Melinda French Gates has launched a $250 million global open call through her agency, Pivotal Ventures, to support organizations focusing on improving women’s mental and physical health. This program, called Action for Women’s Health, is part of Gates’ promise to use $1 billion over the next two years to promote women’s power globally. Organizations chosen through the open call will receive between $1 million and $5 million in funding and will be announced by the end of 2025.
The program will be managed by Lever for Change and funded by Pivotal Philanthropies Foundation. Gates highlighted the importance of women’s health, noting that it often gets neglected, impacting families, communities, and economies. Data shows that women spend 25% more of their lives in poor health compared to men, with nearly 800 women dying each day due to preventable pregnancy or childbirth-related complications.
Interested organizations must register to apply before December 3, 2024, complete the online application by January 10, 2025, and demonstrate a proven history of improving women’s mental or physical health. A participatory review will take place in March 2025, with organizations scoring high moving on to the evaluation panel review. Awardees will receive flexible funding between $1 million and $5 million.
This initiative comes after Gates announced her resignation from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation in May and marks a new chapter in her philanthropic efforts to address global health and gender inequities. Interested organizations are encouraged to apply and use the hashtag #ActionForWomensHealth to spread awareness.
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