The Gates Foundation is a private independent foundation based in Seattle, Washington, established in 2007. It operates as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization with tax-exempt status. The foundation works with partner organizations worldwide to address critical problems through strategic grantmaking and philanthropic initiatives.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$78.7B
+2.2% YoY
Annual Giving
$6.3B
+1.2% YoY
Grant Count
4,974
+9.6% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$1.3M
-7.6% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation works to reduce inequities around the world. Its programming is organized into distinct geographic and thematic areas:
Global Development: The foundation's Global Development Division works to help the world's poorest people lift themselves out of hunger and poverty. This includes addressing critical health and development priorities such as infectious disease, agricultural development, and financial services. The foundation invests in research and development as well as innovative approaches to delivering interventions.
Global Health: The foundation addresses health challenges affecting the world's poorest populations.
United States Programs: In the United States, the primary focus is on ensuring that all students—especially Black, Latino, and low-income students—have an opportunity to earn a degree or credential that prepares them for a successful career and life. The program seeks to increase access to better information and tools needed to tackle barriers to opportunity and develop economic mobility strategies at the community, state, and national levels, with particular emphasis on Washington State.
Local/Regional: In its local region, the foundation promotes strategies and programs that help low-income families.
Grantmaking
The foundation is highly active in grantmaking, with recent grant activity documented in tax filings. Grant sizes range from $1 million to $351 million, with a median grant size of approximately $500,000. The foundation has made approximately 5,000 grants according to recent data.
Grant Range
s range from $1 million to $351 million, with a median grant size of approximately $500,000. The foundation has made approximately 5,000 grants according to recent data.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation maintains a global presence with regional offices in:
- Washington, D.C.
- Beijing, China
- Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
- Berlin, Germany
- New Delhi, India
- Nairobi, Kenya
- Abuja, Nigeria
- Dakar, Senegal
- Johannesburg, South Africa
- London, United Kingdom
Primary grantmaking focuses on the District of Columbia, New York, and Washington, with significant international development work across Africa and Asia.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of Fiscal Year 2024:
- Total Assets: $78.7 billion
- Annual Revenue: $8.08 billion
- Annual Expenses: $7.7 billion
- Total Liabilities: $5.96 billion
As of Fiscal Year 2023:
- Total Assets: $76.95 billion
- Total Revenues: $7.81 billion
- Total Expenses: $8.84 billion
Staffing: The foundation employs approximately 2,058 staff members as of 2023.
The foundation posts audited financial statements and Form 990-PF filings on its website, typically making financial statements available in the summer following each fiscal year and Form 990-PF filings available in the fall.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $78,673,465,696 | $76,951,451,400 | $68,907,954,709 |
| Revenue | $8,084,056,958 | $7,810,137,842 | $6,988,022,771 |
| Expenses | $7,696,309,308 | $8,837,147,189 | $7,268,313,012 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $8,277,152,302 | $7,939,383,477 | $7,230,173,952 |
| Net Investment Income | $8,391,588 | $3,210,658 | $134,697,874 |
| Distributable Amount | $146,964,033 | $159,411,117 | $232,202,204 |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
250 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
8 open opportunities from Gates Foundation
Accelerating Innovation in Vaginal Formulations in Support of Women's Health Grant
GATES FOUNDATION
Amount
Up to US $250,000
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Grand Challenges: Accelerating Innovations to Address Heavy Menstrual Bleeding in Women in Low-Resource Settings
GATES FOUNDATION
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Grand Challenges: Enhancing HIV and TB Diagnosis: Adjunct Technologies for Sample Collection and Processing
GATES FOUNDATION
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
No grants recorded for .
