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
December 2022 Newsletter: Thank you
Our Washington State team often says, “We do heart things.” That is to say, we do the hard things with heart. I’ve been so proud of how my team has led with their hearts this year as we developed our new Washington State strategy, which focuses on helping more young people reach their postsecondary and career goals in our state.
Supporting students in Washington, a place I love to call home
Our Washington State director, Angela Jones, shares her hopes and dreams for young people in the state that she loves and calls home.
How community input shapes the Gates Foundation’s local work
The Gates Foundation spoke to more than 200 community members to develop our new strategy. Here’s what they told us.