How we’re doing: The 2021 DEI Progress Report

When the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation made a public commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) nearly a year ago, we also committed to transparency and accountability in this work. Today, in that spirit, we share our first DEI Progress Report.

In surveys and interviews, our employees and partners told us how we are doing and where we need to improve. I’m encouraged that colleagues are largely united about what kind of organization we want to be. But they are also consistent in saying that we have a ways to go.

The report gives a clear sense of the path ahead. We already have a lot of efforts underway to improve while preserving the best things about the foundation as an employer and partner. We aim to make our talent practices more inclusive and equitable so all employees can feel empowered and supported to do their best work. By seeking out a more diverse range of partners and engaging them more deeply and effectively, we can also accomplish more in the communities we aim to serve.

As a global organization, our DEI solutions will look different depending on the cultural context, but they will be grounded in the same key elements: a dedication to sustainable, measurable change; a determination to identify and address biases; and a focus on accountability. Doing what it takes to become a diverse, inclusive, and equitable workplace is everyone’s job—but our leaders in particular will be held accountable for translating our commitments into actions that lead to measurable results.

As we keep learning and improving, everyone engaged with the foundation will have a role to play. We hope you will let us know when you see us falling short of our commitments.

Diversity, equity, and inclusion

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Our foundation is full of people who are dedicated to making the world a better place. That means making it better not only for people across the globe whom we may never meet, but also for those we work with every day. We can’t do the former if we don’t get the latter right, too.

I’m convinced we have what it takes—the flexibility, the determination, and the empathy—to live up to our commitments and close the gap between intent and action.