With bold funding and a clear timeline, the Gates Foundation aims to deliver lasting impact in a world under pressure.

Bill Gates has shared a detailed plan for the final chapter of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, outlining an ambitious and hopeful vision despite what he describes as an “incredible crisis” affecting the world today. Speaking on the foundation’s long-term direction, Gates emphasized a focused and strategic exit plan that aims to leave a lasting global impact.

Although the foundation is not closing immediately, Gates confirmed that spending will increase significantly over the next few years. The goal is to allocate as much as $9 billion annually by 2026, a substantial rise from the $6 billion it currently spends each year. This boost in funding aims to support key areas such as global health, education, gender equality, and agricultural development, particularly in low-income regions.

Gates acknowledged the range of crises the world is currently facing, from climate change and food insecurity to pandemic recovery and geopolitical tensions. Despite this, he remains confident that innovation, strong leadership, and targeted investment can bring solutions. “We’re in the middle of an incredible crisis,” he stated, “but we still have a path to a better future.”

The foundation, one of the largest philanthropic organizations globally, has already invested over $75 billion since its founding in 2000. Its work has led to remarkable progress in reducing child mortality, expanding access to vaccines, and improving sanitation in underdeveloped regions. Gates now wants to use the remaining resources in a time-bound, purposeful way.

To guide the foundation toward its final phase, Gates shared that he and his ex-wife, Melinda French Gates, along with Warren Buffett, agreed on a long-term wind-down strategy. The plan is to spend down the foundation’s endowment within the next 25 years. By setting a clear deadline, the organization aims to make bold moves without hesitation and drive measurable change within a set timeframe.

Another major aspect of this vision involves partnering with local governments, organizations, and innovators. Gates stressed that solutions should not be imposed from the outside but developed collaboratively with those directly affected. This shift encourages sustainable, community-led progress that can endure beyond the foundation’s presence.

Transparency and accountability will also play a crucial role. The foundation intends to regularly report outcomes, both successes and failures, so that others can learn and build upon them. Gates believes that sharing what works — and what doesn’t — is essential for meaningful, long-term advancement.

In conclusion, Bill Gates’s vision for the foundation’s final chapter is one of urgency, purpose, and optimism. While challenges remain immense, the strategy focuses on using strategic funding, bold partnerships, and clear timelines to ensure the foundation leaves a powerful legacy of impact.