Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation is the world's largest charitable foundation. Endowed by Bill and Melinda Gates, it was created in January 2000 through the merger of the Gates Learning Foundation and the William H. Gates Foundation. The foundation is based in Seattle, Washington and is led by William H. Gates, Sr. (Bill Gates's father) and Patty Stonesifer.
The foundation has an endowment of approximately $27 billion. To maintain its status as a charitable foundation, it must donate at least 5 percent of its assets each year. This amounts to over $1 billion.
The foundation focuses on the following areas:
