Gates Foundation

File:B&M Gates Complex.jpg]]

File:Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation logo.svg

In 1994, the foundation was formed as the William H. Gates Foundation.{{Cite web |url=https://www.gatesfoundation.org/Who-We-Are/General-Information/Leadership/Executive-Leadership-Team/William-H-Gates-Sr |title=William H Gates Sr |website=Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation |language=en |access-date=April 17, 2018 |archive-date=April 18, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180418093012/https://www.gatesfoundation.org/Who-We-Are/General-Information/Leadership/Executive-Leadership-Team/William-H-Gates-Sr |url-status=live }} In May 2002, the foundation purchased stocks in pharmaceutical companies Johnson & Johnson, Merck, and Pfizer.{{Cite news |last1=Bank |first1=David |last2=Buckman |first2=Rebecca |date=2002-05-17 |title=Gates Foundation Buys Stakes in Drug Makers |language=en-US |work=The Wall Street Journal |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB1021577629748680000 |access-date=2022-06-14 |archive-date=June 14, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220614000401/https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB1021577629748680000 |url-status=live }} On June 15, 2006, Gates announced his plans to transition out of a day-to-day role with Microsoft, effective July 31, 2008,{{cite news |url=http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/press/2006/jun06/06-15CorpNewsPR.mspx |title=Microsoft Announces Plans for July 2008 Transition for Bill Gates |publisher=Microsoft PressPass |date=June 15, 2006 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060619230935/http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/press/2006/jun06/06-15CorpNewsPR.mspx |archive-date=June 19, 2006 }} to allow him to devote more time to working with the foundation. The first CEO of the foundation, until she stepped down in 2008, was Patty Stonesifer.{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/07/us/07charity.html |title=Gates Foundation Head to Leave Longtime Post |date=February 7, 2008 |author=Stephanie Strom |work=The New York Times |access-date=June 9, 2017 |via=NYTimes.com |archive-date=January 6, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180106063730/http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/07/us/07charity.html |url-status=live }}

In 2005, Bill Gates and Melinda French Gates, along with the Irish rock musician Bono, were named by Time as Persons of the Year 2005 for their outstanding charitable work. In the case of the Gateses, the work referenced was that of BMGF.{{Cite news |title=TIME names Bono, Bill and Melinda Gates Persons of Year - CNN.com |url=http://www.cnn.com/2005/US/12/18/time.poy/index.html?iref=mpstoryview |website=CNN |access-date=February 5, 2016 |archive-date=February 7, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160207001021/http://www.cnn.com/2005/US/12/18/time.poy/index.html?iref=mpstoryview |url-status=live }} On 12 May 2008 it was announced that Jeff Raikes would replace Stonesifer as the CEO of the BMGF.{{cite news|url=http://www.journalstar.com/news/business/doc48287ee28cad2337010266.txt |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130126214717/http://www.journalstar.com/news/business/doc48287ee28cad2337010266.txt |url-status=dead |archive-date=2013-01-26 |title=Ashland native Jeff Raikes to run Gates Foundation |date=2008-05-12 |accessdate=2008-05-12 }}

The foundation announced in January 2005 that it would build its headquarters campus on {{convert|12|acre|ha}} adjacent to the Seattle Center in Downtown Seattle. The foundation purchased the property for $50.4 million from the Seattle city government, who would help build a 1,000-stall public parking garage and assist with cleanup of the land, which had been used as a Metro Transit bus base.{{cite news |last1=Young |first1=Bob |last2=McOmber |first2=J. Martin |date=January 14, 2005 |title=Gates nonprofit picks Seattle Center headquarters site |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/gates-nonprofit-picks-seattle-center-headquarters-site/ |work=The Seattle Times |accessdate=September 4, 2024}} The two-building headquarters campus opened in June 2011 at a cost of $500 million and was designed by NBBJ.{{cite news |last=Heim |first=Kristi |date=May 21, 2011 |title=The new Gates Foundation headquarters reflects charity's roots — and reach |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/the-new-gates-foundation-headquarters-reflects-charitys-roots-8212-and-reach/ |work=The Seattle Times |accessdate=September 4, 2024}} The design was awarded LEED Platinum status for its environmentally-friendly features, including a living roof, a rainwater retention pool, and a rooftop solar array.{{cite news |last=Bauman |first=Valerie |date=October 7, 2011 |title=New Gates Foundation campus receives highest environmental rating |url=https://www.bizjournals.com/seattle/blog/2011/10/new-gates-foundation-campus-receives.html |work=Puget Sound Business Journal |url-access=subscription |accessdate=September 4, 2024}}

In 2010, the foundation's founders started the Commission on Education of Health Professionals for the 21st Century, entitled "Transforming education to strengthen health systems in an interdependent world."{{cite web |url=http://www.publichealthglobal.org/index.php?option=com_myblog&show=Providing-Affordable-Healthcare-Education.html&Itemid=92 |title=Public Health Global Watch |access-date=March 12, 2015 |archive-date=April 25, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120425071723/http://www.publichealthglobal.org/index.php?option=com_myblog&show=Providing-Affordable-Healthcare-Education.html&Itemid=92 |url-status=dead }}

A 2011 survey of grantees found that many believed the foundation did not make its goals and strategies clear and sometimes did not understand those of the grantees; that the foundation's decision-making and grantmaking procedures were too opaque; and that its communications could be more consistent and responsive. The foundation's response was to improve the clarity of its explanations, make "orientation calls" to grantees upon awarding grants, tell grantees who their foundation contact is, give timely feedback when they receive a grantee report, and establish a way for grantees to provide anonymous or attributed feedback to the foundation.[http://www.gatesfoundation.org/learning/Pages/GranteeProgressReport2012.aspx Improving our Work with You: A Progress Report – Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130127163816/http://www.gatesfoundation.org/learning/Pages/GranteeProgressReport2012.aspx |date=January 27, 2013 }}. Gatesfoundation.org (September 6, 2012). Retrieved on July 18, 2013. The foundation also launched a podcast series.[http://www.soundcloud.com/BMGF Gates Foundation's Spotlight page on SoundCloud – Hear the world's sounds] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130522091305/http://soundcloud.com/BMGF |date=May 22, 2013 }}. Soundcloud.com. Retrieved on July 18, 2013.

In October 2013, the BMGF announced that it would join the International Aid Transparency Initiative.

In December 2013, Susan Desmond-Hellmann, president of product development for Genentech before its acquisition by Roche Pharmaceuticals,{{cite news |first=Denise |last=Grady |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/11/science/11profile.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0 |title=Profiles in Science: An Innovator Shapes an Empire |newspaper=The New York Times |date=October 10, 2011 |access-date=April 14, 2021 |archive-date=July 26, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240726170415/https://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/11/science/11profile.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0 |url-status=live }} was announced as BMGF's next CEO. She replaced Jeff Raikes on 1 May 2014.{{cite news |last1=Garde |first1=Damian |title=Genentech's ex-R&D boss takes the reins at the Gates Foundation |url=https://www.fiercebiotech.com/r-d/genentech-s-ex-r-d-boss-takes-reins-at-gates-foundation |agency=Fierce Biotech |publisher=Questex LLC |date=17 December 2013 |access-date=April 14, 2021 |archive-date=April 14, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210414065315/https://www.fiercebiotech.com/r-d/genentech-s-ex-r-d-boss-takes-reins-at-gates-foundation |url-status=live }}

In February 2014, Hillary Clinton launched a partnership between the foundation and the Clinton Foundation to gather and study data on the progress of women and girls around the world since the 1995 United Nations Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing.{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-politics/wp/2014/02/13/hillary-clinton-launches-global-data-project-on-women-and-girls/ |title=Hillary Clinton launches global data project on women and girls |newspaper=The Washington Post |access-date=August 24, 2017 |archive-date=July 11, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150711211014/http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-politics/wp/2014/02/13/hillary-clinton-launches-global-data-project-on-women-and-girls/ |url-status=live }}{{cite web |url=http://www.philanthropynewsdigest.org/news/wyss-clinton-foundations-partner-on-full-participation-by-women-and-girls |title=Wyss, Clinton Foundations Partner on Full Participation by Women and Girls |author=Foundation Center |work=Philanthropy News Digest (PND) |access-date=September 2, 2014 |archive-date=February 28, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210228090124/https://philanthropynewsdigest.org/news/wyss-clinton-foundations-partner-on-full-participation-by-women-and-girls |url-status=live }} This is called "No Ceilings: The Full Participation Project".

In October 2019, the BMGF partnered with the World Economic Forum to host the tabletop exercise called Event 201 in New York City.{{cite web | author=JHCHS website designer | title=Event 201, a pandemic exercise to illustrate preparedness efforts | website=Even 201 | date=2020-01-24 | url=https://www.centerforhealthsecurity.org/event201/ | access-date=2020-06-24 | archive-date=October 29, 2021 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211029035136/https://www.centerforhealthsecurity.org/event201/ | url-status=live }}

In February 2020, BMGF CEO Desmond-Hellmann was replaced "for health and family reasons" by Mark Suzman.{{cite news |last1=McKay |first1=Betsy |title=Gates Foundation CEO to Step Down |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/gates-foundation-ceo-to-step-down-11575570659 |agency=The Wall Street Journal |date=5 December 2019 |access-date=April 14, 2021 |archive-date=February 20, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210220135225/https://www.wsj.com/articles/gates-foundation-ceo-to-step-down-11575570659 |url-status=live }}

As early as 2012, there were reports that the BMGF was acting as a fund aggregator for wealthy donors - the name recognition associated with BMGF caused more money to be placed than when under anonymous control. This was particularly useful during the COVID-19 pandemic because the BMGF already knew which organizations were working in the field and able to receive funds.{{cite journal |last1=Karlan |first1=Dean |last2=List |first2=John A. |title=How can Bill and Melinda Gates increase other people's donations to fund public goods? |journal=Journal of Public Economics |date=November 2020 |volume=191 |pages=104296 |doi=10.1016/j.jpubeco.2020.104296 |pmid=33052151 |pmc=7544478 }}

When former President Trump threatened to defund the WHO in summer 2020 over concerns that it was too "deferential" to the Chinese Communist Party, because the BMGF constituted at that time the second-ranked contributor to the WHO, concerns were raised in the charity and academic sector that the BMGF might conceivably bias the WHO in the pursuit of its ideology. In the most timely accounting period, the BMGF provided 45% of the WHO's NGO funds, or in other words 12% of the total operating expenditure of the WHO.{{cite news |last1=Cheney |first1=Catherine |title='Big concerns' over Gates foundation's potential to become largest WHO donor |url=https://www.devex.com/news/big-concerns-over-gates-foundation-s-potential-to-become-largest-who-donor-97377 |publisher=Devex |date=5 June 2020 |access-date=April 20, 2021 |archive-date=April 19, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210419183549/https://www.devex.com/news/big-concerns-over-gates-foundation-s-potential-to-become-largest-who-donor-97377 |url-status=live }}{{cite news |last1=McPhillips |first1=Deidre |title=Gates Foundation Donations to WHO Nearly Match Those From U.S. Government |url=https://www.usnews.com/news/articles/2020-05-29/gates-foundation-donations-to-who-nearly-match-those-from-us-government |publisher=U.S. News & World Report L.P. |date=29 May 2020 |access-date=April 20, 2021 |archive-date=July 26, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240726170520/https://www.usnews.com/news/articles/2020-05-29/gates-foundation-donations-to-who-nearly-match-those-from-us-government |url-status=live }}

It was revealed after the fact that the BMGF had contributed US$1.553 billion to the GAVI over the five years (from 2016 to 2020). The BMGF was the number two ranked contributor.{{cite web |title=Current Period 2016–2020 |url=https://www.gavi.org/investing-gavi/funding/current-period-2016-2020 |website=GAVI, The Vaccine Alliance |date=12 March 2021 |access-date=20 April 2021 |archive-date=April 19, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210419144013/https://www.gavi.org/investing-gavi/funding/current-period-2016-2020 |url-status=live }} At the Global Vaccine Summit in June 2020, the BMGF pledged $1.6 billion (or just under 20% of the total) for the subsequent five years.{{cite web |title=Bill Gates-backed vaccine alliance raises $8.8 billion from world leaders and businesses |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2020/06/04/bill-gates-backed-vaccine-alliance-looks-to-raise-7point4-billion.html |website=CNBC |date=June 4, 2020 |access-date=24 September 2020 |archive-date=September 18, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200918210643/https://www.cnbc.com/2020/06/04/bill-gates-backed-vaccine-alliance-looks-to-raise-7point4-billion.html |url-status=live }}

In May 2022, the Gates Foundation announced the commitment of $125 million to aid in ending the acute phase of the COVID-19 pandemic and to aid in preparing for future pandemics. In total since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic the Gates Foundation has committed more than $2 billion to COVID-19 response efforts.{{cite journal|date=13 May 2022|url=https://philanthropynewsdigest.org/news/gates-foundation-commits-125-million-to-help-end-covid-pandemic|title=Gates Foundation commits $125 million to help end COVID pandemic|journal=Philanthropy News Digest|access-date=13 May 2022|archive-date=May 13, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220513044746/https://philanthropynewsdigest.org/news/gates-foundation-commits-125-million-to-help-end-covid-pandemic|url-status=live}} In 2015, it co-funded a community known as Agriculture, Nutrition and Health Academy in partnership with the United Kingdom Aid from the UK government.{{Cite web |title=Agriculture, Nutrition and Health Academy {{!}} UIA Yearbook Profile {{!}} Union of International Associations |url=https://uia.org/s/or/en/1122281387 |access-date=2023-11-25 |website=uia.org |archive-date=November 25, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231125195329/https://uia.org/s/or/en/1122281387 |url-status=live }}

In July 2021, the foundation agreed on a back-up plan in the event that its co-chairs could not work together due to their recent divorce. The deal gave Bill and Melinda a two-year trial, after which Melinda could resign from the organization as well as receiving personal resources from her ex-husband for her own charity work.{{cite news |title=Gates Foundation agrees break-up back-up plan |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/business-57756506 |work=BBC News |access-date=July 7, 2021 |date=July 7, 2021 |archive-date=July 7, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210707172411/https://www.bbc.com/news/business-57756506 |url-status=live }} On May 13, 2024, Melinda Gates resigned as co-chair of the foundation, to be effective June 7, 2024.{{cite web | title=Melinda French Gates says she is resigning from Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation | website=KOMO | date=May 13, 2024 | url=https://komonews.com/news/nation-world/melinda-french-gates-says-she-is-resigning-from-bill-and-melinda-gates-foundation-microsoft-billionaires-nonprofit-organization-charity-charitable-support-one-of-the-worlds-most-powerful-women | access-date=May 13, 2024 | archive-date=May 13, 2024 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240513164003/https://komonews.com/news/nation-world/melinda-french-gates-says-she-is-resigning-from-bill-and-melinda-gates-foundation-microsoft-billionaires-nonprofit-organization-charity-charitable-support-one-of-the-worlds-most-powerful-women | url-status=live }}{{cite web |title=Melinda French Gates is resigning from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation |first=David |last=Goldman |work=CNN |date=May 13, 2024 |access-date=May 13, 2024 |url=https://www.cnn.com/2024/05/13/investing/melinda-gates-resigns-foundation/index.html |archive-date=May 13, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240513172813/https://www.cnn.com/2024/05/13/investing/melinda-gates-resigns-foundation/index.html |url-status=live }} The foundation was renamed to the Gates Foundation,{{cite web |last1=Pfeffinger |first1=Ramsey |title=Gates Foundation changes name, branding during milestone year |url=https://www.fox13seattle.com/news/gates-foundation-name-branding |website=Fox 13 Seattle |date=January 19, 2025 |access-date=27 January 2025}} with Bill Gates as the sole chairman.

