Gates Foundation Donations are not Charity

Debunking Common Myths about Billionaire Philanthropy

A Companion Guide to Episode 3 (Money)

You can also read the companion guide as a Google Doc or PDF.

Bill Gates is one of the richest people on earth. As of January 2023, his net worth was $103.4 billion dollars. Likewise, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation has become one of the wealthiest and most powerful private foundations in the world, with an endowment valued at $50 billion at the start of 2022. This is higher than the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of three-fourths of all countries in Africa. In fact, only 12 African countries have a GDP higher than the Foundation’s endowment. With this amount of money, billionaires like Gates have gained enormous influence over international institutions and policy agendas. 

When billionaires like Gates spend money on social causes, they are commonly praised for voluntarily contributing some of their money toward the “common good.” However, many donations are far from charitable; in the case of the Gates Foundation, they may actually reinforce inequality and corporate power.

(source: The Independent)

Myth 1: The Gates Foundation is doing charitable work

Although Bill Gates and the Gates Foundation claim to be using their wealth to “help” poor people, much of their money ends up in the Global North and in institutions strongly aligned with the private sector. Read more…

Myth 2: bill Gates is doing something with his money… that’s better than doing nothing! 

Spending huge amounts of money on the wrong things can in fact be worse than doing nothing, because it sways international and regional agendas and diverts support from other solutions. Read more…

Myth 3: Billionaires can do whatever they want with their money

Taxpayers heavily subsidize corporate profits and billionaires, but they don't pay enough back into the system, due to tax policy and loopholes. Their money is also our money. Read more…