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Board and Executive Leadership:
- William H Gates III – Trustee (25 hours/week, $0 compensation)
- Mark Suzman – Chief Executive Officer and Board Member (40 hours/week, $1.8M compensation)
- Christopher Elias – President, Global Development (40 hours/week, $1.1M compensation)
- Gargee Ghosh – President, Global Policy & Advocacy (40 hours/week, $934K compensation)
- Ashish Dhawan – Board Member (2 hours/week, $0 compensation)
- Helene D Gayle – Board Member (2 hours/week, $0 compensation)
- Strive Masiyiwa – Board Member (2 hours/week, $0 compensation)
- Minouche Shafik – Board Member (2 hours/week, $0 compensation)
- Tom Tierney – Board Member (2 hours/week, $0 compensation)
The foundation is led by CEO Mark Suzman under the direction of Bill Gates and the governing board.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| WILLIAM H GATES III | TRUSTEE | 25 | — |
| MELINDA FRENCH GATES END 1012024 | TRUSTEE | 8 | — |
| MARK SUZMAN | CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, BOARD MEMBER | 40 | $1,833,079 |
| ASHISH DHAWAN | BOARD MEMBER | 2 | — |
| HELENE D GAYLE | BOARD MEMBER | 2 | — |
| STRIVE MASIYIWA | BOARD MEMBER | 2 | — |
| MINOUCHE SHAFIK | BOARD MEMBER | 2 | — |
| TOM TIERNEY | BOARD MEMBER | 2 | — |
| CHRISTOPHER ELIAS | PRESIDENT, GLOBAL DEVELOPMENT | 40 | $1,060,838 |
| GARGEE GHOSH | PRESIDENT, GLOBAL POLICY & ADVOCACY | 40 | $933,960 |
| ALLAN C GOLSTON | PRESIDENT, US PROGRAM | 40 | $966,921 |
| TREVOR MUNDEL | PRESIDENT, GLOBAL HEALTH | 40 | $1,329,113 |
| RODGER VOORHIES | PRESIDENT, GLOBAL GROWTH & OPPORTUNITY | 40 | $1,001,717 |
| ANITA ZAIDI | PRESIDENT, GENDER EQUALITY | 40 | $921,360 |
| CAROLYN AINSLIE | CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER | 40 | $947,100 |
| LAUREN W BRIGHT | CHIEF LEGAL OFFICER & SECRETARY | 40 | $669,775 |
| SUSAN BYRNES | CHIEF COMMUNICATIONS OFFICER | 40 | $611,600 |
| LESLIE MAYS END 5162024 | CHIEF DIVERSITY,EQUITY,& INCL. OFFICER | 40 | $237,923 |
| SHANA TARBELL | CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER | 40 | $622,003 |
| ANKUR VORA | CHIEF STRATEGY OFFICER | 40 | $726,624 |
| SONIA VORA | CHIEF HUMAN RESOURCES OFFICER | 40 | $611,664 |
| JUNE YOSHINARI START 5162024 | CHIEF PEOPLE OFFICER | 40 | $468,437 |
| JOE CORNELIUS | LLC OFFICER | 40 | $558,842 |
| KEITH MATTHEWS | LLC OFFICER | 40 | $498,840 |
| NICK AUSTIN | LLC DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The foundation has announced several recent initiatives and grants:
**AI in Health Research:** A new global partnership launched a call for proposals to evaluate AI tools in primary health care in low- and middle-income countries, backed by philanthropic partnerships supporting country-led research to guide the use of AI in health.
New Global Partnership Launches Call for Proposals to Evaluate AI Tools in**Antimicrobial Resistance:** The foundation announced $60 million in research funding for drug resistance treatment to combat global health challenges.
Gates Foundation Awards $7 Million Grant to Rainbow Crops for Climate-Resilient**Climate-Resilient Agriculture:** A $7 million grant was awarded to Rainbow Crops for climate-resilient crops research in Africa and South Asia.
Gates Foundation Awards $7 Million Grant to Rainbow Crops for Climate-Resilient**Artificial Intelligence Focus:** The foundation has emphasized artificial intelligence as a present-day force driving transformation across health, agriculture, and beyond, with initiatives highlighting AI's potential to help systems become smarter, more inclusive, and more responsive to people's needs.
The foundation maintains an active presence in India and across the Global South, with leadership participation in international dialogues focused on equitable AI advancement and social good.
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
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Data last updated April 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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