Melinda French Gates Offers Lessons on Philanthropy and Progress

“When a woman can step into her full power, it’s better for her, her children, her household, her community, and her country,” Melinda French Gates told a crowd of more than 400 attendees gathered at the Denver Center for the Performing Arts on April 22.

French Gates was the honored guest of the University of Denver’s Josef Korbel School of Global and Public Affairs at the school’s annual Korbel Honors celebration. The event recognizes the efforts of so many—from students and alumni to global leaders like French Gates—who are striving to make the world more just, equitable, and prosperous. 

French Gates has been leading philanthropic efforts worldwide for more than 25 years—first with the Gates Foundation, which she founded and co-chaired, and then with Pivotal, which she launched in 2015 to focus on the advancement of women and young people. She took the stage in a conversation with Frederick “Fritz” Mayer, dean of the Korbel School, just after accepting the Josef Korbel Award as part of the evening’s program. 

The award recognizes individuals who embody the values of Josef Korbel, the school’s founder, who believed that knowledge—properly applied—can make the world more just and more peaceful. Past recipients include journalist Judy Woodruff and the late former U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, the daughter of Josef Korbel. Mayer said he was honored to present the award to French Gates, adding that her “decades of work advancing global health, gender equity, and women’s economic power exemplifies Korbel’s commitment to a more just and equitable world.”

French Gates said her time at the Gates Foundation, which she left in 2024, underscored the importance of centering women in philanthropy. She pointed to examples that, on the surface, seem like clear solutions but fall short without that focus. A grant to develop drought-resistant seeds in Africa, for example, might seem like a transformative idea—but its impact is limited if women, who make up 50% of the continent’s farmers, can’t access the merchants who sell the seeds. 

“[I learned that] if we didn’t focus on gender, we were basically missing half the equation,” said French Gates. 

Philanthropists, regardless of the causes they support, need to be strategic about their investments to maximize the impact of their funds, she said. Her approach, therefore, is to provide grants that encourage governments and private businesses to pitch in. “You have to think about each dollar you spend as a way of leveraging others,” she explained. 

Pivotal also invests in underrepresented entrepreneurs and advocates for social change, with a special focus on paid family leave and supporting women in public office. French Gates said she’s seen how women lawmakers come together, even across party lines, to work on issues like education. Amidst a widening political divide in the U.S., she wants to see a return to bipartisan, centrist politics. 

“...The question is, ‘Are we creating the future we want for this country?’” she said. “I’m funding various organizations that are trying to help us find the center of our democracy again.”

Celebrating Korbel’s community

The Korbel Honors ceremony also recognized a trio of outstanding members of the Korbel community. Distinguished Professor Ilene Grabel, who co-directs the MA program in Global Economic Affairs, was nominated by her students for the Outstanding Teaching Award. “I learn from and am inspired by the hard work, the values, the creativity, and the aspirations of my students,” Grabel said. “It’s a privilege to play a small role in helping them navigate the choices they’re making at a very important time in life.”

Debbie Gaylinn, director of Korbel’s Graduate Student Affairs, received the Staff Excellence Award for her continued dedication to serving students. “To be able to support bright, amazing students who will go out and make a positive impact on this world is such an honor,” said Gaylinn. “It allows me to feel like I have just a little bit of a part in putting that good out into the world.”

Finally, Maria Langan Riekhof (MA ’95) was the recipient of the Distinguished Alumni Award. Langan Riekhof spent more than 30 years as an analyst and manager, holding senior roles at the CIA and the National Intelligence Council. She is currently a distinguished research fellow at Stanford University. 

“I find two things are really important for a meaningful career: A sense of mission, and being surrounded by people who challenge you,” said Langan Riekhof as she accepted the award. “One of the greatest privileges of my journey has been the opportunity to learn from and to collaborate with other members of this big Korbel family.” 

French Gates closed the evening by urging students and attendees to get involved in the causes they care about. She said making a difference doesn’t always require donating money. 

“There are many issues in your own community that can use your services, whether that’s your intellect, your time, the way you do finances, or marketing,” she said. “One person does make a difference in the life of someone else; it doesn’t always have to be big.”

Indeed, making a difference in the world—in ways both large and small—is at the heart of the experience at Korbel, where students learn how to work creatively and effectively on the issues that matter most to them.