Melinda French Gates has unveiled the final piece of her $1 billion commitment to women and girls: A $250 million open call for organizations focused on women’s physical and mental health.
“To fully exercise power over their lives, women need to be mentally and physically healthy. And yet, women’s health is being neglected everywhere,” Melinda French Gates said in a press release. “Organizations around the world are taking innovative approaches to addressing these challenges, and this open call is about getting them the resources they need to scale up and reach as many people as possible.”
The open fund will be managed through Lever for Change, a nonprofit donor adviser that connects funders to solutions through tailored funding opportunities. Through an extended selection process, both the nonprofit and French Gates hope to reach a diverse array of candidates — ultimately awarding organizations between $1 million and $5 million each.
About the author
Elissa Miolene
Elissa Miolene reports on USAID and the U.S. government at Devex. She previously covered education at The San Jose Mercury News, and has written for outlets like The Wall Street Journal, San Francisco Chronicle, Washingtonian magazine, among others. Before shifting to journalism, Elissa led communications for humanitarian agencies in the United States, East Africa, and South Asia.
