How we work
Whether the challenge is low-yield crops in Africa or gender-based barriers in India, we listen and learn so we can identify pressing problems that get too little attention.
Learn more about our processOUR FUNDING
How we fund
We primarily invest in two ways: committed grants and strategic investments.
We provide grants, which account for the majority of our charitable giving, to organizations to achieve measurable impact in the fight against poverty, disease, and inequity around the world.
We also make strategic investments that bring the resources and expertise of the private sector to issues that would otherwise not be addressed due to market failures.
Most of our grantmaking and strategic investing is proactive—that is, we identify organizations that might be well-suited to carrying out a project we initiate, and we directly invite them to submit a funding proposal.
We aim to be as transparent as possible about our work, including by reporting to third-party transparency initiatives and making all foundation-funded research openly accessible.
We abide by all laws governing U.S.-based private foundations.
Learn how we work with governments to advance global health progress
What we do not fund
We generally do not accept unsolicited proposals. We also do not make grants directly to individuals except in specific, rare circumstances or within programs designed to accept applications from individual researchers and innovators, such as certain Grand Challenges initiatives and other requests for proposal.
We do not provide funding for:
- Political campaigns or direct lobbying efforts
- Building or capital campaigns
- Projects with an exclusively religious purpose
- Projects that address health issues in high-income countries
We make public a searchable list of our past and present grantees and strategic investment partners, along with the project topics.
Funding summary
In 2025, the foundation provided US $8.47M* charitable support in the following areas:
2025 Total Paid Award
$8.47M
* Includes grant payments, direct charitable contracts, and operational expenditures supporting charitable programs. Figures are illustrative of program-area distribution for this site.
Grants FAQ
View allThe foundation has the following grantmaking areas:
- Gender Equality
- Global Development Program
- Global Growth & Opportunity Program
- Global Health Program
- Global Policy & Advocacy
- United States Program
In low-income countries, the foundation focuses on improving health and alleviating extreme poverty. In the United States, the foundation supports programs related to education. Foundation FAQ
All of our charitable funding to organizations—including private sector organizations—comes with global access requirements to ensure that the knowledge gained through the funding is shared publicly and that products funded by us are made available and accessible at an affordable price.
We start by identifying where we have a comparative advantage and where our engagement can unlock a reduction in inequity. We prioritize areas where the inequity is large—and so is the potential for reducing it with catalytic interventions.
In our domestic work, this has led to a focus on education as a critical enabler for economic mobility, with additional work to promote economic opportunity directly. In our global work, it has led to a focus on global health, gender equality, and other areas that accelerate opportunities for the world’s poorest including agricultural development.
Private capital naturally flows to the most profitable opportunities. Public capital (i.e., government spending) naturally flows to lower-risk opportunities. One role of philanthropic capital can be to fill the gaps created by public and private capital. That is how we think about investing our resources.
We are also committed to building a network of grantees and partners with unparalleled technical expertise and diverse perspectives. We are increasingly working with a broader array of partners, especially those headquartered in the geographies where the work is taking place.
The foundation primarily receives contributions from the Foundation Trust. The trust has received contributions from Ingrid Hansen and other donors. Contribution income is found on the Statements of Activities in the financial statements.
Most of our grantmaking is proactive. See our Grant Opportunities for posted requests for proposals, including Grand Challenges initiatives.
Our commitment to grantees
Our grantees and partners are at the core of our mission and work. We are committed to treating them with respect and communicating with candor.
See our resources for granteesMore about our financials
Annual reports
We are committed to providing clear, timely information on our finances and grantmaking efforts. View our annual reports and related updates.
Learn moreStrategic investments
We partner with entrepreneurs, companies, and other organizations to harness the power of private enterprise to create change.
Learn moreFinancials
View audited financial documents and related foundation fact information.
Learn more