Gates Foundation Trust
Gates Foundation Trust is a private foundation, based in Kirkland, WA. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2024. As of 2024, the organization holds $77.6B in total assets. In 2024, it awarded 1 grant totaling $8.1B. Net investment income was $11.0B.
Gates Foundation Trust at a glance
In short: Gates Foundation Trust gave $8.1B across 1 grant in 2024 (avg $8.1B), mostly in Washington. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $8,096,000,000
- +4.4% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 1
- +0.0% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $8,096,000,000
- +4.4% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $8,096,000,000
- Total assets
- $77,564,446,975
- +2.7% vs 2023
- Primary geography
- Washington (100% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated September 2026.
How to apply to Gates Foundation Trust
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from Gates Foundation Trust
Who Gates Foundation Trust funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top recipient in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Gates Foundation ($8.1B).
Grant Size Distribution
5 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was $5M or more: 5 grants of 5 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of the 2024 grant dollars on its one itemized grant.
States
Cities
How Gates Foundation Trust gives
- Giving grew 32% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 185% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $6.1B (2021) to $8.1B (2024). In 2024 it made 1 grant totaling $8.1B.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Gates Foundation Seattle, WA | To Fund the Charitable Purposes of the Foundation | $8,096,000,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $77,564,446,975 | $10,160,927,058 | $8,482,196,824 | $8,096,000,000 | 1 | $7,069,122,167 | $10,976,125,995 | $3,812,380,899 |
| 2023 | $75,530,745,576 | $6,534,759,844 | $8,285,346,420 | $7,751,200,000 | 1 | $6,708,165,714 | $7,262,771,877 | $3,396,161,473 |
| 2022 | $67,972,986,359 | $28,564,317,333 | $7,047,093,548 | $6,806,925,000 | 1 | $6,126,232,500 | $9,459,803,150 | $2,729,713,546 |
| 2021 | $53,927,171,316 | $9,580,009,055 | $6,370,047,475 | $6,131,700,000 | 1 | $5,518,530,064 | $8,540,500,814 | $2,406,593,203 |
| 2020 | $50,996,163,488 | $2,838,568,795 | $7,015,940,289 | $6,755,162,810 | 1 | — | $3,498,434,679 | $2,293,761,392 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Gates Foundation Trust reported a distributable amount of $3.8B for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Gates Foundation Trust is led by William H. Gates III, Trustee & CEO on every filing since 2020; none of the 4 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
William H. Gates III
Trustee & CEO
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Carolyn Ainslie
Chief Financial Officer
On filings since 2020
4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Keith Traverse
Secretary
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Lauren Bright
Assistant Secretary
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (4)
- Former: Melinda French Gates (2020–2024) — Trustee · Filing note: Ended 10/1/2024
- Former: Connie Collingsworth (2021–2023) — Assistant Secretary · Filing note: Ended 1122023
- Former: Lauren Bright Start (2023) — Assistant Secretary
- Former: Michael Larson (2020) — Llc Manager · Filing note: Ended 12/31/2020
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Frequently asked questions about Gates Foundation Trust
How much does Gates Foundation Trust give each year?
Gates Foundation Trust gave $8.1B across 1 grant in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $7.8B across 1 grant.
How large is Gates Foundation Trust?
Gates Foundation Trust reported $77.6B in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $7.1B in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $3.8B (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
Where does Gates Foundation Trust operate?
Gates Foundation Trust has awarded grants in Washington.
What is Gates Foundation Trust's EIN?
Gates Foundation Trust's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 91-1663695. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Live grants for the work Gates Foundation Trust funds
Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Gates Foundation Trust's focus areas in our free grants database
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Gates Foundation
Seattle, WA
The Gates Foundation funds work to reduce disease and poverty, improve health and gender equality in lower-income countries, and support education and economic mobility in the United States, especially Washington State; it works in more than 140 countries. Its 2024 grants had a median of $500,000, with awards ranging from $1 to $350.5 million. It generally does not accept unsolicited proposals, but periodically offers opportunities through published requests for proposals.
Assets
$78.7B
Grants
4,974
Total Given
$6.3B
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Figures come from Gates Foundation Trust's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
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