Melinda French Gates

Melinda French Gates

Co-chair (2000-2024)

Melinda French Gates is a philanthropist, businesswoman, and global advocate for women and girls. She founded and co-chaired the Gates Foundation, where, for more than two decades, she set the direction and priorities of the world’s largest philanthropy. Melinda left the Gates Foundation in June 2024.

For over 25 years, Melinda has led efforts to unlock a healthier, more prosperous, more equal future. Today, she heads Pivotal, an organization she formed in 2015 that works to accelerate the pace of progress and advance women’s power and influence in the U.S. and around the world. Pivotal drives impact using high-impact investments, philanthropy, partnerships, and advocacy.

Melinda has seen firsthand how empowered women and girls transform families, communities, and countries. In her bestselling book, The Moment of Lift, she introduces readers to women whose stories have inspired her and writes about her own journey to becoming an advocate. Through her imprint, Moment of Lift Books, she amplifies other voices by publishing original nonfiction from visionaries working to unlock a more equal world for women and girls.

The second of four children, Melinda grew up in Dallas, Texas. She attended Duke University, where she received a bachelor’s degree in computer science and economics and an MBA. Melinda spent the first decade of her career developing multimedia products at Microsoft before leaving the company to focus on her family and philanthropic work.

Melinda has three children—Jenn, Rory, and Phoebe—and lives in Seattle, Washington.

See articles by Melinda French Gates

Portrait of Bunmi Grace Babalola, owner of a Patent and Proprietary Medicine Vendor (PPMV) drug store, in Alimosho, Lagos State, Nigeria, on May 23, 2023.

The capital women need, for the future we all need

Melinda French Gates pens the foreword to a new paper that addresses the need to expand access to affordable credit for women entrepreneurs in the Global South.
By Melinda French Gates Co-chair (2000-2024), Gates Foundation
A community health volunteer, Mesaid, conducts meets with an expectant mother, Chizi, in Mariakani, Kenya.

Melinda French Gates on how leaders can boost women’s economic power

The case for doing so has never been stronger, argues the philanthropist.
By Melinda French Gates Co-chair (2000-2024), Gates Foundation
Prema Devi uses BioPrime AgriSolutions pest controller and Kamal Kisan pesticide spray on her farm in Gauripur village, Uttar Pradesh, India.

Climate and Development Finance: A transition framework for all

Melinda French Gates pens the foreword to a new white paper detailing steps to accelerate climate resilient development and create greater opportunities for citizens in low-income countries.
By Melinda French Gates Co-chair (2000-2024), Gates Foundation

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