In June 2006, Warren Buffett pledged to give the foundation approximately 10 million Berkshire Hathaway Class B shares (then valued at $3,071 each, before a 50–1 stock split in 2010) spread over multiple years through annual contributions, with the first year's donation of 500,000 shares being worth approximately $1.5 billion.{{cite news |title=Warren Buffett gives away his fortune |url=https://money.cnn.com/2006/06/25/magazines/fortune/charity1.fortune/index.htm |date=March 5, 2008 |work=Fortune |publisher=Time Warner via CNNMoney.com |access-date=December 10, 2007 |first=Carol J. |last=Loomis |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071128090517/https://money.cnn.com/2006/06/25/magazines/fortune/charity1.fortune/index.htm |archive-date=November 28, 2007| url-status=live }}{{cite web |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2010/01/21/berkshire-hathaway-b-shares-soar-after-split.html |title=Berkshire Hathaway 'B' Shares Soar After Split |website=CNBC |date=January 21, 2010 |access-date=March 15, 2020 |archive-date=July 19, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200719082311/https://www.cnbc.com/id/34973846 |url-status=live }} Buffett set conditions so that these contributions do not simply increase the foundation's endowment, but effectively work as a matching contribution, doubling the foundation's annual giving. Bloomberg News noted, "Buffett's gift came with three conditions for the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation: Bill or Melinda Gates must be alive and active in its administration; it must continue to qualify as a charity; and each year it must give away an amount equal to the previous year's Berkshire gift, plus an additional amount equal to 5 percent of net assets. Buffett gave the foundation two years to abide by the third requirement."{{cite web|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=10000087&sid=axbiyJ8O.yKk&refer=top_world_news|title=Buffett Makes $30.7 Bln Donation to Gates Foundation (Update8)|publisher=Bloomberg|last=Stein|first=George|date=June 26, 2006|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120905000532/http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=newsarchive&sid=axbiyJ8O.yKk&refer=top_world_news|archive-date=September 5, 2012|access-date=March 5, 2017|url-status=live}}{{cite web |url=https://www.forbes.com/home/facesinthenews/2006/06/26/buffett-gates-philanthropy-cx_cn_0626autofacescan03.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060825202146/http://www.forbes.com/home/facesinthenews/2006/06/26/buffett-gates-philanthropy-cx_cn_0626autofacescan03.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=August 25, 2006 |title=Buffett Will Double Gates Foundation's Spending |first=Chris |last=Noon |date=June 26, 2006 |work=Forbes}} The Gates Foundation received 5% (500,000) of the shares in July 2006 and was to receive 5% of the remaining earmarked shares in July of each following year (475,000 in 2007, 451,250 in 2008).{{cite news |url=https://money.cnn.com/2006/06/25/magazines/fortune/charity3.fortune/index.htm |work=CNN |title=How Buffett's giveaway will work |date=June 25, 2006 |access-date=April 26, 2010 |first=Carol J. |last=Loomis |archive-date=March 16, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100316130540/http://money.cnn.com/2006/06/25/magazines/fortune/charity3.fortune/index.htm |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |url=http://berkshirehathaway.com/donate/bmgfltr.pdf |title=Letter from Warren E. Buffett |last=Buffett |first=Warren E. |date=June 26, 2006 |website=Berkshirehathaway |access-date=January 22, 2019 |archive-date=June 27, 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060627234351/http://berkshirehathaway.com/donate/bmgfltr.pdf |url-status=live }}

In July 2018, Buffett announced another donation of his company's Class B stock, this time worth $2 billion, to the Gates Foundation.[https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/07/08/warren-buffett-stock-donations_n_3561866.html Warren Buffett Makes Huge Charity Stock Donation To Gates Foundation, Other Charities] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305015347/http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/07/08/warren-buffett-stock-donations_n_3561866.html |date=March 5, 2016 }}. Huffingtonpost.com. Retrieved on July 18, 2013.

In June 2024, Buffett clarified the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation would not receive any more money after he died. While this does not prevent him from making any further donations while he is still alive, the recipients of his fortune upon his death will be decided unanimously by his three children.{{cite web |last1=Hetzner |first1=Christiaan |title=Warren Buffett warns Gates Foundation there is no guarantee his support of the charity will continue once he's gone: 'No money coming after my death' |url=https://fortune.com/2024/06/28/warren-buffett-berkshire-hathaway-charity-foundation-bill-melinda-gates/ |publisher=Fortune |access-date=4 October 2024}}

In October 2006, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation was split into two entities: the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Trust, which manages the endowment assets and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, which "... conducts all operations and grantmaking work, and it is the entity from which all grants are made".{{Cite web |url=http://www.philanthropy.com/free/update/2006/11/2006112901.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927220226/http://www.philanthropy.com/free/update/2006/11/2006112901.htm|url-status=dead |title=Gates Foundation Announces That It Doesn't Plan to Operate Forever |archive-date=September 27, 2007}}{{Cite web |url=http://www.gatesfoundation.org/AboutUs/Announcements/Announce-061129.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080815085113/http://www.gatesfoundation.org/AboutUs/Announcements/Announce-061129.htm|url-status=dead |title=About the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Trust |archive-date=August 15, 2008}} Also announced was the decision to spend all of the foundation's resources within 50 years after Bill's and Melinda's deaths.{{Cite web |url=http://www.gatesfoundation.org/AboutUs/Announcements/Announce-061129.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080815085113/http://www.gatesfoundation.org/AboutUs/Announcements/Announce-061129.htm|url-status=dead |title=Announcements – Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation |archive-date=August 15, 2008}}{{cite web |url=http://philanthropy.com/article/Gates-Foundation-Announces/55464/ |date=November 29, 2006 |title=Gates Foundation Announces That It Doesn't Plan to Operate Forever |work=The Chronicle of Philanthropy |access-date=November 7, 2011 |archive-date=April 15, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120415161045/http://philanthropy.com/article/Gates-Foundation-Announces/55464/ |url-status=live }}{{cite news |title=Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation sets lifespan |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-gates-foundation/bill-melinda-gates-foundation-sets-lifespan-idUSN0125394420061201 |work=Reuters |date=December 1, 2006 |language=en |access-date=January 29, 2020 |archive-date=January 29, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200129075511/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-gates-foundation/bill-melinda-gates-foundation-sets-lifespan-idUSN0125394420061201 |url-status=live }}{{cite web |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB116493514082937519 |title=Gates Foundation Sets Its Lifespan |first=Sally |last=Beatty |date=December 1, 2006 |work=WSJ}} This was later lowered to within 20 years of their death.{{cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cBHJ-8Bch4E |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/cBHJ-8Bch4E| archive-date=2021-12-11 |url-status=live|title=Interview with Bill Gates September 21, 2013 (Video 33:52) |work=YouTube|date=September 24, 2013 }}{{cbignore}}{{cite web |title=Foundation Trust |url=https://www.gatesfoundation.org/who-we-are/general-information/financials/foundation-trust |website=Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation |language=en |access-date=January 29, 2020 |archive-date=January 29, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200129075509/https://www.gatesfoundation.org/who-we-are/general-information/financials/foundation-trust |url-status=live }} This would close the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Trust and effectively end the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. In the 2006 announcement, it was reiterated that Warren Buffett "... has stipulated that the proceeds from the Berkshire Hathaway shares he still owns at death are to be used for philanthropic purposes within 10 years after his estate has been settled".

In May 2025, Bill Gates announced that the foundation will cease operations on December 31, 2045.{{Cite web |title=My new deadline: 20 years to give away virtually all my wealth |url=https://www.gatesfoundation.org/ideas/articles/next-chapter |access-date=2025-05-09 |website=Gates Foundation}}{{Cite web |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2025/05/08/magazine/bill-gates-foundation-closing-2045.html |title=The $200 Billion Gamble: Bill Gates’s Plan to Wind Down His Foundation |publisher=The New York Times Magazine |date=May 8, 2025 |last=Wallace-Wells |first=David |access-date=May 24, 2025}}

The plan to close the Foundation Trust is in contrast to most large charitable foundations that have no set closure date. This is intended to lower administrative costs over the years of the Foundation Trust's life and ensure that the Foundation Trust does not fall into a situation where the vast majority of its expenditures are on administrative costs, including salaries, with only token amounts contributed to charitable causes.

To maintain its status as a charitable foundation, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation must donate funds equal to at least five percent of its assets each year.{{cite web |title=Private Family Foundations |url=http://www.savewealth.com/planning/estate/foundations/ |work=SaveWealth |access-date=April 6, 2014 |year=2014 |archive-date=March 31, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140331153919/http://www.savewealth.com/planning/estate/foundations/ |url-status=live }} As of April 2014, the foundation is organized into four program areas under chief executive officer Susan Desmond-Hellmann, who "sets strategic priorities, monitors results, and facilitates relationships with key partners":{{cite web |title=Susan Desmond-Hellmann |url=http://www.gatesfoundation.org/Who-We-Are/General-Information/Leadership/Management-Committee/Susan-Desmond-Hellman |work=Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation |access-date=June 2, 2014 |year=2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140602194755/http://www.gatesfoundation.org/Who-We-Are/General-Information/Leadership/Management-Committee/Susan-Desmond-Hellman |archive-date=June 2, 2014 }}

• Global Development Division
• Global Health Division
• United States Division
• Global Policy & Advocacy Division
• Global Growth & Opportunity Division{{cite web |url=http://www.gatesfoundation.org/what-we-do |title=What We Do |work=Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation |access-date=May 29, 2018 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180624131547/http://www.gatesfoundation.org/what-we-do |archive-date= Jun 24, 2018 }}

The foundation maintains an online database of grants.{{cite web |title=How We Work – Grantmaking |url=http://www.gatesfoundation.org/How-We-Work/Quick-Links/Grants-Database |publisher=Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation |access-date=April 6, 2014 |archive-date=April 8, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140408212512/http://www.gatesfoundation.org/How-We-Work/Quick-Links/Grants-Database |url-status=live }}

File:Life expectancy in 1800, 1950, and 2015.png]]

In November 2014, the Gates Foundation announced that they were adopting an open access (OA) policy for publications and data, "to enable the unrestricted access and reuse of all peer-reviewed published research funded by the foundation, including any underlying data sets".{{Cite web |url=http://www.impatientoptimists.org/Posts/2014/11/Knowledge-is-Power |title=Knowledge is Power: Sharing Information Can Accelerate Global Health Impact |date=November 20, 2014 |access-date=December 30, 2014 |website=Impatient Optimists |publisher=Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation }} Its terms have been called the most stringent among similar OA policies.{{cite web |url=http://blogs.nature.com/news/2014/11/gates-foundation-announces-worlds-strongest-policy-on-open-access-research.html |title=Gates Foundation announces world's strongest policy on open access research |website=News blog Nature.com |access-date=January 23, 2015 |date=November 21, 2014 |archive-date=March 16, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150316044529/http://blogs.nature.com/news/2014/11/gates-foundation-announces-worlds-strongest-policy-on-open-access-research.html |url-status=live }} As of January 1, 2015, their Open Access policy is effective for all new agreements.{{Cite web |url=http://www.gatesfoundation.org/How-We-Work/General-Information/Open-Access-Policy |title=Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Open Access Policy |access-date=April 7, 2015 |website=Website of Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation |publisher=Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation |archive-date=April 8, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150408034457/http://www.gatesfoundation.org/how-we-work/general-information/open-access-policy |url-status=live }} In March 2017, it was confirmed that the open access policy, Gates Open Research,{{Cite web |url=https://gatesopenresearch.org/ |title=Gates Open Research |website=gatesopenresearch.org |access-date=March 24, 2017 |archive-date=July 26, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240726170512/https://gatesopenresearch.org/ |url-status=live }} would be based on the same initiative launched in 2016 by Wellcome Trust in their Wellcome Open Research policy{{Cite web |url=https://wellcomeopenresearch.org/ |title=Wellcome Open Research provides all Wellcome researchers with a place to rapidly publish any results they think are worth sharing. |website=wellcomeopenresearch.org |access-date=March 24, 2017 |archive-date=July 1, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220701004101/https://wellcomeopenresearch.org/ |url-status=live }} launched in partnership with F1000 Research.{{Cite news |url=https://www.timeshighereducation.com/news/gates-foundation-joins-shift-towards-open-access-platforms |title=Gates Foundation joins shift towards open access platforms |date=March 23, 2017 |work=Times Higher Education (THE) |access-date=March 24, 2017 |language=en |archive-date=March 24, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170324090102/https://www.timeshighereducation.com/news/gates-foundation-joins-shift-towards-open-access-platforms |url-status=live }}{{Cite journal |last=Butler |first=Declan |title=Gates Foundation announces open-access publishing venture |journal=Nature |volume=543 |issue=7647 |pages=599 |language=en |doi=10.1038/nature.2017.21700 |pmid=28358109 |year=2017 |bibcode=2017Natur.543..599B |doi-access=free }}

The Gates Foundation supported Our World in Data, one of the world's largest open-access publications.{{Cite web |url=https://www.gatesfoundation.org/How-We-Work/Quick-Links/Grants-Database/Grants/2016/08/OPP1152680 |title=OPP1152680 |website=Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation |language=en |access-date=March 21, 2019 |archive-date=March 21, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190321050450/https://www.gatesfoundation.org/How-We-Work/Quick-Links/Grants-Database/Grants/2016/08/OPP1152680 |url-status=live }} Bill Gates called the publication his "favorite website".{{Cite web |url=https://www.gatesnotes.com/Development/Max-Roser-three-facts-everyone-should-know |title=Memorizing these three statistics will help you understand the world |last=Roser |first=Max |website=gatesnotes.com |access-date=March 21, 2019 |archive-date=July 26, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240726170417/https://www.gatesnotes.com/Max-Roser-three-facts-everyone-should-know |url-status=live }}

In 2024, the Gates Foundation announced a "preprint-centric" open access policy, and their intention to stop paying article-processing charges.{{cite journal |last1=Lenharo |first1=Mariana |title=Will the Gates Foundation's preprint-centric policy help open access? |journal=Nature |date=4 April 2024 |doi=10.1038/d41586-024-00996-8 |pmid=38575826 }}

The following table lists the BMGF's committed funding as recorded in their International Aid Transparency Initiative (IATI) publications. The BMGF announced in October 2013 that it would join the IATI.{{cite web |url=http://www.gatesfoundation.org/How-We-Work/General-Information/Information-Sharing-Approach/International-Aid-Transparency-Initiative |title=International Aid Transparency Initiative |access-date=September 2, 2016 |publisher=Gates Foundation}} The IATI publications only include a subset of BMGF grants (mainly excluding grants to developed countries), and contain few grants before 2009 (which are entirely excluded from the table). The BMGF states on the IATI Registry site that "reporting starts from 2009 and excludes grants related to our US programs and grants that if published could harm our employees, grantees, partners, or the beneficiaries of our work".{{cite web |url=https://www.iatiregistry.org/publisher/about/bmgf |access-date=September 2, 2016 |title=About – Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation |publisher=IATI Registry |date=August 16, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160921190910/https://www.iatiregistry.org/publisher/about/bmgf |archive-date=21 September 2016}}{{Cite web|url=https://iatiregistry.org/publisher/bmgf|title=- Organizations – IATI Registry|website=iatiregistry.org|access-date=August 30, 2016|archive-date=September 21, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160921112001/https://iatiregistry.org/publisher/bmgf|url-status=live}}

The following table lists the top receiving organizations to which the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation has committed funding, between 2009 and 2015. The table again only includes grants recorded in the Gates Foundation's IATI publications.

According to the OECD, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation provided US$4.1 billion for development in 2019.{{Cite web|url=https://www.oecd-ilibrary.org//sites/da5658fd-en/index.html?itemId=/content/component/5d8de3e1-en&_csp_=fcd6b6f78f50e596d3bf597cb6b3e3b5&itemIGO=oecd&itemContentType=chapter|title=Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation | Development Co-operation Profiles – Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation | OECD iLibrary|website=www.oecd-ilibrary.org|access-date=July 7, 2020|archive-date=July 26, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200726232906/https://www.oecd-ilibrary.org//sites/da5658fd-en/index.html?itemId=/content/component/5d8de3e1-en&_csp_=fcd6b6f78f50e596d3bf597cb6b3e3b5&itemIGO=oecd&itemContentType=chapter|url-status=live}}

The foundation explains on its website that its trustees divided the organization into two entities: the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Trust. The foundation section, based in Seattle, US, "focuses on improving health and alleviating extreme poverty", and its trustees are currently Bill and Melinda Gates; Warren Buffett announced his resignation as a trustee on June 23, 2021.{{Cite web|last=Li|first=Yun|date=2021-06-23|title=Warren Buffett gives away another $4.1 billion, resigns as trustee at Gates Foundation|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2021/06/23/warren-buffett-gives-away-another-4point1-billion-resigns-as-trustee-at-gates-foundation.html|access-date=2021-06-23|website=CNBC|language=en|archive-date=June 23, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210623113115/https://www.cnbc.com/2021/06/23/warren-buffett-gives-away-another-4point1-billion-resigns-as-trustee-at-gates-foundation.html|url-status=live}} The trust section manages "the investment assets and transfer proceeds to the foundation as necessary to achieve the foundation's charitable goals"—it holds the assets of Bill and Melinda Gates, who are the sole trustees, and receives contributions from Buffett.

