All lives have equal value.
All lives have equal value.
Everyone should have access to the opportunities they need to design the future they want. That core belief drives the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation’s work around the world and in our home state of Washington, where we work at the local, regional, and state level.
About Our Mission
What We Do In Washington State
Community Engagement Grants
Our Community Engagement team supports local nonprofits in the Greater Seattle region who are closest to the needs of their neighbors and neighborhoods.
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Education Grants
Education is essential to giving young people control over their own lives—today and in the future. We want to help more Washington students take the next step after high school to reach their education and career goals.
Learn MoreMeet our local team
Our team lives in and loves Washington. From orchards to the outdoors, we love cheering for and exploring our state. Our goal is to help every student see a clear path to continue their education beyond high school and find success in the careers they choose.
Meet Our Team
Featured Partners
Nine Local Food Banks
Due to ongoing issues tied to the pandemic, inflation, and the rising cost of food, our region’s food banks are seeing unprecedented demand.
Washington STEM
Nearly 90% of high school students in Washington say they want to continue their education after graduation. That’s what Washington STEM learned when they surveyed our state’s high schoolers. Young people are eager to pursue apprenticeships, career certification programs, and two- or four-year college degrees.
Partnership4Learning
We supported Partnership4Learning to assist them in their mission to provide resources and expanding opportunities for education and training.
Updates
Seattle Nonprofit Leaders Reflect on Women’s History Month
Each year, we celebrate Women’s History Month in March in the United States to honor the contributions of women to events in history and modern society. What started as a day-long event has turned into a month-long celebration to ensure that women’s important role in history is properly recognized in schools, colleges, and media.
February 2023 Newsletter: What Black History Month means to me
“Black History Month is a time of reverence, homage, and celebration.”
January 2023 Newsletter: New year with a new strategy
You’re probably wondering: what’s next for our work? We’re figuring out the best way for the foundation to launch and support a learning network focused on postsecondary enrollment.