Gates Foundation
Accepts applications
Gates Foundation is a private foundation in Seattle, Washington. In tax year 2024 it gave $5.9 billion in 4,974 grants; the typical grant was $500,000 and the largest $351 million. It accepts applications; its filing gives the instructions below.
From its IRS Form 990-PF for tax year 2024.
- Grants paid, 2024$5.9 billion
- Number of grants4,974
- Typical grant$500,000
- Largest grant$351 million
- Assets$79 billion
- New grantees35%
Giving in 2024 was down from $7.2 billion the year before.
35% of its 2024 grantees had not received a grant from it the year before, a mix of repeat and new grantees.
Giving by year
| Tax year | Grants paid | Number of grants | Assets |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | $7.2 billion | 4,539 | $77 billion |
| 2024 | $5.9 billion | 4,974 | $79 billion |
How to apply
| Contact | Gates Foundation PO Box 23350, Seattle, WA 98102 |
|---|---|
| Phone or email | (206) 709-3140 |
| What to submit | See www.gatesfoundation.org/about/how-we-work/grant-opportunities |
| Restrictions | The foundation does not make grants outside its funding priorities. See www.gatesfoundation.org/our-work. |
Foundation website IRS filings on ProPublica
What Gates Foundation funds
Where it gives
Its US grants went to recipients in 44 states, the most to Massachusetts. It also paid $3.0 billion in 2,280 grants to recipients outside the US.
| State | Grants | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Massachusetts | 295 | $584 million |
| New York | 376 | $564 million |
| District of Columbia | 463 | $516 million |
| Washington | 349 | $374 million |
| California | 321 | $340 million |
| Illinois | 47 | $165 million |
| Georgia | 75 | $115 million |
| Maryland | 123 | $101 million |
| Virginia | 84 | $89.5 million |
| Texas | 92 | $72.8 million |
Grants paid in 2024
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Gavi Alliance | Vaccine delivery | $351 million |
| Global Fund to Fight AIDS Tuberculosis and Malaria the | Global health and development public awareness and analysis | $283 million |
| Gates Medical Research Institute | Enterics, diagnostics, genomics & epidemiology; malaria; maternal, newborn, child nutrition and health; pneumonia & pandemic preparedness; research and learning opportunities; tuberculosis; vaccine development | $277 million |
| Rotary Foundation of Rotary International the | Polio | $121 million |
| World Health Organization | Polio | $65.0 million |
| World Health Organization | Polio | $52.0 million |
| Path | Discovery and translational sciences; enterics, diagnostics, genomics & epidemiology; malaria; pneumonia & pandemic preparedness; polio; research and learning opportunities; vaccine delivery; vaccine development | $41.0 million |
| International Bank for Reconstruction and Development | Enterics, diagnostics, genomics & epidemiology; family planning; global health and development public awareness and analysis; maternal, neonatal and child health; maternal, newborn, child nutrition and health; nutrition; pneumonia & pandemic preparedness; research and learning opportunities | $37.9 million |
| United States Fund for UNICEF | Polio | $35.0 million |
| University of Washington Foundation | Delivery of solutions to improve global health; enterics, diagnostics, genomics & epidemiology; global health and development public awareness and analysis; neglected tropical diseases; public awareness and knowledge sharing; research and learning opportunities; vaccine delivery | $35.0 million |
| Agra | Agricultural development | $32.5 million |
| Hispanic Scholarship Fund | Postsecondary education | $31.5 million |
| Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations | Vaccine development | $30.0 million |
| World Health Organization | Polio | $28.2 million |
| Agence Francaise de Developpement | Polio | $20.5 million |
| MMV Medicines for Malaria Venture | Malaria | $20.4 million |
| Bloomberg Family Foundation Inc the | Pneumonia & pandemic preparedness | $20.0 million |
| Task Force for Global Health Inc the | Empower women and girls; HIV; maternal, newborn, child nutrition and health; neglected tropical diseases; pneumonia & pandemic preparedness | $19.3 million |
| University of Washington Foundation | Hiv | $19.1 million |
| World Health Organization | Polio | $18.0 million |
| International Potato Center | Agricultural development | $17.1 million |
| American Online Giving Foundation Inc | Employee matching gift - for general operating support | $16.3 million |
| Emory University | Discovery and translational sciences; enterics, diagnostics, genomics & epidemiology; malaria; maternal, newborn, child nutrition and health; neglected tropical diseases; pneumonia & pandemic preparedness | $16.0 million |
| Gates Medical Research Institute | General operating support - in kind | $15.6 million |
| Agra | Agricultural development | $15.0 million |
| Carter Center Inc the | Neglected tropical diseases | $15.0 million |
| United States Fund for UNICEF | Polio | $15.0 million |
| Global Alliance for TB Drug Development Inc | Tuberculosis | $14.9 million |
| University of Manitoba | Family planning; global health and development public awareness and analysis; maternal, neonatal and child health; maternal, newborn, child nutrition and health; vaccine delivery | $14.9 million |
| Schrodinger Inc | Create novel technology platform capabilities; research and learning opportunities | $14.5 million |
| Centro Internacional de Mejoramiento de Maiz Y Trigo DF | Agricultural development | $14.3 million |
| Islamic Development Bank | Polio | $14.0 million |
| Ivcc | Malaria | $12.0 million |
| MMV Medicines for Malaria Venture | Malaria | $12.0 million |
| United States Fund for UNICEF | Polio | $12.0 million |
| Path | Malaria | $12.0 million |
| United Nations Population Fund | Empower women and girls; family planning | $11.3 million |
| Scripps Research Institute the | Discovery and translational sciences | $10.8 million |
| MDRC | Early learning | $10.1 million |
| University of Manitoba | Family planning | $10.1 million |
Officers and trustees
- William H Gates III
- Melinda French Gates End 1012024
- Mark Suzman
- Ashish Dhawan
- Helene D Gayle
- Strive Masiyiwa
- Minouche Shafik
- Tom Tierney
- Christopher Elias
- Gargee Ghosh
- Allan C Golston
- Trevor Mundel
- Rodger Voorhies
- Anita Zaidi
- Carolyn Ainslie
Questions people ask
Does Gates Foundation accept grant applications?
Yes. Its latest IRS filing says it accepts applications.
How much does Gates Foundation give?
$5.9 billion in tax year 2024, across 4,974 grants, with a typical grant of $500,000.
Who runs Gates Foundation?
Its 2024 filing lists William H Gates III (Trustee), Melinda French Gates End 1012024 (Trustee), Mark Suzman (Chief Executive Officer, Board Member) and Ashish Dhawan (Board Member) among 15 officers and trustees.
What does Gates Foundation fund?
Based on its grants, mainly international, health and education.