The foundation posts its audited financial statements and 990-PF forms on the "Financials" section of its website as they become available. At the end of 2023, the foundation registered a cash sum of $194,354,000, and net assets of $71,290,995,000 (of which 99.84% are unrestricted).{{cite web |title=Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Consolidated Financial Statements |url=https://docs.gatesfoundation.org/documents/billandmelindagatesfoundation_fs_2023.pdf |publisher=KPMG |access-date=November 23, 2024 |date=December 31, 2023}}

{{as of |2025|3|31}}, according to documents filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, the trust owned the following investments (close to 200 million shares) worth a total of almost $42 billion:{{cite web |url=https://www.dataroma.com/m/holdings.php?m=GFT |title=Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Trust Holdings Map |publisher=Dataroma |access-date=May 16, 2025}}

{{more citations needed section|date=March 2014}}

Christopher Elias leads the foundation's efforts to combat extreme poverty through grants as president of the Global Development Program.{{cite web |title=Who We Are – Leadership CHRISTOPHER ELIAS PRESIDENT |url=http://www.gatesfoundation.org/Who-We-Are/General-Information/Leadership/Management-Committee/Christopher-Elias |work=Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation |access-date=April 6, 2014 |year=2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140407090439/http://www.gatesfoundation.org/Who-We-Are/General-Information/Leadership/Management-Committee/Christopher-Elias |archive-date=April 7, 2014 }}

In March 2006, the foundation announced a $5 million grant for the International Justice Mission (IJM), a human rights organization based in Washington, D.C., US to work in the area of sex trafficking.{{Cite web |title=Case Study: Gates Foundation + IJM |url=https://www.ijm.org/corporate-partnerships/gates-foundation |access-date=2024-08-08 |website=IJM USA |language=en-US}} The official announcement explained that the grant would allow the IJM to "create a replicable model for combating sex trafficking and slavery" that would involve the opening of an office in a region with high rates of sex trafficking, following research.{{Cite magazine |title=Bill Gates and Matt Gaetz Reveal the Shallow, Dangerous Truth About the American War on Sex Trafficking |url=https://newrepublic.com/article/162451/bill-gates-matt-gaetz-jeffrey-epstein-sex-trafficking |access-date=2024-08-08 |magazine=The New Republic }} The office was opened for three years for the following purposes: "conducting undercover investigations, training law enforcement, rescuing victims, ensuring appropriate aftercare, and seeking perpetrator accountability".{{cite web |title=Gates Foundation Awards $5 Million to Fight Sex Trafficking |url=http://www.philanthropynewsdigest.org/news/gates-foundation-awards-5-million-to-fight-sex-trafficking |work=Philanthropy News Digest |publisher=Foundation Center |access-date=April 6, 2014 |date=March 21, 2006 |archive-date=July 26, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240726171020/https://philanthropynewsdigest.org/news/gates-foundation-awards-5-million-to-fight-sex-trafficking |url-status=live }}

The IJM used the grant money to found "Project Lantern" and established an office in the Philippines city of Cebu.{{Cite news |url=http://philanthropynewsdigest.org/news/gates-foundation-awards-5-million-to-fight-sex-trafficking |title=Gates Foundation Awards $5 Million to Fight Sex Trafficking |work=Philanthropy News Digest (PND)|access-date=January 4, 2018 |language=en}}{{Cite news |url=https://www.thenation.com/article/beyond-rescue/ |title=Beyond Rescue |last=Thrupkaew |first=Noy |date=October 8, 2009 |work=The Nation |access-date=January 4, 2018 |archive-date=November 12, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171112021514/https://www.thenation.com/article/beyond-rescue/ |url-status=live }} In 2010, the results of the project were published, in which the IJM stated that Project Lantern had led to "an increase in law enforcement activity in sex trafficking cases, an increase in commitment to resolving sex trafficking cases among law enforcement officers trained through the project, and an increase in services – like shelter, counseling, and career training – provided to trafficking survivors". At the time that the results were released, the IJM was exploring opportunities to replicate the model in other regions.{{cite web |title=Project Lantern: Game-Changing Results in the Fight Against Trafficking |url=http://www.ijm.org/projectlantern |work=IJM |access-date=April 6, 2014 |year=2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140407080609/http://www.ijm.org/projectlantern|archive-date=April 7, 2014|url-status=dead }}

In October 2000, William Gates established the Gates Cambridge Scholarships which allow students and scholars from the U.S. and around the world to study at Cambridge University, one of the top universities in the world. The Gates Cambridge Scholarship has often been compared to the Rhodes Scholarship, given its similarly international scope and substantial endowment. In 2000, the Gates Foundation endowed the scholarship trust with $210 million to help outstanding graduate students outside of the United Kingdom study at the University of Cambridge.{{Cite news |url=https://www.gatescambridge.org/about |title=About |date=October 20, 2014 |work=Gates Cambridge |access-date=January 4, 2018 |language=en |archive-date=January 5, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180105011716/https://www.gatescambridge.org/about |url-status=live }} The Gates Foundation has continued to contribute funds to expand the scholarship, making it one of the largest and best-endowed scholarships in the world. The Gates Cambridge Scholarship accepts less than 0.3% of applicants and remains extremely competitive. Each year, approximately 100 new graduate students from around the world receive funding to study at Cambridge.

File:Selwyn College Cambridge Main Gate.jpg, University of Cambridge]]

• Alliance for Financial Inclusion (AFI): A $35 million grant for the AFI supports a coalition of countries from the developing world to create savings accounts, insurance, and other financial services that are made available to people living on less than $2 per day.{{Cite news |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/andrewcave/2014/07/31/banking-for-the-poor-will-this-be-bill-gatess-greatest-philanthropic-achievement/#2a6a59b19a1f |title=Banking For The Poor: Will This Be Bill Gates' Greatest Philanthropic Achievement? |last=Cave |first=Andrew |work=Forbes |access-date=January 4, 2018 |language=en |archive-date=January 4, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180104192743/https://www.forbes.com/sites/andrewcave/2014/07/31/banking-for-the-poor-will-this-be-bill-gatess-greatest-philanthropic-achievement/#2a6a59b19a1f |url-status=live }}
• Financial Access Initiative: A $5 million grant allows Financial Access Initiative to conduct field research and answer important questions about microfinance and financial access in impoverished countries around the world.{{Cite web |url=https://wagner.nyu.edu/impact/centers/fai |title=Financial Access Initiative {{!}} NYU Wagner|website=wagner.nyu.edu|language=en|access-date=January 4, 2018}}
• Pro Mujer: A five-year $3.1 million grant to Pro Mujer—a microfinance network in Latin America combining financial services with healthcare for the poorest women entrepreneurs—will be used to research new opportunities for the poorest segment of the Latin American microfinance market.{{Cite news |url=https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20060426005812/en/Gates-Foundation-Awards-Pro-Mujer-3.1-Million |title=Gates Foundation Awards Pro Mujer $3.1 Million To Develop Innovative Microcredit Products |access-date=January 4, 2018 |language=en |archive-date=July 26, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240726171437/https://www.businesswire.com/resourcenotfound |url-status=live }}
• Grameen Foundation: A $1.5 million grant allows Grameen Foundation to approve more microloans that support Grameen's goal of helping five million additional families, and successfully freeing 50 percent of those families from poverty within five years.{{cite press release |title=Gates Foundation Awards $1.5 Million to Grameen Foundation |publisher=Grameen Foundation |date=August 29, 2006 |url=http://www.grameenfoundation.org/resource_center/newsroom/news_releases/~story=168 |access-date=October 26, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071005013401/http://www.grameenfoundation.org/resource_center/newsroom/news_releases/~story%3D168 |archive-date=October 5, 2007|url-status=dead }}
• Grant worth $1.3 million Lawrence Muganga for his book You Can't Make Fish Climb Trees.{{Cite web|title=Rwandan wins Canadian Innovation Award|url=https://www.newtimes.co.rw/section/read/107173|date=May 14, 2013|website=The New Times {{!}} Rwanda|language=en|access-date=May 11, 2020|archive-date=July 26, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200726223709/https://www.newtimes.co.rw/section/read/107173|url-status=live}}
• Support for Mojaloop Foundation with a 2020 grant of $4.7 million, and a 2023 grant of $8.5 million.{{cite web | url=https://www.gatesfoundation.org/about/committed-grants/2023/11/inv-059287 | title=Inv-059287 | access-date=December 7, 2023 | archive-date=December 7, 2023 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231207222941/https://www.gatesfoundation.org/about/committed-grants/2023/11/inv-059287 | url-status=live }}{{Cite web |url=https://philanthropynewsdigest.org/news/foundations-help-launch-financial-inclusion-nonprofit |title=Foundations Help Launch Financial Inclusion Nonprofit |access-date=December 7, 2023 |archive-date=June 22, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240622202323/https://philanthropynewsdigest.org/news/foundations-help-launch-financial-inclusion-nonprofit |url-status=live }}

The BMGF's goal for agricultural development is "to support farmers and governments in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia that are seeking a sustainable, inclusive agricultural transformation—one that creates economic opportunity, respects limits on natural resources, and gives everyone equal access to affordable, nutritious food".{{Cite web |title=Agricultural Development |url=https://www.gatesfoundation.org/our-work/programs/global-growth-and-opportunity/agricultural-development |access-date=2024-10-11 |website=Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation |language=en}} The foundation's agricultural investments include:

• International Rice Research Institute: Between November 2007 and October 2010, the Gates Foundation offered $19.9 million to the International Rice Research Institute. The goal of the aid was to support the increasing world demand for rice. The Gates Foundation claims: "To keep up with worldwide demand, the production of rice will have to increase by about 70 percent in the next two decades."{{cite web |title=Growing Better Rice for a Hungry World |url=http://www.good.is/posts/growing-better-rice-for-a-hungry-world |work=Good |publisher=GOOD Worldwide Inc |access-date=March 17, 2014 |date=May 23, 2011 |archive-date=March 17, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140317082509/http://www.good.is/posts/growing-better-rice-for-a-hungry-world |url-status=live }} The International Rice Research Institute has developed Golden Rice, a genetically modified rice variant developed to combat Vitamin A deficiency.{{cite web |url=http://www.gatesfoundation.org/What-We-Do/Global-Development/Agricultural-Development/Golden-Rice |title=Agricultural Development Golden Rice|access-date= February 3, 2016|url-status= dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160203145910/http://www.gatesfoundation.org/What-We-Do/Global-Development/Agricultural-Development/Golden-Rice |archive-date=February 3, 2016 }}
• Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA): The Gates Foundation has partnered with the Rockefeller Foundation to enhance agricultural science and small-farm productivity in Africa, building on the Green Revolution that the Rockefeller Foundation spurred in the 1940s and 1960s.
• Deutsche Gesellschaft für Technische Zusammenarbeit (GTZ): In 2009, the Gate's Foundation donated $25 million to GTZ to help develop Africa's cashew industry through improving yield and investing in local processing capabilities. GTZ would partner with the African Cashew Alliance, FairMatch Support, and Technoserve with the goal to increase the incomes of farmers in Benin, Burkina Faso, the Ivory Coast, Ghana, and Mozambique by 50% by 2012.{{Cite web |title=Foundation, Partners Pledge $90 Million to Boost Incomes of Small Farmers in Africa |url=https://www.gatesfoundation.org/ideas/media-center/press-releases/2009/02/foundation-partners-pledge-90-million-to-boost-incomes-of-small-farmers-in-africa |access-date=2023-11-29 |website=Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation |language=en |archive-date=July 26, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240726171426/https://www.gatesfoundation.org/ideas/media-center/press-releases/2009/02/foundation-partners-pledge-90-million-to-boost-incomes-of-small-farmers-in-africa |url-status=live }}

File:Sanitation Value Chain.jpg value chain" used by the Gates Foundation to illustrate their approach to sanitation, showing collection, transport, treatment and reuse.BMGF (2015). [http://www.susana.org/en/resources/library/details/2317 Building demand for sanitation – a 2015 portfolio update and overview] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150904125146/http://www.susana.org/en/resources/library/details/2317 |date=September 4, 2015 }} – Water, sanitation, and hygiene strategy, June 2015. Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Seattle, Washington, US]]

File:2011 07-Internal ReinventTheToilet Animation.webms and everything they are connected to]]

File:The vision of a toilet that is small - and pleasant - enough to fit inside someone's home (prototype but not fully functional) (13359389583).jpg – prototype on display at Reinvent the Toilet Fair in Delhi, India ]]

The Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) program of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation was launched in mid-2005 as a "Learning Initiative", and became a full-fledged program under the Global Development Division in early 2010. The foundation has since 2005 undertaken a wide range of efforts in the WASH sector involving research, experimentation, reflection, advocacy, and field implementation. In 2009, the foundation decided to refocus its WASH effort mainly on sustainable sanitation services for the poor, using non-piped sanitation services (i.e. without the use of sewers), and less on water supply. This was because the sanitation sector was generally receiving less attention from other donors and from governments, and because the foundation believed it had the potential to make a real difference through strategic investments.

In mid-2011, the foundation announced in its new "Water, Sanitation, Hygiene Strategy Overview" that its funding now focuses primarily on sanitation, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia, because access to improved sanitation is lowest in those regions.BMGF (2011). [http://www.susana.org/en/resources/library/details/1663 Water, Sanitation & Hygiene Strategy Overview] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160403091742/http://www.susana.org/en/resources/library/details/1663 |date=April 3, 2016 }}, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Seattle, US Their grant-making focus has been since 2011 on sanitation science and technology ("transformative technologies"), delivery models at scale, urban sanitation markets, building demand for sanitation, measurement and evaluation as well as policy, advocacy and communications.

In mid-2011, the foundation stated that they had committed more than $265 million to the water, sanitation, and hygiene sector over the past five years, i.e. since about 2006. For the time period of about 2008 to mid-2015, all grants awarded to water, sanitation, and hygiene projects totaled a value of around $650 million, according to the publicly available grant database.

