Foundation Fact Sheet

Guided by the belief that every life has equal value, the Gates Foundation works to help all people lead healthy, productive lives. In developing countries, we work with partners to create impactful solutions so that people can take charge of their futures and achieve their full potential. In the United States, we aim to ensure that everyone—especially those with the fewest resources—has access to the opportunities needed to succeed in school and life. Based in Seattle, Washington, the foundation is led by CEO Mark Suzman, under the direction of Bill Gates and our governing board.

Grantmaking areas

• Gender Equality
• Global Development Program
• Global Growth & Opportunity Program
• Global Health Program
• Global Policy & Advocacy
• United States Program

We also have a small Charitable Sector Support initiative.

Locations

• Headquarters – Seattle, Washington
• Washington, DC Office – Washington, DC
• India Office – Delhi, India
• China Office – Beijing, China
• Europe and Middle East Offices – London, United Kingdom and Berlin, Germany 
• Africa Offices - Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Abuja, Nigeria; Dakar, Senegal; Johannesburg, South Africa; and Nairobi, Kenya

Leadership

Governing Board

• Bill Gates, Chair
• Mark Suzman, Board Member
• Ashish Dhawan, Board Member
• Dr. Helene D. Gayle, Board Member
• Strive Masiyiwa, Board Member
• Minouche Shafik, Board Member
• Tom Tierney, Board Member

Executive Leadership

• Mark Suzman, Chief Executive Officer
• Carolyn Ainslie, Chief Financial Officer
• Lauren W. Bright, Chief Legal Officer
• June Yoshinari Davis, Chief Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Officer
• Chris Elias, President, Global Development
• Gargee Ghosh, President, Global Policy & Advocacy
• Allan C. Golston, President, United States Program
• Trevor Mundel, President, Global Health
• Shana Tarbell, Chief Operating Officer
• Rodger Voorhies, President, Global Growth & Opportunity
• Ankur Vora, Chief Strategy Officer
• Sonia Vora, Chief Human Resources Officer
• Anita Zaidi, President, Gender Equality

Division Leadership

• Gender Equality Division Leadership
• Global Development Division Leadership
• Global Growth & Opportunity Division Leadership
• Global Health Division Leadership
• Global Policy & Advocacy Division Leadership
• United States Program Leadership
• Communications Division Leadership
• Foundation Strategy Office Division Leadership
• Operations Division Leadership

Foundation facts ⁽¹⁾

Current number of foundation employees: 2,026
Total grant payments since inception (through Q4 2023): $77.6 billion ⁽²⁾
Total 2023 Charitable Support: $7.7 billion ⁽³⁾
Total 2022 Charitable Support: $7.0 billion ⁽³⁾
Bill Gates and Melinda French Gates total giving to the foundation from inception through 2023: $59.5 billion
Warren Buffett total giving to the foundation from 2006 through 2023: $39.3 billion
Foundation Trust Endowment as of December 31, 2023: $75.2 billion

⁽¹⁾ As of December 31, 2023. Financial figures are rounded to the nearest hundred million. 2023 figures are unaudited.
⁽²⁾ Includes grant payments made by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and previous foundations of the Gates family (William H. Gates Foundation, Gates Library Foundation, and Gates Learning Foundation) from 1994 onward.
⁽³⁾ Includes operational expenditures, grant payments and direct charitable contracts, but not program related investments.

Geographic Reach

In 2023 the foundation funded grantees in 48 states and the District of Columbia. Internationally, we funded work in 135 countries.