Bill Gates has transferred nearly $8 billion to Pivotal Philanthropies Foundation, a nonprofit controlled by his former wife Melinda French Gates, marking a major shift in global philanthropy.
The $7.9 billion transfer completes a previously announced $12.5 billion agreement reached between the couple in 2024.
Tax filings reviewed by media outlets, including the New York Times, detail the scale and destination of the funds.
The donation immediately elevates Pivotal Philanthropies Foundation among the world’s largest private charitable organizations by assets.
A spokesperson for Pivotal confirmed the transfer fulfills the full commitment announced earlier.
Pivotal Philanthropies Foundation, established in 2022 as the nonprofit arm of Pivotal Ventures, focuses on systemic change through grants and venture-style investments.
Its priorities include advancing gender equality, increasing women’s participation in technology and politics, and advocating for policies such as paid family leave.
Before this funding, Pivotal had deployed hundreds of millions to over 150 organizations.
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The 2024 tax filing shows the foundation distributed approximately $875 million in grants in a single year.
Beneficiaries supported initiatives addressing youth mental health, reducing political violence, and improving workplace outcomes for women.
The foundation operates with just three employees, including Melinda French Gates as a director, John Sage as president and treasurer, and Brooke Anderson as vice president.
At the time of the transfer, Bill Gates’ net worth stood at approximately $118 billion, while Melinda French Gates’ was around $17.7 billion.
The couple announced their separation in 2021 after 27 years of marriage, ending a high-profile personal and professional partnership.
They continued collaborating at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation for several years post-divorce.
In 2024, both agreed to cease joint philanthropic activities.
This separation enables Melinda French Gates to pursue independent priorities through Pivotal Ventures and its nonprofit arm.
The transfer reinforces her emergence as a major independent force in charitable giving focused on gender equity and systemic change.
