Launching Women's Health Co-Lab: A $100M Initiative for Global Health Equity

Launching the Women's Health Co-Lab: A $100 Million Initiative

In a significant move towards health equity for women worldwide, ICONIQ Impact recently announced the launch of its Women's Health Co-Lab. This collaborative philanthropy initiative, in partnership with Co-Impact, aims to bring together resources and like-minded philanthropic leaders, with an ambitious goal of raising $100 million to improve health and agency for millions of women and girls.

Founding Support and Mission

The announcement was made public at the 2025 Forbes Impact Summit and was supported by notable philanthropists including Melinda French Gates, Jennifer Gates Nassar, and Phoebe Gates among others. The Co-Lab encapsulates a vision where every woman and girl can lead a healthy, safe, and autonomous life. However, this ideal remains elusive for countless women facing health inequities around the globe, stemming from preventable maternal deaths, gender-based violence, and inadequate family planning access.

Matti Navellou, Head of ICONIQ Impact, expressed that this collaborative effort represents a critical moment for philanthropy, emphasizing the importance of committed support for women's health and rights. He articulated, "The philanthropic sector faces a defining moment to reinforce its dedication to women's health and rights."

Addressing Core Health Areas

The Women's Health Co-Lab will primarily focus on three critical health sectors:

1. Maternal Health: Every day, over 800 women die due to complications related to pregnancy and childbirth. The initiative will collaborate with six grantee organizations to strengthen maternal healthcare delivery systems, enhance access to care through tech support, advocacy, and community engagement, and build the capacity of healthcare workers. Key partners include Every Mother Counts and the Maternal and Reproductive Health Research Collective.

2. Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights: Estimates suggest that by 2030, about 470 million women may lack access to essential sexual and reproductive healthcare services. Collaborating with ten nonprofit organizations, including Americans for Contraception and Girl Effect, the Co-Lab aims to expand healthcare access, disseminate accurate information, and launch targeted advocacy campaigns across numerous regions.

3. Gender-Based Violence: Alarmingly, one in three women will experience some form of violence in their lifetime, ranging from online harassment to intimate partner violence. This initiative will support six grantees, such as Serenas and Ujamaa Africa, to strengthen protective policies, shift societal norms among men and boys, support survivors, and raise awareness to empower young girls.

Collective Efforts for Change

The collaborative ethos of the Women's Health Co-Lab is not just about funding; it signifies a commitment to trust local leaders and resource their visions. As Michael Anders, co-founder of ICONIQ, pointed out, "Women's health is foundational to flourishing communities, and this new Co-Lab is a chance to put resources where they can have real impact."

Prominent advocate Phoebe Gates criticized the persistence of health and safety battles women still face today, citing the 22 organizations involved as beacons of hope. "Their work is a powerful reminder of the world we have the power to create," she noted.

A Call to Philanthropists

The Co-Lab has already secured over $70 million in donations from its founding supporters. Still, it actively seeks additional philanthropists willing to contribute to this transformative cause aimed at improving health outcomes and expanding agency for women and girls across the globe. Holly Fogle, a founding donor, expressed her enthusiasm for the initiative, stating, "When we invest in women's health, we invest in our collective future."

Conclusion

ICONIQ Impact's Women's Health Co-Lab represents a pivotal step towards fighting health inequities faced by women and girls. The collaborative nature of the initiative is designed to pool resources efficiently, amplify impact, and inspire a collective response to some of the world's most pressing challenges in women’s health. Philanthropists interested in joining this cause can connect with ICONIQ Impact to explore partnership opportunities.

For more information and to learn how to contribute, you can contact ICONIQ Impact at [email protected].

In conclusion, as we stand in 2025, with a concerted effort by various stakeholders, there remains hope for meaningful change. By prioritizing women’s health, we embrace the potential for thriving communities where all individuals can prosper.