Pivotal Philanthropies Foundation

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: $484.6 million (2024)
• Success Rate: Not publicly available
• Decision Time: Not publicly disclosed
• Grant Range: $10,000 - $242,500,000
• Geographic Focus: Global, with emphasis on U.S. (especially DC, New York, California)

Contact Details

• Website: www.pivotal.com
• Phone: 425-708-8650
• Email: Not publicly available
• Address: 12335 134th Ct NE, Redmond, WA 98052

Overview

Founded by Melinda French Gates in 2015, Pivotal Philanthropies Foundation has rapidly emerged as one of the largest private foundations in the United States, with assets of $7.36 billion as of 2024. The foundation experienced explosive growth when Bill Gates transferred $7.88 billion to the organization in 2024 as part of their divorce agreement. Operating as the grantmaking arm of the broader Pivotal ecosystem, the foundation distributed over $484.6 million in 2024 alone—surpassing the annual giving of established foundations like Packard and MacArthur. The foundation focuses on accelerating social progress for women and young people globally through a partnership-based approach that combines strategic grantmaking with advocacy and impact investing.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

• Action for Women's Health: $1-5 million per grant ($250 million total allocated)
• Women in the Workplace Initiative: Up to $60 million via WIN competition
• Global Leaders Partnership: $20 million funds to 12 selected leaders
• General Grantmaking: $10,000 - $242,500,000 (invitation only)

Priority Areas

• Women's health (mental and physical)
• Women in technology
• Women and girls of color
• Women's political power and influence
• Caregiving infrastructure
• Paid family and medical leave
• Mental health for young people
• Maternal and perinatal health
• Community health and healthcare access
• Reproductive health and rights

What They Don't Fund

• Unsolicited proposals or requests
• Individual scholarships or personal assistance
• General operating support for organizations outside their focus areas

Governance and Leadership

The foundation operates with minimal staff and is governed by three board members:

• Melinda French Gates - Founder and Director
• John Sage - President and Treasurer (longtime adviser to French Gates)
• Brooke Anderson - Vice President and Secretary (CEO of Pivotal)

None of the board members receive compensation for their foundation roles, demonstrating a commitment to maximizing philanthropic impact. The lean structure allows for agile decision-making while maintaining close alignment with French Gates' philanthropic vision.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This funder does not have a public application process. Pivotal Philanthropies Foundation only accepts proposals by invitation and operates through a partnership-based approach. Occasionally, they announce public calls for proposals such as the Action for Women's Health challenge. Organizations cannot submit unsolicited proposals, ideas, or creative works.

Getting on Their Radar

Based on Pivotal's documented approach:

• Monitor their website and sign up for email updates to learn about periodic open calls like Action for Women's Health
• The foundation identifies partners through existing networks and recommendations from current grantees
• They partner with intermediary organizations like Lever for Change to manage large-scale open competitions
• Board members and advisers identify potential grantees through their professional networks in women's health, technology, and social justice sectors
• Organizations that demonstrate systems-level approaches to women's empowerment may be noticed through their public work and impact

Decision Timeline

Not publicly disclosed for invitation-only grants. For open calls like Action for Women's Health, the review process involved multiple stages over several months, with awards announced approximately 6-8 months after the application deadline.

Success Rates

For the Action for Women's Health open call: Over 4,000 organizations from 119 countries applied, with 80+ organizations receiving funding (approximately 2% success rate).

Reapplication Policy

Not publicly documented. Given the invitation-only nature of most funding, reapplication policies are likely handled on a case-by-case basis.

Application Success Factors

Based on Pivotal's funding patterns and stated priorities:

• Demonstrate a systems-change approach rather than addressing single issues in isolation
• Focus on solutions that expand women's power and influence as a prerequisite to broader progress
• Prioritize community-based organizations working within their home countries and regions
• Show how your work addresses structural barriers and bottlenecks holding women back
• Emphasize bold, innovative approaches that can scale for greater impact
• For organizations led by women and people of color, highlight this leadership as Pivotal actively seeks to support underrepresented leaders
• Frame women's advancement as an economic growth strategy, not just social impact
• Organizations addressing maternal health, community health access, and reproductive rights align strongly with current priorities

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Pivotal operates primarily through invitation-only funding, so building visibility through impactful work in their focus areas is essential
• Watch for periodic open calls announced on their website—these represent rare opportunities for unsolicited applications
• The foundation favors large, transformative grants to organizations capable of systems-level change
• Community-based organizations, particularly those in underserved regions like West Africa, Central America, and Melanesia, have successfully secured funding
• Partnership-based approach means they seek long-term relationships with grantees rather than one-time transactions
• With $1 billion committed through 2026 specifically for advancing women's power globally, funding availability is substantial for aligned organizations
• Sign up for email updates on their website to ensure you don't miss open funding opportunities

References

• Capital Research Center, "Melinda French Gates and her Pivotal philanthropies" (Accessed February 2026)
• Pivotal official website, www.pivotal.com (Accessed February 2026)
• Inside Philanthropy, "Pivotal Ventures Grants Database" (Accessed February 2026)
• Lever for Change, "Action for Women's Health Announcement" (November 2025)
• ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer, Form 990-PF filings for Pivotal Philanthropies Foundation (2024)
• Instrumentl 990 Report, Pivotal Philanthropies Foundation financial data (Accessed February 2026)
• GeekWire, "Melinda French Gates' Pivotal Ventures awards $250M to women's health organizations worldwide" (2025)
• Foundation Directory (Candid), Pivotal Philanthropies Foundation profile (Accessed February 2026)