benefits everyone,” she wrote.
Through her Pivotal Ventures, she said she’ll start rolling out grants to groups working in the U.S. to protect women’s rights and advance their power and influence.