By Stacy M. Brown
NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent
@StacyBrownMedia
Melinda French Gates has been at the forefront of philanthropic innovation since founding Pivotal Ventures in 2015. Pivotal Ventures is dedicated to advancing social progress through a strategic blend of venture capital investments, advocacy funding, and philanthropic grantmaking. In 2022, French Gates expanded her mission by launching the Pivotal Philanthropies Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, to further support philanthropic initiatives with a flexible approach to driving impact.
“When it comes to solving big, complicated problems, it helps to have a lot of tools in your toolbox,” French Gates stated in a previous interview. This philosophy underpins Pivotal Ventures’ efforts to bridge philanthropy, venture capital, and policy advocacy. The organization’s primary focus areas include:
- Increasing the number of women graduating, investing, and leading in technology: Pivotal Ventures is committed to enhancing women’s roles and leadership in the tech industry, promoting innovation and diversity.
- Accelerating investment in women and girls of color: By focusing on the talents and contributions of women and girls of color, Pivotal Ventures aims to magnify their transformative impact through targeted investments.
- Increasing the number of women running for and holding public office: Given that more than half of the U.S. adult population is female, Pivotal Ventures advocates for greater female representation in lawmaking institutions to ensure their perspectives are included in policymaking.
- Backing the creation of a modern caregiving system: The organization supports initiatives to develop a caregiving system that enables families to effectively balance work and care responsibilities.
- Securing a comprehensive federal paid family and medical leave policy: Pivotal Ventures pushes for policies that benefit all working families, regardless of location or job type.
- Expanding access to mental health support for young people: Pivotal Ventures focuses on providing mental health resources for youth, particularly LGBTQ+ youth and young people of color, who are underserved by existing systems designed for adults.
In addition to her philanthropic endeavors, French Gates is an outspoken advocate in the political arena. She has openly opposed Donald Trump’s policies and declared her support for President Joe Biden’s reelection bid. “In this election, I cannot vote for a man who rolls back women’s reproductive rights and says the heinous things that he says about women. So, I absolutely am not voting for Trump, and I will vote for Biden,” she told Gayle King on “CBS Mornings.”
French Gates emphasized the critical role of women voters, particularly in battleground states, in shaping the upcoming election. “It is going to come down in this election—it will come down to the women turning out in the battleground states,” she insisted. “They … women turned out in the midterm elections and said, ‘This is enough,’ and we’ve got to do it again.” A staunch reproductive rights advocate, French Gates celebrated the recent Supreme Court decision upholding access to the abortion medication mifepristone but acknowledged the ongoing battle for reproductive freedoms. “Today’s Supreme Court decision is welcome news, but the fight for reproductive rights is far from over,” she wrote on the social media platform X.
French Gates’ dedication to philanthropy began with her co-founding the Gates Foundation, where she guided the world’s largest charity for over two decades. Her past and present initiatives reflect her commitment to creating a healthier, more prosperous, and more equitable future. As the author of the bestselling book “The Moment of Lift” and creator of Moment of Lift Books, she continues to share her vision for a more equal world. “For over 25 years, I’ve worked to unlock a healthier, more prosperous, more equal future,” French Gates stated. “Today, with Pivotal, I’m as committed as ever to accelerating progress and advancing women’s power and influence around the globe.”
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