Olivia Rodrigo’s first Daisy Chain Fields Festival has wrapped up in California with a major fundraising announcement. The singer revealed that the women-focused music event raised $10 million, which was then doubled to $20 million after a contribution pledge from Melinda French Gates.Also Read: Five Chinese students build a low-cost device that lets divers send messages underwater without radioThe festival took place Saturday, August 29, in Irvine and brought together an unusually strong lineup of women artists and bands, including Stevie Nicks, Chappell Roan, Doechii, Karen O, Bikini Kill, Mitski, Garbage, The Breeders and Rachel Chinouriri.Olivia Rodrigo’s festival raises $20 millionRodrigo used her closing performance to announce the fundraising total and thank the musicians who appeared without taking performance fees.She said the artists had made time in their packed schedules to participate for free, helping make it possible to direct $10 million toward 10 organisations working with women and girls.Rodrigo also stressed why she believes supporting women can have a wider impact.“I really believe that giving women the tools to decide their own futures and live healthy lives free of violence and discrimination is the most effective tool we have at changing the world for the better,” she said.The amount was then boosted after Melinda French Gates pledged to match the money raised, bringing the overall contribution to $20 million.Melinda French Gates doubles the fundraisingRodrigo introduced French Gates during the event, calling her one of the most inspiring women she has met. French Gates has spent years supporting initiatives focused on women and girls, and her matching pledge significantly increased the impact of the festival's first edition.Rodrigo thanked her for agreeing to double the amount raised and said she was grateful for the support. The final $20 million will be divided equally among 10 organisations.Where will the money go?The beneficiary groups cover a wide range of issues, from reproductive healthcare and maternal health to domestic workers' rights and support for survivors of gender-based violence. The organisations receiving funding are:Baby2Baby: Provides children facing hardship with essentials such as diapers, clothing and other basic supplies.Black Mamas Matter Alliance: Works to tackle racial disparities in maternal health affecting Black women.Center for Reproductive Rights: Uses legal advocacy to protect reproductive healthcare and rights around the world.FreeFrom: Works to combat gender-based violence while helping survivors gain greater financial security.Jhpiego: Supports efforts to expand access to essential healthcare internationally.Johns Hopkins Center for Indigenous Health: Works to improve health outcomes and equity for Indigenous communities.National Domestic Workers Alliance: Campaigns for stronger labour protections and rights for domestic workers.National Institute for Reproductive Health: Supports advocates and organisations working to protect access to reproductive healthcare.National Women's Law Center: Uses legal action and public policy advocacy to advance gender justice.Planned Parenthood: Provides reproductive and sexual healthcare services across the US.Rodrigo said the groups are carrying out important work both in the United States and internationally.Festival inspired by Lilith FairDaisy Chain Fields was influenced by Lilith Fair, the touring music festival launched by Sarah McLachlan and other artists in the late 1990s.Lilith Fair emerged partly as a response to the difficulties female musicians faced in an industry where women artists often struggled to receive equal opportunities and representation.Also Read: In 1966, Marlon Brando bought a remote Pacific atoll after filming ‘Mutiny on the Bounty’; today, its protected beaches are a major nesting site where 15,614 green turtle hatchlings were recorded in one seasonRodrigo's new festival follows a similar idea by putting women artists at the centre while connecting the event to a wider social cause.The inaugural edition brought together established stars, alternative rock acts and newer performers, giving the festival a broad musical lineup.Event comes amid US reproductive healthcare debateThe fundraiser also took place against a backdrop of continuing political battles in the US over reproductive healthcare and family planning.The Trump administration has sought changes to federal family-planning funding, affecting organisations that provide services including contraception and testing and treatment for sexually transmitted infections.Funding for some organisations, including certain Planned Parenthood affiliates, was paused before money was later restored.Against that backdrop, reproductive healthcare became one of the key areas supported by the Daisy Chain Fields fundraiser.Will Daisy Chain Fields return?It appears the festival's first edition may not be its last. A post shared on the festival's Instagram account showed the large crowds that attended the event and carried the message: “One year down, and we’ll just keep growing.”That wording has fuelled expectations that Rodrigo and her collaborators could bring Daisy Chain Fields back for another edition.For now, though, the first festival has ended with a sizeable donation and a clear message from Rodrigo: the event was designed to turn a day of music into long-term support for women and girls.