The Gates Foundation
The Gates Foundation is a private foundation focused on Education, based in Jenison, MI. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $1.3M in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 4 grants totaling $77K. Net investment income was $96K.
The Gates Foundation at a glance
In short: The Gates Foundation gave $77K across 4 grants in 2025 (avg $19K), mostly in Michigan. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $76,700
- +4.4% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 4
- +0.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $19,175
- +4.4% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $17,000
- Total assets
- $1,259,558
- +1.6% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- Michigan (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026.
Who The Gates Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 4 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was The Essential Store ($40K). Together the top 4 received $77K.
Grant Size Distribution
25 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 25 grants of 25 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 4 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How The Gates Foundation gives
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (−9%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 99% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. 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 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $71K (2023) to $84K (2022). In 2025 it made 4 grants totaling $77K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| The Essential Store Grand Rapids, MI | General Fund | $40,000 |
| Grand Rapids Youth Symphony Grand Rapids, MI | General Fund | $19,000 |
| Lakeshore Arts Alliance Saugatuck, MI | General Fund | $15,000 |
| Grand Rapids Santa Claus Girls Rockford, MI | General Fund | $2,700 |
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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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $1,259,558 | $121,973 | $101,741 | $76,700 | 4 | $76,700 | $96,396 | $77,301 |
| 2024 | $1,239,326 | $110,059 | $98,468 | $73,487 | 4 | $73,487 | $82,068 | $75,172 |
| 2023 | $1,227,735 | $86,670 | $93,577 | $70,868 | 4 | $70,868 | $63,961 | $71,636 |
| 2022 | $1,234,642 | $75,981 | $110,744 | $84,300 | 6 | $84,300 | $51,612 | $73,739 |
| 2021 | $1,269,405 | $127,136 | $101,959 | $76,775 | 7 | $76,775 | $102,497 | $79,077 |
| 2020 | $1,171,274 | $67,377 | $99,882 | $76,730 | 4 | — | $44,970 | $70,065 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Gates Foundation reported a distributable amount of $77K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
The Gates Foundation is led by Sally Pyper, President on every filing since 2020; none of the 3 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Sally Pyper
President
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Deborah Tallman
Director
On filings since 2021
No compensation reported
Kelly Daldos
Secretarytreasurer
Secretary & Treasurer → Secretarytreasurer, 2021
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "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 The Gates Foundation
How much does The Gates Foundation give each year?
The Gates Foundation gave $77K across 4 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $73K across 4 grants.
What is The Gates Foundation's typical grant size?
The Gates Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $17,000, and its average grant was $19,175, across 4 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does The Gates Foundation give grants?
The Gates Foundation gives mostly in Michigan: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Grand Rapids, MI (2 grants).
Does The Gates Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of The Gates Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (4 of 4) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
How large is The Gates Foundation?
The Gates Foundation reported $1.3M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $77K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $77K (roughly 5% of its investment assets). Falling short in one year is not a violation: foundations have until the end of the next year to meet the minimum.
What is The Gates Foundation?
The Gates Foundation is a private foundation focused on Education, based in Jenison, MI. It holds $1.3M in total assets as of 2025.
What is The Gates Foundation's EIN?
The Gates Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 38-3453138. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.
Data update history
(7)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS May 10, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 16, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS October 5, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS June 17, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS July 7, 2025)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 13, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2021–2024
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