Melinda French Gates has announced her commitment to match donations up to $1 million for two nonprofit organizations this GivingTuesday, a pivotal fundraising day for charities that falls on the Tuesday after Thanksgiving each year. This initiative aims to boost donations during a season where nonprofits encourage giving from their supporters.
For over ten years, GivingTuesday has served as a significant day for charitable organizations, which actively seek donations and support from their communities. French Gates expressed her enthusiasm for this occasion, stating, “It’s a great time to remind people that we’re better off when we give something back and we all have something to give back.” The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation played an essential role in the early support of GivingTuesday, which began as a social media hashtag and evolved into a standalone entity.
According to estimates, last year’s GivingTuesday saw around $3.1 billion in donations; however, the number of participants has been on the decline. Asha Curran, CEO of GivingTuesday, indicated that matching gifts like French Gates’ could motivate more individuals to give. She emphasized that the responsibility of philanthropy should not reside solely with the wealthy, advocating that everyone has a role to play in fostering a generous society.
Una Osili, associate dean at Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy, noted that despite a shrinking number of donating households, the overall donation amounts may remain consistent since those who do contribute are often giving more. She expressed cautious optimism, stressing that while inflation has been moderated, it continues to pose challenges for many families.
As part of her initiative, French Gates will match donations to Vote Mama Foundation and the Rosalynn Carter Institute for Caregivers, each up to $500,000. These organizations have a ten-day window to raise the necessary funds, utilizing the nonprofit crowdfunding platform Every.org to facilitate and track donations.
Liuba Grechen Shirley, the founder and CEO of Vote Mama Foundation, expressed surprise at French Gates’ generous offer, highlighting her organization’s mission to empower mothers in politics. Her own experience running for Congress in 2018 led to significant changes in campaign finance regulations, allowing candidates to use funds for childcare. “It’s used by men. It’s used by women,” Grechen Shirley explained, noting that while the program benefits all candidates, women, especially women of color, are the majority beneficiaries.
In addition to her philanthropic efforts, French Gates has been a vocal advocate for various social causes, including paid family leave and affordable childcare. Despite the political setbacks for figures like Vice President Kamala Harris, she remains dedicated to her mission.
The Rosalynn Carter Institute for Caregivers, another beneficiary of French Gates’ matching initiative, has historically focused on the challenges associated with caregiving. Paurvi Bhatt, who leads the institute, described the longstanding relationship between French Gates and the former First Lady, whose legacy continues to influence their work.
This matching campaign on GivingTuesday marks a recent commitment by French Gates following her departure from the Gates Foundation earlier this year. After divorce from Bill Gates, co-founder of Microsoft, French Gates pledged $1 billion over two years to advance women’s issues and family support, which includes a significant portion aimed at enhancing women’s health globally.
“I wanted people to know I’m not going away,” French Gates declared. “My values are still here. And this work around ‘How do we make a more equitable society?’ There is so much work to be done in the United States.”
By nurturing generosity and philanthropy, French Gates continues to inspire change and elevate crucial conversations surrounding equity and support within society.
