Speeding Up Philanthropy: The Gates Foundation Reveals New Closure Timeline
Gates faces potential loss of wealth due to charitable donations
Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates is stepping up charity efforts faster than ever. The Gates Foundation, founded 25 years ago with his ex-wife Melinda, will close its doors by the end of 2045, spending an impressive $200 billion over the following 20 years.
In a remarkable move, the Seattle-based foundation will speed up its mission to improve global health and productivity. "It's time to address life-saving issues faster than before," Gates noted. "I won't be leaving behind a fortune - I'll be using it to make a difference now."
Accelerated Mission
The foundation's new timeline reflects a focused approach to tackle critical problems around the world earlier than envisioned. With a stronger emphasis on speed, the foundation's goal is to deliver a "bolus dose" of impact within a shorter time frame rather than spreading resources over decades.
Bolstered Endowment
The total of $200 billion will come from the foundation's existing $77 billion endowment, Bill Gates' personal fortune (approximately $112.5 billion), and previous contributions exceeding $100 billion. Further contributions from Warren Buffett are estimated at around $40 billion[1][2][3].
Prioritizing Key Issues
Before the foundation wraps up operations, crucial initiatives will be the focus. The foundation aims to:- Reduce preventable maternal and child deaths,- Combat poverty,- Eradicate diseases such as polio, malaria, HIV/AIDS, measles, and tuberculosis[1].
This approach emphasizes the speedy deployment of resources to address urgent health and poverty issues globally, maximizing impact before the foundation dissolves[3].
Did you know? Andrew Carnegie, a philanthropist himself, once said, "The man who dies rich dies disgraced." This sentiment resonated with Bill Gates, inspiring him to give back sooner rather than later.[1]
Sources:nvt.de, mdi/dpa
Keywords:- Bill Gates- Foundations- Billionaires- Microsoft
[1] The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation's intensified timeline for resource depletion: https://www.gatesfoundation.org/about/history/Pages/strategy.aspx[2] Bill Gates' new philanthropic approach based on Carnegie's philosophy: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2025-bill-gates-philanthropy-short-money-plan[3] The foundation's accelerated mission accelerates its resolution: https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2022/02/01/opinion/bill-gates-gates-foundation.html
- The Gates Foundation has announced a focused approach to tackle critical global issues sooner than expected, aiming to deliver a "bolus dose" of impact within a shorter time frame.
- In keeping with this accelerated mission, the foundation plans to prioritize initiatives such as reducing preventable maternal and child deaths, combating poverty, and eradicating diseases like polio, malaria, HIV/AIDS, measles, and tuberculosis.
- The $200 billion to be spent by the foundation over the next 20 years will come from its existing endowment, Bill Gates' personal fortune, previous contributions, and further contributions from Warren Buffett.
- Drawing inspiration from the sentiments of fellow philanthropist Andrew Carnegie, Bill Gates has decided to give back sooner rather than later, reflecting in the foundation's new community policy that emphasizes speedy deployment of resources to make a difference in the environment before the foundation dissolves in 2045.
