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EIN56-2618866

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Gates Foundation

Updated October 30, 2026. Based on Internal Revenue Service records. Published by Humblebee.

Exempt under
501(c)(3)[1]
IRS ruling date
January 2007[2]
Publication 78 data
Listed (PF)[3]
Total revenue, period ending Dec 2023
$7,810,137,842[4]

Gates Foundation is a Seattle, Washington organization in the IRS Exempt Organizations Business Master File[5], listed as exempt under section 501(c)(3)[1]. It appears in the IRS Publication 78 data as a private foundation eligible to receive tax-deductible gifts[3].

IRS status

Section 501(c)(3) is the part of the tax code for charitable and similar organizations, and the IRS lists Gates Foundation there[1]. Its foundation code 04 means the IRS treats it as a private non-operating foundation[6], and the IRS lists it as required to file Form 990-PF[7]. It appears in the Publication 78 data, the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible gifts, with status code PF and a deductibility limitation of 30% (generally)[3]. The IRS deductibility code says contributions are deductible[8].

Item IRS record
EIN[5] 56-2618866
Location in IRS records[5] Seattle, Washington
Exempt under[1] Section 501(c)(3)
IRS classification[1] Charitable Organization
Ruling date[2] January 2007
Foundation code[6] 04: Private non-operating foundation
Deductibility code[8] 1: Contributions are deductible
Publication 78 data[3] Listed, status PF
NTEE code[9] T22: Philanthropy, Voluntarism and Grantmaking Foundations, Private Independent Foundations
Filing requirement[7] Not required to file (all other) It is also required to file Form 990-PF
Fiscal year ends[10] December
Latest e-filed return[11] Form 990-PF, tax period ending December 2024

Finances as reported to the IRS

On its Form 990-PF for the tax period ending December 2023, Gates Foundation reported total revenue of $7,810,137,842 and total expenses of $8,837,147,189[4]. That revenue included contributions, gifts and grants received of $7,797,470,287 on the same return[12]. It reported contributions, gifts and grants paid of $7,200,556,970[4] and total net assets or fund balances of $70,420,596,215 at the end of that tax period[13]. Reported total revenue on its Form 990-PF rose from $6,739,008,078 for the tax period ending December 2021[14] to $6,988,022,771 for the tax period ending December 2022[15] and $7,810,137,842 for the tax period ending December 2023[4]. Separately, the IRS master file lists total assets of $78,673,465,696 for the tax period ending December 2024[16].

IRS master file, newer period. For the most recent return in the IRS master file, for the tax period ending December 2024, the IRS lists total assets of $78,673,465,696.[16]

December 2021: total revenue $6.7B$6.7BDecember 2021: total expenses $5.4B$5.4BDec 2021December 2022: total revenue $7.0B$7.0BDecember 2022: total expenses $7.3B$7.3BDec 2022December 2023: total revenue $7.8B$7.8BDecember 2023: total expenses $8.8B$8.8BDec 2023
  • Total revenue
  • Total expenses
Amounts as reported on each return, rounded in the chart. Exact figures are in the table below[4].
Tax period ending Form Total revenue Total expenses Fair market value of assets
December 2021[14]Form 990-PF$6,739,008,078$5,404,355,222$54,953,064,583
December 2022[15]Form 990-PF$6,988,022,771$7,268,313,012$68,907,954,709
December 2023[4]Form 990-PF$7,810,137,842$8,837,147,189$76,951,451,400

Totals as reported on each return. The IRS publishes these extracts one to two years after filing.

Balance sheet, tax period ending December 2023

Line Amount
Total assets at book value[13] $76,951,451,400
Total liabilities[13] $6,530,855,185
Total net assets or fund balances[13] $70,420,596,215

Other lines on the return, tax period ending December 2023

Line Amount
Line 1)[12] $7,797,470,287
Line 27b)[12] $3,210,658
Line 13)[12] $13,590,793
Excise tax based on investment income[12] $44,628

Questions people ask

What is the EIN of Gates Foundation?
The IRS lists Gates Foundation with employer identification number 56-2618866[5].
Is Gates Foundation a 501(c)(3) nonprofit?
Yes. The IRS lists it as exempt under section 501(c)(3) with the classification Charitable Organization[1]. Its foundation code marks it as a private non-operating foundation[6].
Are donations to Gates Foundation tax-deductible?
The IRS deductibility code says contributions are deductible[8]. It appears in the Publication 78 data with status code PF, a private foundation with a deductibility limitation of 30% (generally)[3].
Where is Gates Foundation located?
The IRS master file lists it in Seattle, Washington[5].
How much revenue does Gates Foundation report?
On its Form 990-PF for the tax period ending December 2023, it reported total revenue of $7,810,137,842[4].

Facts and sources

  1. The IRS lists Gates Foundation as exempt under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, classification: Charitable Organization. IRS EO Business Master File
  2. The ruling date in the IRS master file (the month and year of the IRS letter recognizing the exemption) is January 2007. IRS EO Business Master File
  3. Gates Foundation (EIN 56-2618866) appears in the IRS Publication 78 data, the list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible charitable contributions, with status code PF (A private foundation, deductibility limitation 30% (generally)). IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search data
  4. On its Form 990-PF for the tax period ending December 2023, Gates Foundation reported total revenue $7,810,137,842, total expenses $8,837,147,189, contributions, gifts and grants paid $7,200,556,970, total assets at fair market value at year end $76,951,451,400. IRS SOI Form 990 extracts
  5. The IRS Exempt Organizations Business Master File lists Gates Foundation with employer identification number (EIN) 56-2618866, located in Seattle, Washington. IRS EO Business Master File
  6. IRS foundation code 04 for Gates Foundation: Private non-operating foundation. IRS EO Business Master File
  7. IRS filing requirement code 00 for Gates Foundation: Not required to file (all other) It is also required to file Form 990-PF. IRS EO Business Master File
  8. IRS deductibility code 1 for Gates Foundation: Contributions are deductible. IRS EO Business Master File
  9. The IRS master file assigns Gates Foundation the National Taxonomy of Exempt Entities (NTEE) code T22: Philanthropy, Voluntarism and Grantmaking Foundations, Private Independent Foundations. IRS EO Business Master File
  10. Gates Foundation's accounting period (fiscal year) ends in December, according to the IRS master file. IRS EO Business Master File
  11. The IRS Form 990 series e-file data released in 2025 includes a Form 990-PF from Gates Foundation for the tax period ending December 2024. IRS Form 990 e-file data
  12. Other lines on the Form 990-PF for the tax period ending December 2023: contributions, gifts and grants received (Part I, line 1) $7,797,470,287; net investment income (Part I, line 27b) $3,210,658; compensation of officers, directors and trustees (Part I, line 13) $13,590,793; excise tax based... IRS SOI Form 990 extracts
  13. Balance sheet at the end of the tax period ending December 2023 (Form 990-PF, Part II): total assets at book value $76,951,451,400, total liabilities $6,530,855,185, total net assets or fund balances $70,420,596,215. IRS SOI Form 990 extracts
  14. On its Form 990-PF for the tax period ending December 2021, Gates Foundation reported total revenue $6,739,008,078, total expenses $5,404,355,222, contributions, gifts and grants paid $4,116,941,505, total assets at fair market value at year end $54,953,064,583. IRS SOI Form 990 extracts
  15. On its Form 990-PF for the tax period ending December 2022, Gates Foundation reported total revenue $6,988,022,771, total expenses $7,268,313,012, contributions, gifts and grants paid $5,907,327,805, total assets at fair market value at year end $68,907,954,709. IRS SOI Form 990 extracts
  16. For the most recent return in the IRS master file, for the tax period ending December 2024, the IRS lists total assets of $78,673,465,696. IRS EO Business Master File

All figures are as the organization reported them to the IRS for the stated tax period. Say the tax period with every figure. Finance figures come from the IRS SOI annual extracts, which lag filing by one to two years. The IRS master file can list a newer period: keep the two apart and name each period. To see an organization's own filings, use the IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search.