File:Earth auger toilet with squatting plate (13358958903).jpg called Earth Auger toilet from Ecuador/US]]

Improved sanitation in the developing world is a global need, but a neglected priority, as shown by the data collected by the Joint Monitoring Programme for Water Supply and Sanitation (JMP) of UNICEF and WHO. This program is tasked to monitor progress towards the Millennium Development Goal (MDG) relating to drinking water and sanitation.{{Cite web |url=http://www.wssinfo.org/data-estimates/ |title=Data and estimates |access-date=March 12, 2015 |website=JMP – WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme (JMP) for Water Supply and Sanitation |publisher=WHO/UNICEF|url-status = dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150219114756/http://www.wssinfo.org/data-estimates |archive-date=February 19, 2015 }} About one billion people have no sanitation facility whatsoever and continue to defecate in gutters, behind bushes or in open water bodies, with no dignity or privacy. This is called open defecation and it poses significant health risks.JMP (2014). [http://www.susana.org/en/resources/library/details/2036 Progress on drinking water and sanitation, 2014 Update] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402115029/http://www.susana.org/en/resources/library/details/2036 |date=April 2, 2015 }}. WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme for Water Supply and Sanitation (JMP), {{ISBN|978 92 4 150724 0}}, page 6 India is the country with the highest number of people practicing open defecation, with around 157 million people or approximately 11% of the total population in 2022, although the situation has improved significantly since then.{{cite web |last=KASHIWASE |first=HARUNA |date=17 November 2023 |title=World Toilet Day: 420 million people are defecating outdoors |url=https://blogs.worldbank.org/en/opendata/world-toilet-day-420-million-people-are-defecating-outdoors |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140421000000/https://blogs.worldbank.org/en/opendata/world-toilet-day-420-million-people-are-defecating-outdoors |archive-date=21 April 2014 |access-date=31 August 2024 |website=World Bank Group}} [https://wssinfo.org/fileadmin/user_upload/resources/JMP_report_2014_webEng.pdf Alt URL] The foundation has been funding many sanitation research and demonstration projects in India since about 2011.BMGF (2014). [http://www.susana.org/en/resources/library/details/2001 Reinvent the Toilet Challenge, Delhi, India – Program and Technical Guides] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402154415/http://www.susana.org/en/resources/library/details/2001 |date=April 2, 2015 }}. Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Seattle, US

In 2011, the foundation launched a program called "Reinvent the Toilet Challenge" with the aim to promote the development of innovations in toilet design to benefit the 2.5 billion people that do not have access to safe and effective sanitation.{{Cite web |url=http://www.gatesfoundation.org/What-We-Do/Global-Development/Reinvent-the-Toilet-Challenge |title=What we do – Reinvent the Toilet Challenge – Strategy Overview |access-date=May 8, 2015 |publisher=Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation |archive-date=July 21, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170721050247/http://www.gatesfoundation.org/What-We-Do/Global-Development/Reinvent-the-Toilet-Challenge |url-status=dead }}BMGF (2012). [http://www.susana.org/en/resources/library/details/1636 Reinvent the Toilet Challenge (RTTC, Round 1 and 2), Grand Challenges Explorations (Round 6 and 7) – Request for proposals, grant conditions, Seattle exhibition fair program and exhibitor guide.] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141026131521/http://www.susana.org/en/resources/library/details/1636 |date=October 26, 2014 }} Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Seattle, US This program has generated significant interest of the mainstream media.{{Cite web |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2013/11/19/opinion/bill-gates-cant-build-a-toilet.html?_r=0 |title=Bill Gates Can't Build a Toilet |date=November 18, 2013 |access-date=March 24, 2015 |website=New York Times Opinion Pages |last=Kass |first=Jason |archive-date=March 25, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150325040746/http://www.nytimes.com/2013/11/19/opinion/bill-gates-cant-build-a-toilet.html?_r=0 |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |url=http://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/after-10-years-few-payoffs-from-gatesrsquo-lsquogrand-challengesrsquo/ |title=After 10 years, few payoffs from Gates' 'Grand Challenges' |date=December 21, 2014 |access-date=March 24, 2015 |website=The Seattle Times, Local News |publisher=The Seattle Times |last=Doughton |first=Sandy |archive-date=April 2, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402142325/http://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/after-10-years-few-payoffs-from-gatesrsquo-lsquogrand-challengesrsquo/ |url-status=live }} It was complemented by a program called "Grand Challenges Explorations" (2011 to 2013 with some follow-up grants reaching until 2015) which involved grants of $100,000 each in the first round. Both funding schemes explicitly excluded project ideas that relied on centralized sewerage systems or are not compatible with development country contexts.Radke, N., Spuhler, D. (2013) [http://www.susana.org/_resources/documents/default/2-1636-gates-grant-schemes-simple-overview-may-2013-version-2.pdf Brief overview of conditions for water, sanitation and hygiene grants by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240726172427/http://www.susana.org/_resources/documents/default/2-1636-gates-grant-schemes-simple-overview-may-2013-version-2.pdf |date=July 26, 2024 }}

File:Microbial fuel cell stack that converts urine into electricity (13359544514).jpg stack that converts urine into electricity (research by the University of the West of England, UK)]]

Since the launch of the "Reinvent the Toilet Challenge", more than a dozen research teams, mainly at universities in the U.S., Europe, India, China, and South Africa, have received grants to develop innovative on-site and off-site waste treatment solutions for the urban poor. The grants were in the order of $400,000 for their first phase, followed by typically $1 million – 3 million for their second phase; many of them investigated resource recovery or processing technologies for excreta or fecal sludge.Elisabeth von Muench, Dorothee Spuhler, Trevor Surridge, Nelson Ekane, Kim Andersson, Emine Goekce Fidan, Arno Rosemarin (2013) [http://www.susana.org/_resources/documents/default/2-2042-ssp-17okt20134-10-about-the-gates-sanitation-grants-on-forum.pdf Sustainable Sanitation Alliance members take a closer look at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation's sanitation grants] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161130222401/http://www.susana.org/_resources/documents/default/2-2042-ssp-17okt20134-10-about-the-gates-sanitation-grants-on-forum.pdf |date=November 30, 2016 }}, Sustainable Sanitation Practice Journal, Issue 17, p. 4-10

The "Reinvent the Toilet Challenge" is focused on "reinventing the flush toilet". The aim was to create a toilet that not only removes pathogens from human excreta, but also recovers resources such as energy, clean water, and nutrients (a concept also known as reuse of excreta). It should operate "off-the-grid" without connections to water, sewer, or electrical networks. Finally, it should cost less than 5 cents per user per day.

High-tech toilets for tackling the growing public health problem of human waste are gaining increasing attention, but this focus on a "technology fix" has also been criticized by many in the sector. However, low-tech solutions may be more practical in poor countries, and research is also funded by the foundation for such toilets.{{cite book |url=http://www.susana.org/en/resources/library/details/1993 |title=A Collection of Contemporary Toilet Designs |date=2014 |publisher=EOOS and WEDC, Loughborough University, UK |isbn=978-1-84380-155-9 |pages=40 |last1=Shaw |first1=R. |access-date=April 10, 2017 |archive-date=September 8, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170908020337/http://www.susana.org/en/resources/library/details/1993 |url-status=live }}{{cite journal |last=Humphreys |first=Gary | title=Reinventing the toilet for 2.5 billion in need | journal=Bulletin of the World Health Organization | volume=92 | issue=7 | date=1 July 2014 | pmid=25110370 | pmc=4121873 | doi=10.2471/BLT.14.020714 | doi-access=free | pages=470–471}}

The Reinvent the Toilet Challenge is a long-term research and development effort to develop a hygienic, stand-alone toilet. This challenge is being complemented by another investment program to develop new technologies for improved pit latrine emptying (called by the foundation the "Omni-Ingestor"Frederick, R., Gurski, T. (2012). [http://www.susana.org/en/resources/library/details/1718 Synapse Dewatering Investigation Report – Omni-Ingestor Phase 2, Milestone 1] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240726172433/https://www.susana.org/en/knowledge-hub/resources-and-publications/library/details/1718 |date=July 26, 2024 }}. Consultancy report by Synapse (USA) commissioned by Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Seattle, US) and fecal sludge processing (called "Omni-Processor"). The aim of the "Omni Processor" is to convert excreta (for example fecal sludge) into beneficial products such as energy and soil nutrients with the potential to develop local business and revenue.Kuchenrither, R. D., Stone, L., Haug, R. T. (2012). [http://www.susana.org/en/resources/library/details/1640 Omni-Processor Landscaping Project] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170613132857/http://www.susana.org/en/resources/library/details/1640 |date=June 13, 2017 }}. Consultancy report by WERF (Water Environment Research Foundation), commissioned by Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Seattle, US

• About 200 sanitation projects in many different countries and at various scales – some with a technology focus, some with a focus on market development or policy and advocacy, have received funding from the foundation since 2008.{{Cite web |url=http://www.susana.org/en/resources/projects?vbl_2%5B%5D=&vbl_22%5B612%5D=612 |title=Projects, filtered by funding source Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation |date=March 24, 2015 |access-date=March 24, 2015 |website=Sustainable Sanitation Alliance Website |archive-date=July 26, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240726172937/https://www.susana.org/en/404-error-page-not-found |url-status=live }}
• The University of KwaZulu-Natal in Durban, South Africa Gates Foundation was awarded $1.6 million in 2014 to act as a hub for sanitation researchers and product developers.[https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2015/may/26/residents-blame-durban-oil-refineries-for-health-problems Residents blame Durban oil refineries for health problems] The Guardian May 26, 2015{{Cite web |url=http://www.gatesfoundation.org/How-We-Work/Quick-Links/Grants-Database/Grants/2014/11/OPP1119939 |title=How we work, grant database (grant for UKZN) |access-date=May 27, 2015 |publisher=Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation |archive-date=May 27, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150527110601/http://www.gatesfoundation.org/How-We-Work/Quick-Links/Grants-Database/Grants/2014/11/OPP1119939 |url-status=live }}
• One example of an Omni-Processor is a combustion-based system designed to turn fecal sludge into energy and drinking water. The development of this particular prototype by U.S.-based company Janicki Bioenergy attracted media attention for the sanitation crisis and the work of the foundation after Bill Gates drank water produced from this process.{{Cite web |url=http://www.gatesnotes.com/Development/Omniprocessor-From-Poop-to-Potable |title=From poop to portable, This Ingenious Machine Turns Feces Into Drinking Water |date=January 5, 2015 |access-date=January 13, 2015 |website=gatesnotes, The Blog of Bill Gates |archive-date=January 13, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150113004648/http://www.gatesnotes.com/Development/Omniprocessor-From-Poop-to-Potable |url-status=live }}
• Examples for the Reinvent the Toilet Challenge include: Scientists at the University of Colorado Boulder were given funding of $1.8 million to develop a prototype toilet that uses solar heat to treat the fecal matter and produce biochar.{{cite web |title=World's First Solar Powered Toilet to be unveiled in India this month |url=http://news.biharprabha.com/2014/03/worlds-first-solar-powered-toilet-to-be-unveiled-in-india-this-month/ |work=IANS |date=March 14, 2014 |publisher=news.biharprabha.com |access-date=March 14, 2014 |archive-date=March 16, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140316051645/http://news.biharprabha.com/2014/03/worlds-first-solar-powered-toilet-to-be-unveiled-in-india-this-month/ |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |url=http://www.gatesfoundation.org/How-We-Work/Quick-Links/Grants-Database/Grants/2012/08/OPP1065047 |title=How we work, grant database (grant for Uni Colorado Boulder) |access-date=May 27, 2015 |publisher=Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation |archive-date=July 26, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240726173437/https://www.gatesfoundation.org/about/committed-grants |url-status=live }} Funding has been provided to RTI International since 2012 to develop a toilet based on electrochemical disinfection and solid waste combustion.{{cite web |title=Our Technology |url=http://abettertoilet.org/toilet-technologies/ |work=A Better Toilet For A Cleaner World |publisher=RTI International |access-date=March 17, 2014 |year=2014|url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140317082223/http://abettertoilet.org/toilet-technologies/ |archive-date=March 17, 2014 }}{{Cite web |url=http://www.gatesfoundation.org/How-We-Work/Quick-Links/Grants-Database#q/k=RTI&issue=Water%2C%20Sanitation%2C%20and%20Hygiene |title=How we work, grant database (grants for RTI) |access-date=May 27, 2015 |publisher=Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation |archive-date=April 8, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140408212512/http://www.gatesfoundation.org/How-We-Work/Quick-Links/Grants-Database#q/k=RTI&issue=Water%2C%20Sanitation%2C%20and%20Hygiene |url-status=live }}

Some examples include:

• 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake: The foundation made total grant donations of $3 million to various charities to help with the aid effort for victims of the earthquake. These charities include: CARE international, International Rescue Committee, Mercy Corps, Save the Children, and World Vision.{{Cite web |url=https://www.gatesfoundation.org/How-We-Work/Quick-Links/Grants-Database/Grants/2004/12/OPP37580 |title=Mercy Corps |website=Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation |language=en |access-date=October 11, 2017 |archive-date=October 11, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171011232823/https://www.gatesfoundation.org/How-We-Work/Quick-Links/Grants-Database/Grants/2004/12/OPP37580 |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |url=https://www.gatesfoundation.org/How-We-Work/Quick-Links/Grants-Database/Grants/2004/12/OPP37578 |title=Save the Children Federation |website=Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation |language=en |access-date=October 11, 2017 |archive-date=October 11, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171011232905/https://www.gatesfoundation.org/How-We-Work/Quick-Links/Grants-Database/Grants/2004/12/OPP37578 |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |url=https://www.gatesfoundation.org/How-We-Work/Quick-Links/Grants-Database/Grants/2004/12/OPP37577 |title=CARE |website=Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation |language=en |access-date=October 11, 2017 |archive-date=October 12, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171012043633/https://www.gatesfoundation.org/How-We-Work/Quick-Links/Grants-Database/Grants/2004/12/OPP37577 |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |url=https://www.gatesfoundation.org/How-We-Work/Quick-Links/Grants-Database/Grants/2004/12/OPP37576 |title=World Vision |website=Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation |language=en |access-date=October 11, 2017 |archive-date=October 11, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171011232903/https://www.gatesfoundation.org/How-We-Work/Quick-Links/Grants-Database/Grants/2004/12/OPP37576 |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |url=https://www.gatesfoundation.org/How-We-Work/Quick-Links/Grants-Database/Grants/2004/12/OPP37572 |title=International Rescue Committee |website=Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation |language=en |access-date=October 11, 2017 |archive-date=October 12, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171012044021/https://www.gatesfoundation.org/How-We-Work/Quick-Links/Grants-Database/Grants/2004/12/OPP37572 |url-status=live }}
• 2005 Kashmir earthquake: The foundation made a donation of $500,000 for the earthquake.{{cite web |title=Pakistan Earthquake Homeless Number May Surpass Tsunami |url=http://www.mercycorps.org.uk/articles/pakistan-earthquake-homeless-number-may-surpass-tsunami |work=Mercy Corps |access-date=March 17, 2014 |date=October 13, 2005 |archive-date=March 17, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140317080904/http://www.mercycorps.org.uk/articles/pakistan-earthquake-homeless-number-may-surpass-tsunami |url-status=live }}
• In 2014, the Gates Foundation released "flexible funds" in the order of $50 million to United Nations agencies and other organizations involved in the work against the deadly disease Ebola in West Africa.{{Cite web |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/health-29145497 |title=New money added to emergency response to Ebola outbreak |date=September 10, 2014 |access-date=March 24, 2015 |website=BBC News – Health |publisher=BBC, UK |last=Dreaper |first=Jane |archive-date=April 25, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150425141123/http://www.bbc.com/news/health-29145497 |url-status=live }}
• 2021 Emergency Funding. The foundation, with a group of philanthropists, has pledged £93.5m funding to cover UK foreign aid cuts.{{Cite news|date=2021-07-10|title=Foreign aid: Gates and others to partially cover UK aid cuts|language=en-GB|work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-57791538|access-date=2021-07-13|archive-date=July 13, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210713104721/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-57791538|url-status=live}}

The foundation is a donor to the National Geographic Society.{{Cite web |date=2016 |title=The Power of Philanthropy |url=https://media.nationalgeographic.org/assets/file/2016_Annual_Report_DONOR_LIST_FINAL.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220510054615/https://media.nationalgeographic.org/assets/file/2016_Annual_Report_DONOR_LIST_FINAL.pdf |archive-date=2022-05-10 |access-date=2022-05-10 |website=National Geographic}}

The foundation is working with Mastercard, GAVI and TrustStamp to create the Mastercard Well Pass. This program, being tested in 2020 in West Africa, will integrate vaccination records with cashless payment capability.{{Cite web |last=Burt |first=Chris |date=July 6, 2020 |title=Trust Stamp integrating biometric hash solution with Mastercard on children's vaccine record system |url=https://www.biometricupdate.com/202007/trust-stamp-integrating-biometric-hash-solution-with-mastercard-on-childrens-vaccine-record-system |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200713163943/https://www.biometricupdate.com/202007/trust-stamp-integrating-biometric-hash-solution-with-mastercard-on-childrens-vaccine-record-system |archive-date=2020-07-13 |access-date=2020-05-10 |website=Biometric Update}}{{Cite web |last=Sen |first=Chaiti |date=2019-06-07 |title=Mastercard Digital Wellness Program to Enhance Transparency, Security and Choice for Online Shopping |url=https://www.mastercard.com/news/press/2019/june/mastercard-digital-wellness-program-to-enhance-transparency-security-and-choice-for-online-shopping/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20210119175951/https://www.mastercard.com/news/press/2019/june/mastercard-digital-wellness-program-to-enhance-transparency-security-and-choice-for-online-shopping/ |archive-date=2021-01-19 |access-date=2022-05-10 |website=Mastercard |language=en-US}}

