In May, Melinda French Gates resigned as co-chair of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and announced that she would donate billions of dollars over the next two years to women’s organizations.
On Wednesday, part of that vision unfolded – French Gates launched Action for Women’s Health, a $250 million fund for non-profit organizations that support the mental and physical health of women around the world.
“Women’s health continues to be an afterthought, and it impacts the health of our families, our communities, and our economy,” French Gates said in a promotional video for the fund. “Thankfully there are so many amazing organizations around the world working to change that.”
Melinda French Gates. Photo by Taylor Hill/FilmMagic
Action for Women’s Health will help fund grassroots organizations that deal with women’s health issues, explained French Gates. Each awardee will receive between $1 million and $5 million and will be reviewed multiple times before receiving funding. The winners will be announced at the end of next year.
Related: Melinda French Gates Reveals Her Next Step After Leaving Gates Foundation: ‘Set Your Agenda or Someone Else Will’
Here’s what the fund is looking for and how to apply.
Who Should Apply
Applicants must focus on women’s mental or physical health and meet four criteria: Be impactful, scalable, equitable, and feasible.
Impact, for example, is measured by demonstrated contributions to a non-profit organization. 1 point will be contributions and an ineffective, impractical method while 5 points will be earned for examples of contributions, and a proven effective method.
An organizational readiness tool is available to help applicants assess if they meet the requirements. The form goes through criteria such as who can apply – individuals, for-profits, LLCs, and B-Corps are eligible.
It also asks whether the nonprofit is focused on the mental or physical health of women and whether they have at least two audited financial records, among other questions.
How to apply
Action for Women’s Health is now accepting applications, which must arrive by January 10, 2025. Organizations must register their intent to apply by December 3, 2024.
Related: Melinda French Gates Says This Brain Hack Helped Her Overcome Imposter Syndrome
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