Melinda French Gates has voiced strong support for the Gates Foundation’s ambitious plan to spend its $200 billion endowment on global health initiatives before closing in 2045. In a recent interview with Fortune, she emphasized the foundation’s original goal of giving back to society, calling the decision “fantastic.”
The foundation intends to double its spending in the next two decades to combat deadly diseases, reduce maternal and child deaths, and alleviate poverty worldwide. Melinda noted that the majority of these resources were designed to be reinvested into society, staying true to the foundation’s mission. She also acknowledged that while the timeline for this spending was ultimately Bill Gates’ decision, it aligned with their shared vision when they founded the foundation in 2000.
The Gates Foundation has already committed $100 billion during its first 25 years of operation, with French Gates playing a critical role in that success. Reflecting on this progress, she noted the extraordinary strides made and the lives positively impacted by their efforts.
Despite her departure from the Gates Foundation in 2020 to focus on her own organization, Pivotal Ventures, French Gates remains a strong advocate for the foundation’s mission. She expressed her belief that billionaires have a moral obligation to give back to society, citing the resources and opportunities they benefited from, particularly in the United States. She emphasized that people in other parts of the world do not have access to the same resources, reinforcing the need for philanthropy.
Looking ahead, French Gates hopes the foundation’s work will continue to have a lasting impact. She believes the true measure of success would be seeing people live different, better lives as a result of the foundation’s contributions, even long after it has closed its doors.
