Melinda French Gates Launches $250M Initiative for Women's Health

Melinda French Gates has announced a $250 million open-call funding initiative aimed at improving women's health globally. This initiative, part of her $1 billion commitment to support women and families, will provide grants to at least 100 nonprofit organizations worldwide. The funding will prioritize groups that have been historically overlooked and will support efforts to enhance women's physical and mental health. 

French Gates' new focus on women's health underscores the importance of ensuring women have access to the healthcare they need to exercise their full potential. The initiative is managed by Pivotal Ventures and Lever for Change, with applications open until December 3, 2024. 

“With this new open call, we hope to reach even more outstanding organisations in communities that have not had access to this kind of funding,” said Cecilia Conrad, the chief executive officer of Lever for Change. “Action for Women’s Health will lift up community-informed groups around the world with deep lived experience of the issues they work on.” (as reported by The Guardian)