Additional Coverage:
- Melinda French Gates will donate $150 million toward women in the workplace—and one-third of it will go to AI (newsbreak.com)
Melinda French Gates has announced a $150 million donation to support women in the workplace. This donation is part of her ongoing efforts to promote women’s causes.
One-third of the funding, $45 million, will be specifically allocated to women’s initiatives in the tech industry, particularly in artificial intelligence. This industry has a poor track record of female representation, and French Gates’ donation aims to address this issue.
French Gates acknowledges the progress made by women in the workforce but emphasizes that barriers such as inadequate childcare, limited flexible work hours, and sexism continue to hinder their advancement.
The donation will be distributed among various nonprofits, including the National Partnership for Women & Families, Gretchen Carlson’s Lift Our Voices, and Harvard Kennedy School’s Women and Public Policy Program.
The Aspen Institute will receive $75 million to establish a workplace innovation council in 2025.
French Gates’ philanthropy extends beyond women’s causes. She co-founded the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, which has had a significant impact on global health through immunization campaigns.