Since 2011, the president of the Global Health Program is Trevor Mundel:{{cite web |title=Leadership – Trevor Mundel |url=http://www.gatesfoundation.org/Who-We-Are/General-Information/Leadership/Management-Committee/Trevor-Mundel |work=Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation |access-date=April 6, 2014 |year=2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140407090436/http://www.gatesfoundation.org/Who-We-Are/General-Information/Leadership/Management-Committee/Trevor-Mundel |archive-date=April 7, 2014 }}

• The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria: The foundation has donated more than $6.6 billion for global health programs, including over $1.3 billion donated as of 2012 on malaria alone, greatly increasing the dollars spent per year on malaria research.[http://www.foreignaffairs.org/20070101faessay86103/laurie-garrett/the-challenge-of-global-health.html The Challenge of Global Health] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070109083214/http://www.foreignaffairs.org/20070101faessay86103/laurie-garrett/the-challenge-of-global-health.html |date=January 9, 2007 }} Foreign Affairs, January/February 2007{{cite web |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/16/science/16malaria.html |title=Gates Foundation's Influence Criticized |date=February 16, 2008 |work=The New York Times |access-date=December 17, 2016 |archive-date=April 8, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230408175726/https://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/16/science/16malaria.html |url-status=live }} Before the Gates efforts on malaria, malaria drugmakers had largely given up on producing drugs to fight the disease, and the foundation is the world's largest donor to research on diseases of the poor. With the help of Gates-funded vaccination drives, deaths from measles in Africa have dropped by 90 percent since 2000.{{Cite news |last1=Piller |first1=Charles |last2=Smith |first2=Doug |title=Unintended victims of Gates Foundation generosity |newspaper=Los Angeles Times |date=December 16, 2007 |url=https://www.latimes.com/nation/la-xpm-2007-dec-16-la-na-gates16dec16-story.html |access-date=March 23, 2020 |archive-date=March 23, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200323115345/https://www.latimes.com/nation/la-xpm-2007-dec-16-la-na-gates16dec16-story.html |url-status=live }}

The foundation has donated billions of dollars to help sufferers of AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria, protecting millions of children from death at the hands of preventable diseases.

The Global Health Program's other significant grants include:

• Polio eradication: In 2006, the foundation provided $86 million toward efforts attempting to eradicate poliomyelitis (polio).{{cite web|url=http://www.polioeradication.org/content/general/HistContributionWebMay06.pdf| title=Donor Contributions to the Global Polio Eradication Initiative, 1985-2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080414095646/http://www.polioeradication.org/content/general/HistContributionWebMay06.pdf|archive-date=2008-04-14 |date=April 14, 2008}}
• The GAVI vaccine alliance: The foundation gave the GAVI Alliance (formerly the "Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization") a donation of $750 million on January 25, 2005.{{cite press release |title=Gates Foundation, Norway Contribute $1 Billion to Increase Child Immunization in Developing Countries |author=GAVI |date=January 24, 2005 |url=http://www.gavialliance.org/media_centre/press_releases/2005_01_24_en_pr_newfunds.php |access-date=October 24, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071013063234/http://www.gavialliance.org/media_centre/press_releases/2005_01_24_en_pr_newfunds.php |archive-date=October 13, 2007| url-status=live}}{{cite web |last=Thomson |first=Iain |title=Bill Gates gives $750m to help African children |date=January 25, 2005 |url=http://www.vnunet.com/vnunet/news/2126576/bill-gates-gives-750m-help-african-children |access-date=October 24, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071102051550/http://www.vnunet.com/vnunet/news/2126576/bill-gates-gives-750m-help-african-children |archive-date=November 2, 2007|url-status=dead }}
• Children's Vaccine Program: The Children's Vaccine Program, run by the Program for Appropriate Technology in Health (PATH), received a donation of $27 million to help vaccinate against Japanese encephalitis on December 9, 2003.{{cite press release |title=Children's Vaccine Program Receives Grant From Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to Combat Japanese Encephalitis |publisher=Program for Appropriate Technology in Health |date=December 9, 2003 |url=http://childrensvaccine.org/html/rel-031209.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20031221215749/http://childrensvaccine.org/html/rel-031209.htm |archive-date=December 21, 2003 |access-date=October 24, 2007}}
• HIV Research: The foundation donated a total of $287 million to various HIV/AIDS researchers. The money was split between 16 different research teams across the world, on the condition that the findings are shared amongst the teams.{{cite news |work=BBC News |title=Gates gives $287m to HIV research |date=July 20, 2006 |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/5197082.stm |access-date=October 24, 2007 |archive-date=February 11, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070211070748/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/5197082.stm |url-status=live }}
• Aeras Global TB Vaccine Foundation: The foundation gave the Aeras Global TB Vaccine Foundation more than $280 million to develop and license an improved vaccine against tuberculosis (TB) for use in high-burden countries (HBCs).{{cite web |title=Gates Foundation Commits $82.9 Million to Develop New Tuberculosis Vaccines |date=February 12, 2004 |url=http://www.globalhealth.org/news/article/4134 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091010163118/http://www.globalhealth.org/news/article/4134 |archive-date=October 10, 2009 }}{{cite web |last=Nightingale |first=Katherine |title=Gates foundation gives US$280 million to fight TB |date=September 19, 2007 |url=http://www.scidev.net/en/news/gates-foundation-gives-us280-million-to-fight-tb.html |access-date=February 3, 2009 |archive-date=December 1, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081201175618/http://www.scidev.net/en/news/gates-foundation-gives-us280-million-to-fight-tb.html |url-status=live }}
• Cheaper high-tech tuberculosis (TB) test: In August 2012, the foundation, in partnership with PEPFAR (United States President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief), USAID (United States Agency for International Development) and UNITAID (an international drug purchasing facility hosted by WHO), announced they had finalized an agreement to reduce the cost of a commercial TB test (Cepheid's Xpert MTB/RIF run on the GeneXpert platform), from $16.86 to $9.98.{{cite web |title=Negotiated prices for Xpert® MTB/RIF and FIND country list |url=http://www.finddiagnostics.org/about/what_we_do/successes/find-negotiated-prices/xpert_mtb_rif.html |work=FIND Diagnostics |publisher=FIND |access-date=April 6, 2014 |date=October 2013|url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140407082202/http://www.finddiagnostics.org/about/what_we_do/successes/find-negotiated-prices/xpert_mtb_rif.html |archive-date=April 7, 2014 }} This test can take the place of smear microscopy, a technique first developed in the 1880s by Robert Koch. Smear microscopy often does not show TB infection in persons who are also co-infected with HIV, whereas the GeneXpert system can show TB in the co-infected patient. In addition, the system can show whether the particular TB strain is resistant to the bactericidal antibiotic rifampicin, a widely accepted indicator of the presence of multidrug resistant tuberculosis.{{cite web |title=Public-Private Partnership Announces Immediate 40 Percent Cost Reduction for Rapid TB Test |url=https://www.who.int/tb/features_archive/GeneXpert_press_release_final.pdf |work=World Health Organization |publisher=United Nations |access-date=April 6, 2014 |date=August 6, 2012 |archive-date=October 29, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131029234310/http://www.who.int/tb/features_archive/GeneXpert_press_release_final.pdf |url-status=live }}{{cite web |title=Published evidence and commentary on the Xpert MTB/RIF assay |url=http://www.stoptb.org/wg/gli/assets/documents/map/XpertPublications.pdf |work=Stop TB Partnership |publisher=World Health Organization |access-date=April 6, 2014 |date=March 12, 2014 |archive-date=January 24, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140124041952/http://www.stoptb.org/wg/gli/assets/documents/map/XpertPublications.pdf |url-status=live }}
• Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) research: The foundation awarded the Hebrew University of Jerusalem's Kuvin Center for the Study of Infectious and Tropical Diseases a $5 million grant in 2009 for research into visceral leishmaniasis (VL), an emerging parasitic disease in Ethiopia, Africa, where it is frequently associated with HIV/AIDS and is a leading cause of adult illness and death. The project, a collaborative effort with Addis Ababa University, will gather data for analysis—to identify the weak links in the transmission cycle—and devise methods for control of the disease.{{cite news |title=$5 m for disease control in Ethiopia |url=http://www.israel21c.org/briefs/5-m-for-disease-control-in-ethiopia |access-date=April 6, 2014 |newspaper=Israel21C |date=December 30, 2009 |archive-date=February 29, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120229163040/http://www.israel21c.org/briefs/5-m-for-disease-control-in-ethiopia |url-status=live }} In 2005 the foundation provided a $30 million grant to The Institute for OneWorld Health to support the nonprofit pharmaceutical company's VL work in the rural communities of India, Bangladesh and Nepal.{{cite web |title=Institute for OneWorld Health receives multimillion dollar grant |url=http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2005-12/ifoh-ifo113005.php |work=EurekAlert! |publisher=AAAS and EurekAlert! |access-date=April 6, 2014 |date=December 1, 2005 |archive-date=July 26, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240726173438/https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/550055 |url-status=live }} By September 2006, the company had received approval from the Indian body Drug-Controller General of India (DCGI) for the Paromomycin Intramuscular (IM) Injection, a drug that provides an effective cure for VL following a 21-day course.{{cite web |title=New Cure for Deadly Visceral Leishmaniasis (Kala-Azar) Approved by Government of India, Institute for OneWorld Health and Gland Pharma Limited Achieve Critical Paromomycin Milestone |url=http://businesswireindia.com/news/news-details/new-cure-deadly-visceral-leishmaniasis-kala-azar-approved-by-governmen/10736 |work=Business Wire India |access-date=April 6, 2014 |date=September 14, 2008 |archive-date=April 7, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140407080356/http://businesswireindia.com/news/news-details/new-cure-deadly-visceral-leishmaniasis-kala-azar-approved-by-governmen/10736 |url-status=live }} In 2010 Raj Shankar Ghosh, the Regional Director for the South Asia Institute for OneWorld Health, explained that the foundation funded "the majority of our work" in the development of the drug.{{cite web |title=Q & A: Institute for OneWorld Health |url=https://www.landesbioscience.com/journals/virulence/OneWorldVir.pdf |work=Access Granted Rita. |publisher=Landes Bioscience |access-date=April 6, 2014 |first=Kyle |last=Funk |date=September–October 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140407085007/https://www.landesbioscience.com/journals/virulence/OneWorldVir.pdf |archive-date=April 7, 2014 }}
• Group B streptococcus: The foundation gave $17,252,854 in September 2016 to Pfizer to develop a vaccine against Group B streptococcus (GBS) for distribution in developing countries.{{Cite web |date=September 2016 |title=Pfizer Inc. |url=https://www.gatesfoundation.org/about/committed-grants/2016/09/opp1133548 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20210710054331/https://www.gatesfoundation.org/about/committed-grants/2016/09/opp1133548 |archive-date=2021-07-10 |access-date=2022-06-14 |website=Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation |language=en}} In May 2022, the funding was renewed with an additional $100,000,000.{{Cite web |date=May 2022 |title=Pfizer Inc. |url=https://www.gatesfoundation.org/about/committed-grants/2022/05/inv044719 |access-date=2022-06-14 |website=Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation |language=en |archive-date=June 14, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220614004212/https://www.gatesfoundation.org/about/committed-grants/2022/05/inv044719 |url-status=dead }}
• Next-Generation Condom: The foundation gave $100,000 to 11 applicants in November 2013 to develop an improved condom; that is, one that "significantly preserves or enhances pleasure, in order to improve uptake and regular use", according to the Gates Foundation's Grand Challenges in Global Health website.{{cite web |title=TOPIC: Develop the Next Generation of Condom |url=http://www.grandchallenges.org/Explorations/Topics/Pages/NextGenerationCondomRound11.aspx |work=Grand Challenges in Global Health |access-date=April 6, 2014 |date=March 2013 |archive-date=April 7, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140407023640/http://www.grandchallenges.org/explorations/topics/pages/nextgenerationcondomround11.aspx |url-status=dead }} Further grants of up to $1 million will be given to projects that are successful.{{cite news |title=Innovation: Next-Gen Condoms |url=http://images.businessweek.com/slideshows/2013-12-05/innovation-next-gen-condoms |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131206122610/http://images.businessweek.com/slideshows/2013-12-05/innovation-next-gen-condoms |url-status=dead |archive-date=December 6, 2013 |access-date=April 6, 2014 |newspaper=Bloomberg Businessweek |date=December 5, 2013 |first=Nick |last=Lieber}}
• Neglected tropical diseases (NTDs): Alongside WHO, the governments of the United States, United Kingdom and United Arab Emirates, and the World Bank, the foundation endorsed the London Declaration on Neglected Tropical Diseases, "to eradicate, eliminate and intensify control of 17 selected diseases by 2015 and 2020", at a meeting on January 30, 2012, held at the Royal College of Physicians in London, UK.{{cite web |title=WHO roadmap inspires unprecedented support to defeat neglected tropical diseases |url=https://www.who.int/neglected_diseases/London_meeting_follow_up/en/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140407075831/http://www.who.int/neglected_diseases/London_meeting_follow_up/en/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=April 7, 2014 |work=World Health Organization |publisher=WHO |access-date=April 6, 2014 |date=February 3, 2012}} Gates was the principal organizer responsible for bringing together the heads of 13 of the world's largest pharmaceutical companies and the foundation's monetary commitment to the Declaration was $363 million over five years.{{cite news |title=Drug companies join forces to combat deadliest tropical diseases |url=https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2012/jan/30/drug-companies-join-tropical-diseases |access-date=April 6, 2014 |newspaper=The Guardian |date=January 30, 2012 |first=Sarah |last=Boseley |archive-date=July 26, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240726173940/https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2012/jan/30/drug-companies-join-tropical-diseases |url-status=live }} On April 3, 2014, the second anniversary of the Declaration, Gates attended a meeting in Paris at which participants reviewed the progress that had been made against 10 neglected tropical diseases (NTDs). The foundation committed a further $50 million, together with $50 million from the Children's Investment Fund Foundation and $120 million from the World Bank.{{cite news |title=Bill Gates: world must step up fight against neglected tropical diseases |url=https://www.theguardian.com/society/2014/apr/03/bill-gates-world-must-fight-tropical-diseases |access-date=April 6, 2014 |newspaper=The Guardian |date=April 4, 2014 |first=Sarah |last=Boseley |archive-date=July 26, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240726173942/https://www.theguardian.com/society/2014/apr/03/bill-gates-world-must-fight-tropical-diseases |url-status=live }} The foundation has given in excess of $1 million to The END Fund, a public-private partnership to deliver medication for NTDs to areas in need.{{Cite web |date=2017-11-09 |title=END Fund Partners |url=https://end.org/who-we-are/partners/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220215194305/https://end.org/who-we-are/partners/ |archive-date=2022-02-15 |access-date=2022-06-06 |website=The END Fund |language=en-US}}
• Monoclonal antibody therapies: In October 2018, the foundation awarded $8,279,723 to Inovio Pharmaceuticals to fund the development of "next-generation" delivery methods for monoclonal antibodies targeted for use in low- and middle-income countries.{{Cite web |title=Inovio Pharmaceuticals, Inc. |url=https://www.gatesfoundation.org/about/committed-grants/2018/10/opp1201239 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20220614004812/https://www.gatesfoundation.org/about/committed-grants/2018/10/opp1201239 |archive-date=2022-06-14 |access-date=2022-06-14 |website=Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation |language=en}}
• Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI): A global group tasked with more quickly developing vaccines against infectious disease threats worldwide was launched on January 8, 2017, by a coalition of governments and nonprofit groups including the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. The Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations, funded with an initial investment of $460 million from Germany, Japan, Norway, the Wellcome Trust and the Gates foundation, aims to develop vaccines against known infectious disease threats that could be deployed quickly to contain outbreaks before they become global health emergencies, the group said in a statement at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.{{Cite news |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-01-18/gates-foundation-joins-new-460-million-coalition-for-vaccines |title=Gates Foundation Joins New $460 Million Coalition for Vaccines |date=January 18, 2017 |newspaper=Bloomberg.com |access-date=January 19, 2017 |archive-date=July 26, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240726174445/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-01-18/gates-foundation-joins-new-460-million-coalition-for-vaccines |url-status=live }}{{Cite web|url=https://wellcome.ac.uk/news/global-fund-outsmart-epidemics|title=Global fund to outsmart epidemics {{!}} Wellcome|website=wellcome.ac.uk|language=en|access-date=January 19, 2017|archive-date=January 25, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170125155059/https://wellcome.ac.uk/news/global-fund-outsmart-epidemics|url-status=live}}
• [https://www.who.int/news/item/24-04-2023-global-partners-announce-a-new-effort-the-big-catch-up-to-vaccinate-millions-of-children-and-restore-immunization-progress-lost-during-the-pandemic The Big Catch-up]: In response to the decline in childhood vaccination rates affecting over 100 countries due to the COVID-19 pandemic, global health partners including WHO, UNICEF, Gavi, and the Vaccine Alliance launched "The Big Catch-up" initiative. This collaborative effort aims to reverse vaccination declines, particularly in 20 countries with the highest numbers of missed vaccinations. Over 25 million children missed at least one vaccination in 2021, leading to preventable disease outbreaks. The initiative focuses on strengthening healthcare systems, building trust in vaccines, and addressing barriers to immunization, with an emphasis on reaching vulnerable populations.{{Cite web |title=Global partners announce a new effort – "The Big Catch-up" – to vaccinate millions of children and restore immunization progress lost during the pandemic |url=https://www.who.int/news/item/24-04-2023-global-partners-announce-a-new-effort-the-big-catch-up-to-vaccinate-millions-of-children-and-restore-immunization-progress-lost-during-the-pandemic |access-date=2023-09-28 |website=www.who.int |language=en |archive-date=September 23, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230923110134/https://www.who.int/news/item/24-04-2023-global-partners-announce-a-new-effort-the-big-catch-up-to-vaccinate-millions-of-children-and-restore-immunization-progress-lost-during-the-pandemic |url-status=live }}

