Melinda French Gates resigns as co-chair of Gates Foundation 'to focus on women and families'

Melinda French Gates announced Monday her resignation as co-chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, a role she has held since its inception in 2000. The foundation, which has disbursed nearly $78 billion in grants over 25 years, will undergo a name change to the Gates Foundation, with Bill Gates assuming sole chairmanship.

French Gates, as part of her separation agreement from former husband Bill Gates, will receive an additional $12.5 billion for her charitable endeavors. She expressed her intention to concentrate her philanthropic efforts on organisations dedicated to empowering women and supporting families.

In a statement, French Gates emphasised the significance of her decision, underscoring her pride in the foundation’s accomplishments in addressing global inequities.

pic.twitter.com/JYIovjNYKo

— Melinda French Gates (@melindagates) May 13, 2024

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Her departure from the foundation is scheduled for June 7, with further details regarding her future charitable initiatives forthcoming.

While Bill Gates expressed regret at Melinda’s departure, he affirmed his commitment to the foundation’s mission and its ongoing efforts to enhance lives globally. French Gates’ exit had been anticipated since the announcement of their divorce in May 2021, with a two-year trial period established to assess their continued collaboration within the foundation.

The Gates Foundation, which has recently diversified its board of trustees, remains dedicated to its mission of improving healthcare, education, and reducing poverty worldwide. French Gates’ establishment of Pivotal Ventures in 2015 underscores her commitment to advancing gender and minority equality in the United States.

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Both Bill and Melinda French Gates have pledged the majority of their wealth to philanthropy, with plans to exhaust their resources within the next two decades. Their contributions, including an estimated $100 billion to date, aim to catalyze positive change and address pressing global challenges.