Annual Report 2016
LETTER FROM THE CEO
Thanks to the remarkable dedication of our partners, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation helped millions of families around the world transform their lives in 2016.
Fewer people than ever before contracted polio, and more women had access to contraceptives than at any other time in history. We supported the fight against Zika virus. And this was the year that almost $13 billion was raised to support the Global Fund's mission to accelerate the end of AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria as epidemics.
While we are deeply proud of this progress - and all that we have achieved together so far - we remain mindful of the great challenges that lie ahead. To meet those challenges, we know we must be responsible stewards of the financial resources with which we have been entrusted.
For that reason, I am pleased to share the foundation's 2016 Annual Report. Our complete audited financial statements are available on gatesfoundation.org and intended to give you a clear and accurate picture of our ongoing efforts to carry out that stewardship.
The reason why this is so important to us is that we know where we want our investments to go:
- Ensuring more children and young people survive and thrive.
- Empowering the poorest, especially women and girls, to transform their lives.
- Combatting infectious diseases that particularly affect the poorest.
- Inspiring people to take action to change the world.
By taking good care of the money given to us, we can ensure that as much of it as possible goes toward these missions, and ultimately toward fulfilling our shared vision of a world in which everyone has the chance to lead a healthy, productive life.
It is an honor to join forces in this cause with our outstanding partners across the United States and around the world. To all of you, I extend my deepest thanks.
Sue
Sue Desmond-Hellmann, MD, MPH
Chief Executive Officer
Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
2016 Funding Areas
For the Year ended December 31, 2016. Amounts in thousands of U.S. dollars.
