The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation was founded by billionaire and creator of Microsoft Bill Gates and his wife Melinda Gates. The organisation funds innovative ideas that help all people live healthy productive lives. In developing countries, it focuses on improving health outcomes and allowing people to lift themselves out of hunger and extreme poverty. In the United States, it seeks to ensure that all people have access to the opportunities they need to succeed in school and life.

The foundation works with partners across the globe to tackle problems in five key areas. The Global Health Division aims to reduce inequities in health by developing new tools to reduce the burden of infectious diseases. The Global Development Division focuses on improving the delivery of high-impact health products and services to the world’s poorest communities. The Global Growth & Opportunity Division focuses on creating and scaling market-based innovations to stimulate inclusive sustainable economic growth. The United States Division works to improve educational outcomes in vulnerable communities. And the Global Policy & Advocacy Division seeks to build strategic partnerships and advance the foundation’s work.

The foundation works across five regions including Europe, the Middle East, Africa, India and China. In Europe, the foundation works to build and sustain European donor support for international development and supports the foundation’s policy, advocacy, and communications activities. In the Middle East, the foundation increasing access to vaccines, improving agricultural production, sanitation, and responds to emergency situations. With half of the foundation’s resources being donated to Africa, initiatives include improving health outcomes and helping farming families to end the fight against poverty.

Based in Seattle, Washington, the foundation is led by CEO Mark Suzman and Co-chair William H, Gates Sr., under the direction of Bill and Melinda Gates and Warren Buffet.

Guided by the belief that every life has equal value, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation works to help all people lead healthy, productive lives. In developing countries, it focuses on improving people’s health and giving them the chance to lift themselves out of hunger and extreme poverty. In the United States, it seeks to ensure that all people—especially those with the fewest resources—have access to the opportunities they need to succeed in school and life.

The foundation’s funding is by way of a trust endowment valued at US$46.8 billion. Annually, the foundation receives an instalment of the gift pledged by Warren Buffett as outlined in his July 2006 letter to Bill and Melinda.