Gates Foundation pledges US$200B over 20 years, sets 2045 end date

USA—In honour of its 25th anniversary, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation has pledged to invest US$200 billion over the next 20 years, marking a historic commitment to advance its aim of decreasing poverty and enhancing global health.

This bold move not only doubles the foundation’s previous giving but also sets a new timeline to wind down its operations by 2045, two decades earlier than originally planned.

Bill Gates, the foundation’s chair, explained that the decision to speed up the distribution of funds comes from a sense of urgency.

He believes there are too many pressing global challenges to hold onto resources longer than necessary.

“I have decided to give my money back to society much faster than I had originally planned,” Gates said, committing to give away virtually all of his wealth through the foundation within this period,

The foundation’s board approved a change to its charter to reflect this accelerated timeline, which had previously stated the organization would sunset 20 years after Gates’ death.

Since the US$200 billion pledge exceeds the foundation’s current endowment, the additional funds will come from Gates’ personal fortune, which is estimated at over US$100 billion

Over the first 25 years, powered partly by Warren Buffett’s generosity, the foundation has already donated more than $100 billion, contributing to saving millions of lives by supporting efforts like Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, and the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria.

 It has also helped develop over 100 innovations such as vaccines and diagnostic tools tailored for low- and middle-income countries.

Looking ahead, the foundation will focus on three primary goals: ending preventable deaths of mothers and babies, protecting children from deadly infectious diseases, and lifting millions out of poverty to create pathways to prosperity.

 Additionally, it will continue efforts to support U.S. students, strengthen digital public infrastructure, foster inclusive economies, and advance gender equality by helping women access education, healthcare, and financial service.

Mark Suzman, CEO of the foundation, noted that while global needs are greater than ever, the progress made in the past 25 years shows how much can be achieved.

 He emphasized that the foundation will leverage new innovations and lessons learned to make an even bigger impact in the coming decades.

This announcement comes at a critical time when many governments are cutting foreign aid budgets, threatening the progress made in global health and poverty reduction. Despite these challenges, Gates remains optimistic, highlighting rapid technological advances, including artificial intelligence, as powerful tools to accelerate improvements in health, education, and agriculture worldwide.

The foundation also aims to strengthen the philanthropic sector itself, ensuring that institutions such as nonprofits and local health organizations have the resources and stability to continue their work well beyond.

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