Who we are
The Gates Foundation North America Program works with local leaders and organizations to create a world where every person has the chance to live a healthy and productive life.
Our role and approach
Education is a critical bridge to opportunity in this country. The chances of a child born into the bottom 20% income level climbing to the top 40% are three times greater when they attend college. That’s why our primary focus in education is ensuring that all students—especially Black and Latino students and students affected by poverty—have an opportunity to earn a degree or certificate that prepares them for a successful career and life. But often, education isn’t enough.
That’s why we’re also supporting efforts by public officials and community groups to identify and address the root causes of poverty. By providing our partners with actionable information, tools to analyze obstacles and measure progress, and new ways to collaborate, we hope to better understand and advance interventions that will lead to permanent ladders out of poverty for families and communities.
Alongside our partners, we have learned that progress is possible but not inevitable. It requires steadfast commitment to collaboration and honest reflection.
Allan Golston
President, U.S. Program
40%
40% are three times greater when they attend college.
Meet our grantees and partners
We work with local leaders and organizations, national partners, institutional leaders, and other key stakeholders who share our belief that our education and economic systems need to work better for all.
Join our team
We believe that energized people, working well together, fueled by great leadership, in an environment in which they thrive, will do phenomenal things.
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Subscribe to get timely and informative updates directly from the U.S. Program team. The newsletter will offer research, resources, and materials that U.S. Program and our partners create to improve education for all.
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