A long-planned transition is now moving into action at one of the world’s most influential philanthropic organisations. Bill Gates has approved the first concrete steps to gradually close the Gates Foundation, setting the stage for a structured shutdown over the next 2 decades.
The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation has confirmed a $9 billion budget for 2026, the highest annual spending level in its history. The decision follows an announcement made last year that the foundation will formally close by 2045, after more than 20 years of large-scale global work.
The early phase of the wind-down combines increased programme spending with stricter controls on internal costs and staffing.
The 2026 budget reflects rising pressure in areas such as global health, poverty reduction, and education, especially as international aid funding tightens in several countries. Over its remaining years, the foundation is expected to spend nearly $200 billion before operations fully end.
Alongside higher spending, the foundation has outlined plans to reduce its workforce by up to 500 roles over the next 5 years. The reductions will be gradual and are aimed at keeping annual operating costs within a cap of $1.25 billion, or about 14% of the total budget.
The foundation currently employs more than 2,300 people. Job reductions are expected to come mainly through attrition and selective role cuts, rather than large-scale layoffs. Staffing levels and costs will be reviewed each year during the transition period.
Despite the decision to close, the foundation will continue funding its core focus areas. These include maternal and child health, vaccine development, infectious disease prevention, and education initiatives. Additional funding is being directed toward the use of artificial intelligence in public-sector and health-related projects.
The organisation is also increasing its operational presence in regions such as Africa and India, with more leadership and programme execution moving closer to communities most affected by diseases like HIV and tuberculosis.
Foundation leaders have emphasised that nearly 2 decades of work still lie ahead. The strategy aims to balance accelerated impact in the coming years with a clearly defined end date, ensuring the organisation delivers its most meaningful outcomes before closing in 2045.
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