Beginning in 2020, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation has provided hundreds of millions of dollars of funding towards initiatives surrounding the COVID-19 public health crisis.

In 2020, together with the UK research charity Wellcome and Mastercard, the Gates Foundation established the COVID-19 Therapeutics Accelerator to hasten the development and evaluation of new and repurposed drugs and biologics to treat patients for COVID-19.{{Cite web |url=https://www.goodnewsnetwork.org/gates-foundation-commits-100-million-to-coronavirus-response/ |title=Gates Foundation Commits $100 Million to Speeding Up Coronavirus Treatments and Response |date=March 10, 2020 |website=Good News Network |language=en-US |access-date=March 15, 2020 |archive-date=March 11, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200311031639/https://www.goodnewsnetwork.org/gates-foundation-commits-100-million-to-coronavirus-response/ |url-status=live }} After the World Health Organization's appeal for funding, the Gates Foundation pledged an extra US$150 million on top of the US$100 million already committed earlier.{{cn|date=November 2024}}

By April 2020, the foundation had provided backing for six candidates for vaccines against COVID-19.{{Cite web |last=Varshney |first=Neer |date=2020-04-27 |title=Bill Gates, Backer of Inovio And Six Others, Says Coronavirus Vaccine Could Be Mass Produced Within A Year |url=https://finance.yahoo.com/news/bill-gates-backer-inovio-six-074230868.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20220410093022/https://finance.yahoo.com/news/bill-gates-backer-inovio-six-074230868.html?guccounter=1 |archive-date=2022-04-10 |access-date=2022-06-14 |website=Yahoo! Finance |language=en-US}} In June, the foundation tapped the National University of Singapore to investigate which countries in Asia responded effectively to the pandemic.{{Cite web |date=June 2020 |title=National University of Singapore |url=https://www.gatesfoundation.org/about/committed-grants/2020/06/inv005598 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20220615022639/https://www.gatesfoundation.org/about/committed-grants/2020/06/inv005598 |archive-date=2022-06-15 |access-date=2022-06-15 |website=Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation |language=en}} On June 26, the foundation and its partners with the COVID-19 Therapeutics Accelerator announced the launch of the International COVID-19 Data Alliance (ICODA) to be hosted at Health Data Research UK.{{Cite web |date=2020-06-26 |title=COVID-19 Therapeutics Accelerator Donors Launch International Alliance to Connect Research Data Sources and Enable Collaboration |url=https://www.gatesfoundation.org/ideas/media-center/press-releases/2020/06/covid-19-therapeutics-accelerator-donors-launch-international-alliance |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210414083155/https://www.gatesfoundation.org/Ideas/Media-Center/Press-Releases/2020/06/COVID-19-Therapeutics-Accelerator-Donors-Launch-International-Alliance |archive-date=2021-04-14 |access-date=2022-10-01 |website=Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation |language=en}}

In December 2020, the foundation solicited applications for funding for researchers at McMaster University to develop epidemiological models for SARS-CoV-2, as well as COVID-19 vaccines, treatments and non-pharmaceutical interventions.{{Cite web |title=Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation: Grand Challenges ICODA COVID-19 Data Science |url=https://research.mcmaster.ca/funding/grand-challenges-icoda-covid-19-data-science-initiative/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20211201212030/https://research.mcmaster.ca/funding/grand-challenges-icoda-covid-19-data-science-initiative/ |archive-date=2021-12-01 |access-date=2022-06-10 |website=McMaster University Research & Innovation |language=en-US}} The foundation re-upped its support of ICODA in May 2021 with a grant of $577,246.{{Cite web |date=May 2021 |title=Health Data Research UK |url=https://www.gatesfoundation.org/about/committed-grants/2021/05/inv033701 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20221001073727/https://www.gatesfoundation.org/about/committed-grants/2021/05/inv033701 |archive-date=2022-10-01 |access-date=2022-10-01 |website=Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation |language=en}}

In August 2021, the foundation awarded a $587,568 grant to Wits Health Consortium to test the effectiveness of the COVID-19 vaccines distributed in South Africa by Johnson & Johnson and Pfizer.{{Cite web |date=August 2021 |title=Wits Health Consortium (Pty) Ltd |url=https://www.gatesfoundation.org/about/committed-grants/2021/08/inv035995 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211119093632/https://www.gatesfoundation.org/about/committed-grants/2021/08/inv035995 |archive-date=2021-11-19 |access-date=2022-06-14 |website=Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation |language=en}}

In November 2021, the foundation gave $2,118,334 to Providence Therapeutics to develop more cost-effective mRNA vaccines.{{Cite web |date=November 2021 |title=Providence Therapeutics |url=https://www.gatesfoundation.org/about/committed-grants/2021/11/inv036094 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20220614010933/https://www.gatesfoundation.org/about/committed-grants/2021/11/inv036094 |archive-date=2022-06-14 |access-date=2022-06-14 |website=Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation |language=en}}

Under President Allan Golston, the United States Program has made grants such as the following:

Up to 2013, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation provided $71 million to Planned Parenthood and affiliated organizations. In 2014, Melinda Gates has stated that the foundation "has decided not to fund abortion", focusing instead on family planning and contraception in order to avoid conflation of abortion and family planning. In response to questions about this decision, Gates stated in a June 2014 blog post that "[she], like everyone else, struggle[s] with the issue" and that "the emotional and personal debate about abortion is threatening to get in the way of the lifesaving consensus regarding basic family planning".{{cite web |title=Reflections on My Recent Travels |first=Melinda |last=Gates |publisher=Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation |date=June 2, 2014 |url=http://www.impatientoptimists.org/Posts/2014/06/Reflections-on-My-Trip-to-Toronto |access-date=June 15, 2014 |archive-date=June 16, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140616034453/http://www.impatientoptimists.org/Posts/2014/06/Reflections-on-My-Trip-to-Toronto |url-status=live }} Since this time, their endeavors have shifted to a more global perspective, focusing on voluntary family planning and maternal and newborn health.{{Cite web |url=https://www.gatesfoundation.org/What-We-Do/Global-Development/Family-Planning |title=Family Planning |website=Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation |language=en |access-date=July 20, 2018 |archive-date=February 27, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130227033712/https://www.gatesfoundation.org/What-We-Do/Global-Development/Family-Planning |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |url=https://www.gatesfoundation.org/What-We-Do/Global-Health/Maternal-Newborn-and-Child-Health-Discovery-and-Tools |title=Maternal, Newborn & Child Health Discovery & Tools |website=Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation |language=en |access-date=July 20, 2018 |archive-date=July 20, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180720052052/https://www.gatesfoundation.org/What-We-Do/Global-Health/Maternal-Newborn-and-Child-Health-Discovery-and-Tools |url-status=live }}

In 1997, the charity introduced a U.S. Libraries initiative with a goal of "ensuring that if you can get to a public library, you can reach the internet". The foundation has given grants, installed computers and software, and provided training and technical support in partnership with public libraries nationwide to increase access and knowledge.{{cite web|website=Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation|date=2014|title=What We Do: Global Libraries Strategy Overview|url=http://www.gatesfoundation.org/What-We-Do/Global-Development/Global-Libraries|access-date=April 13, 2014|archive-date=December 23, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141223064850/http://www.gatesfoundation.org/what-we-do/global-development/global-libraries|url-status=live}} Helping provide access and training for these resources, this foundation helps move public libraries into the digital age.

Most recently, the foundation gave a $12.2 million grant to the Southeastern Library Network (SOLINET) to assist libraries in Louisiana and Mississippi on the Gulf Coast, many of which were damaged or destroyed by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.{{fact|date=April 2025}}

A key aspect of the Gates Foundation's U.S. efforts involves an overhaul of the country's education policies at both the K-12 and college levels, including support for teacher evaluations and charter schools and opposition to seniority-based layoffs and other aspects of the education system that are typically backed by teachers' unions.{{cite web |id={{ProQuest|867938550}} |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/22/education/22gates.html |title=Behind Grass-Roots School Advocacy, Bill Gates |date=May 22, 2011 |work=The New York Times |access-date=December 17, 2016 |archive-date=July 26, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240726174444/https://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/22/education/22gates.html |url-status=live }} It spent $373 million on education in 2009. It has also donated to the two largest national teachers' unions. The foundation was the biggest early backer of the Common Core State Standards Initiative. In October 2017 it was announced that the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation would spend more than $1.7 billion over five years to pay for new initiatives in public education.{{Cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/answer-sheet/wp/2017/10/19/bill-gates-has-another-plan-for-k-12-public-education-the-others-didnt-go-so-well/|title=Analysis {{!}} Bill Gates has a(nother) billion-dollar plan for K-12 public education. The others didn't go so well |last=Strauss|first=Valerie|date=October 19, 2017|newspaper=The Washington Post|access-date=October 30, 2017|language=en-US |archive-date=October 23, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171023030247/https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/answer-sheet/wp/2017/10/19/bill-gates-has-another-plan-for-k-12-public-education-the-others-didnt-go-so-well/|url-status=live}}

One of the foundation's goals is to lower poverty by increasing the number of college graduates in the United States, and the organization has funded "Reimagining Aid Design and Delivery" grants to think tanks and advocacy organizations to produce white papers on ideas for changing the current system of federal financial aid for college students, to increase graduation rates.{{cite news |url=http://chronicle.com/article/The-Gates-Effect/140323/ |author=Marc Parry |author2=Kelly Field |author3=Beckie Supiano |title=The Gates Effect |date=July 13, 2014 |newspaper=The Chronicle of Higher Education |access-date=October 18, 2014 |archive-date=October 24, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141024133134/http://chronicle.com/article/The-Gates-Effect/140323/ |url-status=live }}{{cite web |title=Reimagining Financial Aid |url=https://www.insidehighered.com/news/2013/03/14/look-all-15-reimagining-aid-design-and-delivery-reports-gates-foundation |website=Inside Higher Education |access-date=December 21, 2014 |date=March 24, 2013 |author=Libby A. Nelson |archive-date=July 7, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140707130559/http://www.insidehighered.com/news/2013/03/14/look-all-15-reimagining-aid-design-and-delivery-reports-gates-foundation |url-status=live }} One of the ways the foundation has sought to increase the number of college graduates is to get them through college faster, but that idea has received some pushback from organizations of universities and colleges.{{cite journal |url=http://chronicle.com/article/How-Gates-Shapes-State/140303/ |title=How Gates Shapes State Higher-Education Policy |journal=The Chronicle of Higher Education |date=July 14, 2013 |last1=Mangan |first1=Katherine |access-date=October 18, 2014 |archive-date=October 24, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141024133144/http://chronicle.com/article/How-Gates-Shapes-State/140303/ |url-status=live }}

As part of its education-related initiatives, the foundation has funded journalists, think tanks, lobbying organizations, and governments. Millions of dollars of grants to news organizations have funded reporting on education and higher education, including more than $1.4 million to the Education Writers Association to fund training for journalists who cover education.{{cite news|url=http://chronicle.com/article/To-Shape-the-National/140297/|author=Jennifer Ruark|title=To Shape the National Conversation, Gates and Lumina Support Journalism|date=July 14, 2013|newspaper=The Chronicle of Higher Education|access-date=October 18, 2014|archive-date=October 24, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141024133129/http://chronicle.com/article/To-Shape-the-National/140297/|url-status=live}}

Some of the foundation's educational initiatives have included:

• Gates Cambridge Scholarships: In 2000, the Gates Foundation donated $210 million to help outstanding graduate students from the U.S. and around the world to study at the prestigious University of Cambridge. The Gates Cambridge Scholarship has often been compared to the Rhodes Scholarship given its international scope and substantial endowment. The scholarship remains extremely competitive with just 0.3% of applicants being selected. Each year, approximately 100 new graduate students from around the world receive funding to attend Cambridge University. Several buildings at the University of Cambridge also bear the name of William and Melinda Gates after sizable contributions to their construction.{{cite web |url=http://www.gates.scholarships.cam.ac.uk/ |title=gates.scholarships.cam.ac.uk |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150509054021/http://www.gates.scholarships.cam.ac.uk/ |archive-date=May 9, 2015}}

