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Gates Foundation

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To get real look inside, look at most recent reviews, not most popular reviews - Program Officer Gates Foundation Employee Review

2.0
Feb 12, 2018
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Mission of the foundation is amazing and infectious - a rare opportunity to pursue your passion; Great benefits (golden handcuffs); Flexible work schedule; Beautiful building

Cons

Speaking solely on Global Health division (other divisions don't seem to have this level of dysfunction) - extremely hierarchical that comes from the very top with expectations for the bottom to execute without question. Otherwise, be prepared to be thrown under the bus. The leadership are all from the same network of followers - disease teams used to be led by experts in the field and not from the same pharmaceutical empires. Doing "what is right" isn't about the community - but avoiding getting fired / laid-off. Support staff (assistants, coordinators) constantly shifting between teams or leave the foundation because they are overworked and unappreciated. Very few opportunities for career advancement, especially for program staff. Performance reviews don't appear to make a difference for managers or employees. Endless strategy reviews throughout the year reflect a lack of trust and leave little time to get actual work done. It's not a coincidence that the average lifespan of a foundation employee is 2-3 years, with few exceptions - two years ago over 40% of employees admitted to be actively looking for a new job on a culture survey.

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Gates Foundation Response
8y
Everyone's perspective matters and so I'm sorry to see your experience within one of our division's was less than you hoped. Feel free to reach out if you'd like to share more - chris.ernst@gatesfoundation.org

Explore other reviews about Gates Foundation

5.0
Apr 24, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Everyone is aligned to the mission. Fantastic benefits.

Cons

These could be pros for some but travel and ambiguity are things to deal with

3.0
Jun 8, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Mission-based work Diverse, passionate employee base Healthcare benefit Parental leave and support Unlimited PTO

Cons

Poor work-life balance Perfectionist culture Unreasonable expectations with working hours High levels of burnout Retaliation for setting boundaries with working hours Culture resistant to prioritization of work

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