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Updates on Melinda French Gates $1B Commitment to Advance Women’s Power Globally

Melinda French Gates announced that as the first step in the next chapter of her philanthropy she is committing an additional $1 billion through 2026 to advance women’s power globally.

Grants Plus has compiled everything you need to know about the opportunities, and tips to best position your organization for success.

The Opportunity

Currently, there is an open call of $250 million through Pivotal Philanthropies for the Action for Women’s Health funding opportunity. The details:

  • Action for Women’s Health is a $250 million global open call launched by Pivotal Philanthropy that will fund organizations around the world that are improving women’s mental and physical health.
  • Interested organizations must register to apply before 4 p.m. U.S. Central Time on Tuesday, December 3, 2024.
  • Complete applications are due before 4 p.m. U.S. Central Time on Friday, January 10, 2025.
  • Each awardee will receive flexible funding between $1 million and $5 million USD.
  • Eligible organizations are those that serve women and have a record of improving women’s mental or physical health. Applicants should center equity in their approach and be poised to scale their work to strengthen the health of more women. Organizations from around the world are invited to apply.
  • The selection process includes the following steps:
    • Administrative Review to ensure compliance with requirements.
    • Applicants passing the Administrative Review will proceed to a Participatory Review, during which the application will be assessed by other applicant organizations. Applicants are required to assess at least four other applications.
    • The top-scoring applications as determined by the Participatory Review will advance to an Evaluation Panel review using a scoring rubric.
    • Pivotal Philanthropy will then select the awardees.

The Commitment

In addition to the $250 million opportunity above, this $1B commitment will also include the following grants made by Pivotal Philanthropies Foundation:

$200 million

in grants aimed at supercharging the work of organizations that are fighting in the U.S. to advance women’s power and protect their rights, including reproductive freedom. These grants will be structured to provide flexible funding to spend as organizations see fit.

$240 million

devoted to partnerships with a diverse group of 12 global leaders. Each leader will be provided with a $20 million fund to distribute to charitable organizations 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.

This page will be updated when these funding opportunities open and additional details are released.

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.

Melinda French Gates

How We Can Help

Contact us to learn how we can help bolster your applications to Pivotal Philanthropy opportunities and beyond!

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