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• Cornell University: Received $25 million from the foundation for a new Information Science building, named "Bill and Melinda Gates Hall". The total cost of the building was estimated at $60 million. Construction began in March 2012 and officially opened in January 2014.{{Cite web|url=https://news.cornell.edu/stories/2014/01/cornells-new-gates-hall-not-what-it-seems|title=Cornell's new Gates Hall is not what it seems|website=Cornell Chronicle |first1=H. Roger |last1=Segelken |date=January 23, 2014 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20210504015433/https://news.cornell.edu/stories/2014/01/cornells-new-gates-hall-not-what-it-seems|archivedate=4 May 2021}}
• Massachusetts Institute of Technology: Part of the Ray and Maria Stata Center is known as the "Gates Tower" in recognition of partial funding of the building.
• Carnegie Mellon University: The foundation gave $20 million to the Carnegie Mellon School of Computer Science for a new Computer Science building called the "Gates Center for Computer Science".{{Cite web|url=https://www.cmu.edu/cmnews/extra/060407_gates.html|title=University Unveils Plans for New Gates Center for Computer Science|website=Carnegie Mellon Today |first1= Bruce |last1=Gerson |date=April 21, 2006 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230408181938/https://www.cmu.edu/cmnews/extra/060407_gates.html |archive-date= Apr 8, 2023 }} It officially opened on September 22, 2009.{{cite web |url=http://gateshillman.blog.cs.cmu.edu/?p%3D122 |title=The Move |date=September 7, 2009 |website=SCS Complex Information and Blog |access-date=August 31, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100723190426/http://gateshillman.blog.cs.cmu.edu/?p=122 |archive-date=July 23, 2010 }}
• Smaller schools: The Gates Foundation claims one in five students is unable to read and grasp the contents of what they read, and African American and Latino students are graduating high school with the skills of a middle school student.{{cite journal |last1=Vander Ark |first1=Tom |title=The Case for Small High Schools |journal=Educational Leadership |date=2002 |volume=59 |issue=5 |pages=55–59 |id={{ERIC|EJ640906}} |oclc=425514513 }} Gates Foundation has invested more than $250 million in grants to create new small schools, reduce student-to-teacher ratios, and to divide up large high schools through the schools-within-a-school model.
• D.C. Achievers Scholarships: The Gates Foundation announced March 22, 2007, a $122 million initiative to send hundreds of the District of Columbia's poorest students to college.{{cite web | title=Gateses opening doors to college for D.C. kids – The Denver Post | website=The Denver Post | date=2007-03-22 | url=https://www.denverpost.com/2007/03/22/gateses-opening-doors-to-college-for-d-c-kids/ | access-date=2021-04-14 | archive-date=April 14, 2021 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210414200052/https://www.denverpost.com/2007/03/22/gateses-opening-doors-to-college-for-d-c-kids/ | url-status=live }}{{cite web | title=Money for college | website=The Washington Times | date=2007-03-23 | url=https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2007/mar/23/20070323-085425-4562r/ | access-date=2021-04-14 | archive-date=April 14, 2021 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210414200045/https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2007/mar/23/20070323-085425-4562r/ | url-status=live }}
• Gates Millennium Scholars: Administered by the United Negro College Fund, the foundation donated $1.5 billion for scholarships to high achieving minority students.{{Cite web|url=https://gmsp.org/|title=Gates Millennium Scholars Program|access-date=January 23, 2021|archive-date=January 23, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210123114608/https://gmsp.org/|url-status=live}}
• NewSchools Venture Fund: The foundation contributed $30 million to help NewSchools to manage more charter schools, which aim to prepare students in historically underserved areas for college and careers.
• Strong American Schools: On April 25, 2007, the Gates Foundation joined forces with the Eli and Edythe Broad Foundation pledging a joint $60 million to create Strong American Schools, a nonprofit project responsible for running ED in 08, an initiative and information campaign aimed at encouraging 2008 presidential contenders to include education in their campaign policies.{{cite news |id={{ProQuest|848180638}} |last1=Herszenhorn |first1=David M |title=Billionaires Start $60 Million Schools Effort |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/04/25/education/25schools.html |work=The New York Times |date=25 April 2007 }}
• Teaching Channel: The Gates Foundation announced in September 2011 a $3.5 million initiative to launch a multi-platform service delivering professional development videos for teachers over the Internet, public television, cable and other digital outlets.{{Cite web |url=http://www.gatesfoundation.org/Grants-2011/Pages/The-Teaching-Channel-OPP1040433.aspx |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121129050721/http://www.gatesfoundation.org/Grants-2011/Pages/The-Teaching-Channel-OPP1040433.aspx|url-status=dead |title=Gates Foundation Announces Grant To Teaching Channel |archive-date=November 29, 2012}} To date, over 500,000 teachers and educators have joined the community to share ideas, lesson plans and teaching methods.{{cite web |url=http://www.teachingchannel.org/teachers |title=Teaching Channel Community |work=Teaching Channel|access-date=December 21, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111224194928/http://www.teachingchannel.org/teachers|archive-date=December 24, 2011|url-status=dead }}
• The Gates Scholarship Program: In October 2015, the foundation committed $417.2 million to the Hispanic Scholarship Fund to administer The Gates Scholarship, a program that would support high-achieving minority students from low-income backgrounds through the completion of their undergraduate degrees.{{cite web |title=INV-006827 |url=https://www.gatesfoundation.org/about/committed-grants/2015/10/inv-006827 |website=Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation |language=en}} The program was officially launched in 2017.{{cite web |title=Home |url=https://www.thegatesscholarship.org/ |website=www.thegatesscholarship.org |language=en}}
• The Texas High School Project: The project was set out to increase and improve high school graduation rates across Texas. The foundation committed $84.6 million to the project beginning in 2003. The project focuses its efforts on high-need schools and districts statewide, with an emphasis on urban areas and the Texas-Mexico border.{{Cite web|url=https://www.edtx.org/|title=Educate Texas – Home|website=www.edtx.org|access-date=January 23, 2021|archive-date=January 19, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210119124049/https://www.edtx.org/|url-status=live}}
• University Scholars Program: Donated $20 million in 1998 to endow a scholarship program at Melinda Gates' alma mater, Duke University.{{cite web |url=https://sites.duke.edu/dukeusp/about-2/history/ |title=History – University Scholars Program |access-date=June 13, 2022 |archive-date=August 19, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220819000535/https://sites.duke.edu/dukeusp/about-2/history/ |url-status=live }} The program provides full scholarships to about 10 members of each undergraduate class and one member in each class in each of the professional schools (schools of medicine, business, law, divinity, environment, nursing, and public policy), as well as to students in the Graduate School pursuing doctoral degrees in any discipline. Graduate and professional school scholars serve as mentors to the undergraduate scholars, who are chosen based on financial need and potential for interdisciplinary academic interests. Scholars are chosen each spring from new applicants to Duke University's undergraduate, graduate, and professional school programs. The program features seminars to bring these scholars together for interdisciplinary discussions and an annual spring symposium organized by the scholars.
• Washington State Achievers Scholarship: The Washington State Achievers program encourages schools to create cultures of high academic achievement while providing scholarship support to select college-bound students.
• William H. Gates Public Service Law Program: This program awards five full scholarships annually to the University of Washington School of Law. Scholars commit to working in relatively low-paying public service legal positions for at least the first five years following graduation.{{cite web |url=http://www.law.washington.edu/GatesScholar/Default.aspx |title=Gates Public Service Law – UW School of Law – Public Service |access-date=March 12, 2015 |archive-date=March 29, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150329054503/http://www.law.washington.edu/gatesscholar/Default.aspx |url-status=live }}
• University of Texas at Austin: $30 million challenge grant to build the Bill & Melinda Gates Computer Science Complex.[http://www.cs.utexas.edu/news-events/news/2009/new-computer-science-complex-university-texas-austin-receives-30-million-chall New Computer Science Complex at The University of Texas at Austin Receives $30 Million Challenge Grant from Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation | Computer Science Department The University of Texas at Austin]. Cs.utexas.edu (April 17, 2009). Retrieved on September 4, 2013.
• STAND UP: a national campaign that seeks to positively impact the current crisis within the United States public education system by calling upon community leaders, parents, students, and citizens to encourage change and STAND UP for better schools and the future of America's children. STAND UP was co-founded by the Eli Broad Foundation and was launched in April 2006 on The Oprah Winfrey Show in a two-part feature.
• Alliance for Early Success to support the promotion, education, coordination, and alignment of policies that support vulnerable children ages birth through age eight.[https://earlysuccess.org/aboutus/national-early-childhood-funders/ Investors, Alliance for Early Success] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200714180415/https://earlysuccess.org/aboutus/national-early-childhood-funders/ |date=July 14, 2020 }}, Retrieved on July 20, 2020.
• Every Student Succeeds Act: donated about $44 million to help with the 2015 federal education law.{{Cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2018/05/16/us/ap-us-bill-gates-state-school-plans-.html |title=Bill Gates Gives $44M to Influence State Education Reform |date=May 16, 2018 |work=The New York Times |access-date=May 16, 2018 |language=en-US |archive-date=May 16, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180516182140/https://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2018/05/16/us/ap-us-bill-gates-state-school-plans-.html |url-status=live }}
• The Gates Scholarship Program, which awards The Gates Scholarship (TGS), was launched in 2017.{{Cite web |title=About TGS |url=https://www.thegatesscholarship.org/about-gates/ |access-date=2025-04-09 |website=www.thegatesscholarship.org |language=en}}

• Discovery Institute: Donated $1 million in 2000 to the Discovery Institute and pledged $9.35 million over 10 years in 2003, including $50,000 of Bruce Chapman's $141,000 annual salary. According to a Gates Foundation grant maker, this grant is "exclusive to the Cascadia project" on regional transportation, and it may not be used for the institute's other activities, including promotion of intelligent design.{{Cite web|url=https://www.discovery.org/a/1537/|title=Institute Hails $9.3 Million Grant from Gates Foundation|last=Discovery Institute|date=December 17, 2002|website=Discovery Institute|access-date=January 23, 2021|archive-date=January 29, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210129082528/https://www.discovery.org/a/1537/|url-status=live}}
• Rainier Scholars: Donated $1 million.
• Computer History Museum: Donated $15 million to the museum in October 2005.{{cite news |work=BBC News |title=Gates cheers on computer museum |date=October 17, 2005 |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/4350972.stm |access-date=October 24, 2007 |archive-date=April 13, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080413234156/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/4350972.stm |url-status=live }}

Some critics{{who|date=October 2023}} fear that the foundation directs the conversation on education or pushing its point of view through news coverage.{{cite news |last1=Strauss |first1=Valerie |title=Analysis : Um, who are Melinda and Bill Gates trying to kid? |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/education/2019/04/16/um-who-are-melinda-bill-gates-trying-kid/ |access-date=21 July 2022 |newspaper=Washington Post |date=April 16, 2019 |archive-date=June 6, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220606124257/https://www.washingtonpost.com/education/2019/04/16/um-who-are-melinda-bill-gates-trying-kid/ |url-status=live }} The foundation has said it lists all its grants publicly and does not enforce any rules for content among its grantees, who have editorial independence.{{cite web |title=Storytelling Matters: A Look at the Gates Foundation's Media Grantmaking |url=http://www.impatientoptimists.org/Posts/2012/02/Storytelling-Matters-A-Look-at-the-Gates-Foundations-Media-Grantmaking |publisher=Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation |access-date=December 21, 2014 |date=February 21, 2012 |archive-date=February 15, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150215031101/http://www.impatientoptimists.org/Posts/2012/02/Storytelling-Matters-A-Look-at-the-Gates-Foundations-Media-Grantmaking |url-status=live }}{{Cite web|last=Schwab|first=Tim|date=2020-08-21|title=Journalism's Gates keepers|url=https://www.cjr.org/criticism/gates-foundation-journalism-funding.php|access-date=2021-04-05|website=Columbia Journalism Review|language=en|archive-date=August 21, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200821151348/https://www.cjr.org/criticism/gates-foundation-journalism-funding.php|url-status=live}} Union activists in Chicago have accused Gates Foundation grantee Teach Plus, which was founded by new teachers and advocates against seniority-based layoffs, of "astroturfing".

The K-12 and higher education reform programs of the Gates Foundation have been criticized by some education professionals, parents, and researchers who argue they have driven the conversation on education reform to such an extent that they may marginalize researchers who do not support Gates' predetermined policy preferences. Several Gates-backed policies such as small schools, charter schools, and increasing class sizes have been expensive and disruptive, but some studies indicate they have not improved educational outcomes and may have caused harm.{{Cite web|url=https://www.dissentmagazine.org/article/got-dough-how-billionaires-rule-our-schools|title=Got Dough? How Billionaires Rule Our Schools|access-date=January 23, 2021|archive-date=January 26, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210126144320/https://www.dissentmagazine.org/article/got-dough-how-billionaires-rule-our-schools|url-status=live}}{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/answer-sheet/wp/2014/10/08/an-educator-challenges-the-gates-foundation/|author=Valerie Strauss|title=An educator challenges the Gates Foundation|newspaper=Washington Post|access-date=August 24, 2017|archive-date=September 4, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150904125146/http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/answer-sheet/wp/2014/10/08/an-educator-challenges-the-gates-foundation/|url-status=live}}{{cite news |last1=Strauss |first1=Valerie |title=Bill Gates spent a fortune to build it. Now a Florida school system is getting rid of it. |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/answer-sheet/wp/2015/11/03/bill-gates-spent-a-fortune-to-build-it-now-a-florida-school-system-is-getting-rid-of-it/ |access-date=21 July 2022 |newspaper=Washington Post |date=November 3, 2015 |archive-date=January 18, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220118234455/https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/answer-sheet/wp/2015/11/03/bill-gates-spent-a-fortune-to-build-it-now-a-florida-school-system-is-getting-rid-of-it/ |url-status=live }}{{cite news |last1=Strauss |first1=Valerie |title=Gates Foundation chief admits Common Core mistakes |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/answer-sheet/wp/2016/06/02/gates-foundation-chief-admits-common-core-mistakes/ |access-date=21 July 2022 |newspaper=Washington Post |date=June 2, 2016 |archive-date=January 30, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220130053039/https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/answer-sheet/wp/2016/06/02/gates-foundation-chief-admits-common-core-mistakes/ |url-status=live }}

Examples of some of the K-12 reforms advocated by the foundation include closing ineffective neighborhood schools in favor of privately run charter schools; extensively using standardized test scores to evaluate the progress of students, teachers, and schools; and merit pay for teachers based on student test scores. Critics also believe that the Gates Foundation exerts too much influence over public education policy without being accountable to voters or taxpayers.{{cite book|author=Diane Ravitch|title=The Death and Life of the Great American School System|publisher=Basic Books|date=2010}}Philip E. Kovacs. The Gates Foundation and the Future of U.S. "Public" Schools. Routledge, 2011.

===About the global health division===

A 2007 investigation by the Los Angeles Times claimed there are three major unintended consequences with the foundation's allocation of aid towards the fight against AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria. First, sub-Saharan Africa already suffered from a shortage of primary doctors before the arrival of the Gates Foundation, but "by pouring most contributions into the fight against such high-profile killers as AIDS, Gates grantees have increased the demand for specially trained, higher-paid clinicians, diverting staff from basic care" in sub-Saharan Africa. This "brain drain" adds to the existing doctor shortage and pulls away additional trained staff from children and those suffering from other common killers. Second, "the focus on a few diseases has shortchanged basic needs such as nutrition and transportation". Third, "Gates-funded vaccination programs have instructed caregivers to ignore – even discourage patients from discussing – ailments that the vaccinations cannot prevent".

In response, the Gates Foundation has said that African governments need to spend more of their budgets on public health than on wars, that the foundation has donated at least $70 million to help improve nutrition and agriculture in Africa, in addition to its disease-related initiatives and that it is studying ways to improve the delivery of health care in Africa.

Both insiders and external critics have suggested that there is too much deference to Bill Gates's personal views within the Gates Foundation, insufficient internal debate, and pervasive "group think".{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2010/jul/12/bill-and-melinda-gates-foundation |title=Inside the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation |work=The Guardian |date=July 12, 2010 |first=Andy |last=Beckett |access-date=December 11, 2016 |archive-date=July 26, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240726174513/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2010/jul/12/bill-and-melinda-gates-foundation |url-status=live }} Critics also complain that Gates Foundation grants are often awarded based on social connections and ideological allegiances rather than based on formal external review processes or technical competence.

