Melinda French Gates donates $215 million to improve women's health worldwide

June 4, 2026 - 20:38

Melinda French Gates is committing an additional $215 million to improve women's health around the world, with a sharp focus on expanding access to modern contraception. The donation, announced through her investment and philanthropic organization Pivotal Ventures, aims to address a persistent gap in global health funding. French Gates has long argued that women's health issues, particularly reproductive care, receive far less attention and money than they deserve.

The new funding will support organizations working to deliver contraceptive supplies, train healthcare workers, and strengthen supply chains in low-income countries. French Gates noted that nearly 250 million women worldwide who want to avoid pregnancy are not using a modern method of contraception. She described the lack of access as a barrier to economic opportunity and personal freedom.

This pledge builds on her previous commitments to gender equality and family planning. French Gates has directed billions of dollars toward these causes since stepping into large-scale philanthropy. She has also been vocal about the need for more private donors to step up, especially as government funding for family planning programs faces political uncertainty in some regions.

The announcement comes as part of a broader push by French Gates to reshape how philanthropy approaches women's health. Rather than funding isolated projects, she wants to build long-term systems that give women real choices about their bodies and futures.