Name of Foundation: Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation
Location: Seattle, Wash.
Contact info: (206) 709-3100, www.gatesfoundation.org
Coverage Area: National
Subject Areas: Early learning, emergency relief, high schools, family homelessness, libraries, Pacific Northwest, post secondary education, scholarships
Assets: $37.5 billion (2010)
Last Year Total Giving: $2.5 Billion ($381 million U.S. programs) (2010)
In a nutshell: The foundation, conceived of and led by Bill Gates and his wife Melinda, focuses on a few key issues to have the greatest impact globally. In the developing world, the work centers around extreme poverty and poor health. In the United States, the foundation focuses on educational disparities and inequalities. They provide support for post secondary education and preparedness, college and graduate school scholarships, early learning programs, as well as public library systems. The foundation supports grantees in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. Specifically, they look for innovative ideas to remove barriers that prevent people from succeeding.
In 2006, Warren Buffett pledged most of his fortune to the Gates Foundation, worth approximately $31 billion. He is currently a foundation trustee, helping the foundation shape the vision and strategies implemented to address major global inequities.
Major Programs:
Early Learning
High Schools
Family Homelessness
Post Secondary Education
Scholarships
How to Apply: The foundation awards the majority of its grants to nonprofit organizations and other tax-exempt organizations identified by their staff. A small percentage of grant making occurs through Requests for Proposals (RFPs). For an overview of the Gates Foundation grant making process, click here.
Recent News and Grant making:
Grants, Early 2013
Grants, December 2012