Critics{{WHO|date=January 2024}} have suggested that Gates' approach to Global Health and Agriculture favors the interests of large pharmaceutical and agribusiness companies over the interests of the people of developing countries.{{Cite web |url=https://www.ghwatch.org/sites/www.ghwatch.org/files/d1.3.pdf |title=The Gates Foundation |website=Global Health Watch |access-date=January 22, 2019 |archive-date=January 22, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220122133756/https://www.ghwatch.org/sites/www.ghwatch.org/files/d1.3.pdf |url-status=live }}{{cite web |url=http://newint.org/features/2012/04/01/bill-gates-charitable-giving-ethics/ |title=The flip side to Bill Gates' charity billions – New Internationalist |first=Andrew |last=Bowman |date=April 2012 |access-date=October 18, 2014 |archive-date=October 21, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141021000541/http://newint.org/features/2012/04/01/bill-gates-charitable-giving-ethics/ |url-status=live }}{{cite web |url=http://faculty.maxwell.syr.edu/cbertini/Media/Kristi_Heim.pdf |title=Professor Catherine Bertini |access-date=December 17, 2016 |archive-date=October 19, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141019014642/http://faculty.maxwell.syr.edu/cbertini/Media/Kristi_Heim.pdf |url-status=dead }}{{cite web |url=http://www.humanosphere.org/social-business/2014/10/critics-say-gates-foundations-agriculture-program-wont-help-poor-farmers/ |title=Critics say Gates Foundation's agriculture program won't help poor farmers |work=Humanosphere |date=October 13, 2014 |access-date=October 18, 2014 |archive-date=April 4, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160404153313/http://www.humanosphere.org/social-business/2014/10/critics-say-gates-foundations-agriculture-program-wont-help-poor-farmers/ |url-status=dead }} After the Gates foundation urged the University of Oxford to find a large company partner to get its COVID-19 vaccine to market, the university backed off from its earlier pledge to donate the rights to any drugmaker.{{cite web |title=They Pledged to Donate Rights to Their COVID Vaccine, Then Sold Them to Pharma |url=https://khn.org/news/rather-than-give-away-its-covid-vaccine-oxford-makes-a-deal-with-drugmaker/ |website=Kaiser Health News |date=August 25, 2020 |access-date=January 28, 2021 |archive-date=February 7, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210207230036/https://khn.org/news/rather-than-give-away-its-covid-vaccine-oxford-makes-a-deal-with-drugmaker/ |url-status=live }}

Critics have outlined that the "Global Health Governance" approach as its conducted by the BMGF can best be understood as "Global Health Imperialism" breaking with the "traditional notions of Westphalian sovereignty" by enforcing capitalist policies on all countries.{{Cite journal|last=Levich|first=Jacob|date=2015|title=The Gates Foundation, Ebola, and Global Health Imperialism|journal=The American Journal of Economics and Sociology|volume=74|issue=4|pages=704–742|doi=10.1111/ajes.12110|jstor=43817537 |doi-access=free}} Also the broader concept of "philanthrocapitalism" is criticised as not addressing the real issue of systemic inequality of capitalism. Instead of real social change organisations such as BMGF represent the interests of "highly sophisticated capitalists who know what they want and how best to get it" – the "Global Health Imperialism" agenda is devoted "to expanding worldwide markets and facilitating commerce on behalf of Western capitalism".{{cite book |doi=10.4324/9781315297255-20 |chapter=Disrupting global health |title=Routledge Handbook on the Politics of Global Health |date=2018 |last1=Levich |first1=Jacob |pages=207–218 |isbn=978-1-315-29725-5 }}

Some experts have pointed that, while it is true that the foundation exercises inordinate power on the WHO, that is possible because the WHO is chronically underfunded and has prestige problems.

Some rich countries have narrower views on global health and engage in vaccine nationalism.

The foundation is criticized for not battling monopolies on intellectual property, crowding out different views on policy and favoring solutionism.

Its focus on concrete illnesses leads away of system changes.{{cite news |last1=Ferrer |first1=Sergio |title=Filantropía, salud y poder económico: ¿El problema es la Fundación Gates o va mucho más allá? |url=https://www.eldiario.es/sociedad/filantropia-salud-economico-problema-fundacion-gates_1_10878671.html |access-date=31 January 2024 |work=elDiario.es |date=30 January 2024 |language=es-ES |archive-date=January 31, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240131100308/https://www.eldiario.es/sociedad/filantropia-salud-economico-problema-fundacion-gates_1_10878671.html |url-status=live }}

The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation is one of the founders and primary financiers of the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA), an African-led organization focused on "transforming African agriculture"{{cite web |title=Alliance for a Green Revolution |url=https://www.guidestar.org/profile/98-0513530 |website=Guidestar.org |access-date=13 May 2021 |archive-date=May 13, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210513223051/https://www.guidestar.org/profile/98-0513530 |url-status=live }} to improve food security in Africa and reduce poverty among small farmers.{{cite web |title=Our Strategy – AGRA |url=https://agra.org/our-strategy/ |website=AGRA.org |access-date=13 May 2021 |archive-date=May 7, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210507165531/https://agra.org/our-strategy/ |url-status=live }} Some critics allege that by encouraging the use of mass-produced fertilizers and new seed varieties, AGRA's hidden goal is not to lift small farmers out of poverty, but to control them through dependence on profit-oriented international supply chains.{{Cite web|url=https://www.welt-ernaehrung.de/2013/08/19/bill-gates-in-afrika/|title=Bill Gates in Afrika » Welt-Ernährung|website=www.welt-ernaehrung.de|date=August 19, 2013 |access-date=July 3, 2020|archive-date=July 26, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200726224548/https://www.welt-ernaehrung.de/2013/08/19/bill-gates-in-afrika/|url-status=live}}

On September 24, 2019, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation gave its Goalkeepers Global Goals award to Indian prime minister Narendra Modi. The decision to award Modi was widely criticized by academics, Nobel Prize laureates, and human rights activists from all over the world.{{Cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/sep/23/dismay-at-gates-foundation-prize-for-narendra-modi |title=Dismay at Gates Foundation prize for Narendra Modi | Letters |newspaper=The Guardian |date=September 23, 2019 |via=www.theguardian.com |access-date=September 26, 2019 |archive-date=October 21, 2019 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20191021114703/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/sep/23/dismay-at-gates-foundation-prize-for-narendra-modi |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/theguardian/commentisfree/2019/sep/24/narendra-modi-gates-foundation-award-donald-trump |title=The Gates Foundation shouldn't legitimise Narendra Modi |first1=Gloria |last1=Steinem |first2=Akeel |last2=Bilgrami |date=September 24, 2019 |website=The Guardian |access-date=September 26, 2019 |archive-date=July 26, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240726174947/https://www.theguardian.com/theguardian/commentisfree/2019/sep/24/narendra-modi-gates-foundation-award-donald-trump |url-status=live }}{{Cite news |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-49738605 |title='Toilet trouble' for Narendra Modi and Bill Gates |first=Aparna |last=Alluri |work=BBC News |date=September 23, 2019 |access-date=September 26, 2019 |archive-date=January 29, 2020 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200129161826/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-49738605 |url-status=live }} A petition signed by over 100,000 people also demanded that the Gates Foundation rescind the award.{{Cite web |url=https://www.stopgenocide.org/ |title=Don't reward fascism. The Butcher of Gujarat, Modi, doesn't deserve an award from the Bill Gates Foundation |website=Stop Genocide |access-date=September 26, 2019 |archive-date=September 26, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190926194433/https://www.stopgenocide.org/ |url-status=live }} Critics insisted that Modi, a Hindu nationalist prime minister with allegations of human rights abuse, should not be celebrated by an organization whose mission states that 'every life has equal value and all people deserve healthy lives.'{{Cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/09/26/opinion/modi-gates-award.html |title=Opinion | Why I Resigned From the Gates Foundation |first=Sabah |last=Hamid |newspaper=The New York Times |date=September 26, 2019 |access-date=September 26, 2019 |archive-date=September 26, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190926194432/https://www.nytimes.com/2019/09/26/opinion/modi-gates-award.html |url-status=live }} By giving Modi this prestigious award, they noted, the Gates Foundation contributes in legitimizing the rule of Modi.{{Cite news |url=https://whro.org/news/3678-gates-foundation-s-humanitarian-award-to-india-s-modi-is-sparking-outrage |title=WHRO – Gates Foundation's Humanitarian Award To India's Modi Is Sparking Outrage |website=whro.org |access-date=September 26, 2019 |archive-date=September 26, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190926194433/https://whro.org/news/3678-gates-foundation-s-humanitarian-award-to-india-s-modi-is-sparking-outrage |url-status=live |last1=Gharib |first1=Malaka }}

Critics say the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation has overlooked the links between poverty and poor academic achievement and has unfairly demonized teachers for poor achievement by underprivileged students. They contend that the Gates Foundation should be embracing anti-poverty and living wage policies rather than pursuing untested and empirically unsupported education reforms.{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/answer-sheet/wp/2014/04/21/how-bill-gates-and-fellow-billionaires-can-actually-help-public-education/|author=Valerie Strauss|title=How Bill Gates and fellow billionaires can actually help public education|date=April 21, 2014|newspaper=The Washington Post|access-date=August 24, 2017|archive-date=September 4, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150904125146/http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/answer-sheet/wp/2014/04/21/how-bill-gates-and-fellow-billionaires-can-actually-help-public-education/|url-status=live}}

Critics say that Gates-backed reforms such as increasing the use of technology in education may financially benefit Microsoft and the Gates family.{{cite news |last1=Walsh |first1=Mark |title=The Washington Post's 'Tense' Talk With Bill Gates on Common Core |url=https://www.edweek.org/education/the-washington-posts-tense-talk-with-bill-gates-on-common-core/2014/06 |work=Education Week |date=9 June 2014 }} citing: {{cite news |id={{ProQuest|1534666399}} |last1=Layton |first1=Lyndsey |title=How Bill Gates pulled off the swift Common Core revolution |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/how-bill-gates-pulled-off-the-swift-common-core-revolution/2014/06/07/a830e32e-ec34-11e3-9f5c-9075d5508f0a_story.html |work=The Washington Post |date=7 June 2014 }}

{{See also|Financial endowment#Divestment campaigns and impact investing}}

The foundation trust invests undistributed assets, with the exclusive goal of maximizing the return on investment. As a result, its investments include companies that have been criticized for worsening poverty in the same developing countries where the foundation is attempting to relieve poverty.[http://www.democracynow.org/2007/1/9/report_gates_foundation_causing_harm_with Report: Gates Foundation Causing Harm With the Same Money It Uses To Do Good] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111107062747/http://www.democracynow.org/2007/1/9/report_gates_foundation_causing_harm_with |date=November 7, 2011 }}, Democracy Now!, January 9, 2007 These include companies that pollute heavily and pharmaceutical companies that do not sell into the developing world.{{cite news |title=Dark cloud over good works of Gates Foundation |url=https://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-gatesx07jan07,0,6827615.story |work=Los Angeles Times |date=January 7, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070108140548/https://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-gatesx07jan07,0,6827615.story |archive-date=January 8, 2007}}

In response to press criticism, in 2007 the foundation announced a review of its investments to assess social responsibility.{{cite news|url=http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2003517601_gatesinvest10.html|title=Gates Foundation to review investments|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070516015458/http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2003517601_gatesinvest10.html |archive-date=May 16, 2007|work=The Seattle Times|date=January 10, 2007}} It subsequently canceled the review and stood by its policy of investing for maximum return, while using voting rights to influence company practices.{{cite news|title=Gates Foundation to maintain its investment plan|work=The Austin Statesman|date=January 14, 2007}}{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.thenation.com/article/archive/how-gates-foundations-investments-are-undermining-its-own-good-works/|title=How the Gates Foundation's Investments Are Undermining Its Own Good Works|first=Charles|last=Piller|date=August 22, 2014|magazine=The Nation |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230602043909/https://www.thenation.com/article/archive/how-gates-foundations-investments-are-undermining-its-own-good-works/ |archive-date= Jun 2, 2023 }}

Critics have called on the Gates Foundation to divest from the GEO Group, the second-largest private prison corporation in the United States. A large part of the prison's work involves incarcerating and detaining migrants that have been detained by the Obama administration and the Trump administration.{{cite news|author=Joe Watson|title=Demonstrators Protest Gates Foundation's $2.2 Million Investment in GEO Group|work=Prison Legal News|date=July 6, 2016|url=https://www.prisonlegalnews.org/news/2016/jul/6/demonstrators-protest-gates-foundations-22-million-investment-geo-group/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230408183842/https://www.prisonlegalnews.org/news/2016/jul/6/demonstrators-protest-gates-foundations-22-million-investment-geo-group/ |archive-date= Apr 8, 2023 }}{{Cite web |last=Geren |first=Tony |date=August 28, 2015 |title=Revealed: Bill Gates invests billions in fast food, private prison and oil companies |url=http://www.iamawake.co/revealed-bill-gates-invests-billions-in-fast-food-private-prison-and-oil-companies/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220703002429/https://www.iamawake.co/revealed-bill-gates-invests-billions-in-fast-food-private-prison-and-oil-companies/ |archive-date=Jul 3, 2022 |website=I Am Awake}}{{cite web|author=Madison Pauly|title=A Brief History of America's Private Prison Industry|website=Mother Jones|date=July–August 2016|url=https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2016/06/history-of-americas-private-prison-industry-timeline/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230627080318/https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2016/06/history-of-americas-private-prison-industry-timeline/ |archive-date= Jun 27, 2023 }} In spring 2014, the Gates Foundation acknowledged its $2.2 million investment in the prison corporation.{{cite news|author=Lael Henterly|title=Gates Foundation resists pressure to pull private prison investment|work=The Seattle Globalist|date=May 8, 2014|url=http://www.seattleglobalist.com/2014/05/08/gates-foundation-private-prison-investments-geo-nwdc/24430 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230419013952/https://seattleglobalist.com/2014/05/08/gates-foundation-private-prison-investments-geo-nwdc/24430 |archive-date= Apr 19, 2023 }} It rebuffed critics' request that it sever investment ties with the prison corporation. It has refused to comment on whether it is continuing its investments, as of 2016.{{cite web|author=Alex Park|title=Is the Gates Foundation Still Investing in Private Prisons?|website=Mother Jones|date=December 8, 2014|url=https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2014/12/gates-foundation-still-investing-private-prisons/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230617065424/https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2014/12/gates-foundation-still-investing-private-prisons/ |archive-date= Jun 17, 2023 }}

• In 2006, the foundation won the Prince of Asturias Award for International Cooperation.{{cite web |url-status=dead |url=http://www.fundacionprincipedeasturias.org/ing/04/premiados/trayectorias/trayectoria807.html |title=Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081204114126/http://www.fundacionprincipedeasturias.org/ing/04/premiados/trayectorias/trayectoria807.html |archive-date=December 4, 2008 |website=Prince of Asturias Foundation }}
• In 2007, then-President of India Pratibha Devisingh Patil presented the Indira Gandhi Prize for Peace, Disarmament and Development to the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.{{Cite web|url=http://archive.indianexpress.com/news/gates-foundation-to-get-indira-gandhi-peace-prize/284494/|title=Gates Foundation to get Indira Gandhi peace prize |date=Mar 14, 2008 |website=Indian Express |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230408184349/http://archive.indianexpress.com/news/gates-foundation-to-get-indira-gandhi-peace-prize/284494/ |archive-date= Apr 8, 2023 }}
• In recognition of the foundation's philanthropic activities in India, Bill and Melinda Gates jointly received India's third highest civilian honor Padma Bhushan in 2015.{{cite news |url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/advani-bachchan-dilip-kumar-get-padma-vibhushan/article6821421.ece |url-access=subscription |title=Advani, Bachchan, Dilip Kumar get Padma Vibhushan |author=PTI |work=The Hindu|date=January 25, 2015 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221111031846/https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/advani-bachchan-dilip-kumar-get-padma-vibhushan/article6821421.ece |archive-date= Nov 11, 2022 }}
• On November 22, 2016, President Barack Obama honored Bill and Melinda Gates with The Presidential Medal of Freedom for their philanthropic efforts.{{Cite web |url=https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/campaign/medal-of-freedom |work=whitehouse.gov |title=The Presidential Medal of Freedom |via=National Archives |access-date=November 23, 2016 |archive-date=January 20, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170120190622/https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/campaign/medal-of-freedom |url-status=live }}

• Bill & Melinda Gates Medical Research Institute
• Corporate social responsibility
• Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition
• List of wealthiest charitable foundations
• Philanthropy
• Social enterprise
• Social entrepreneurship
• Social responsibility

{{note list}}

{{Reflist|30em}}

{{commons category}}

• {{official website}}
• [https://www.gatesfoundation.org/How-We-Work/Quick-Links/Grants-Database Grants database from 1994 onward] (grant payments only, not contracts or investments)
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20200726232916/https://www.greatmotive.com/bill-gates/#Bill_Gates_Net_Worth Bill Gates donated his $35.8 billion to the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation] World's Biggest Charitable Trust
• [http://foundationcenter.org/findfunders/topfunders/top100assets.html The Foundation Center: Top 100 US Foundations by asset size] Gates Foundation ranked number one.
• {{ProPublicaNonprofitExplorer|562618866}}
• {{ProPublicaNonprofitExplorer|911663695|Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Trust}}

{{Bill Gates}}

{{Prince of Asturias Award for International Cooperation}}

{{Authority control}}

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