Is Gates Foundation a good company to work for?

Gates Foundation has an overall rating of 3.7 out of 5, based on over 699 reviews left anonymously by employees. This rating has decreased by 3% over the last 12 months. 62% of employees would recommend working at Gates Foundation to a friend and 70% have a positive outlook for the business. The best reviews about Gates Foundation have been left by employees working as Program Assistant , Senior Program Assistant and Associate Program Officer .

Does Gates Foundation pay their employees well?

According to anonymously submitted Glassdoor reviews, Gates Foundation employees rate their compensation and benefits as 4.5 out of 5. Find out more about salaries and benefits at Gates Foundation. This rating has improved by 5% over the last 12 months.

How satisfied are employees working at Gates Foundation?

62% of Gates Foundation employees would recommend working there to a friend based on Glassdoor reviews . Employees also rated Gates Foundation 3.3 out of 5 for work life balance, 3.4 for culture and values and 3.2 for career opportunities.

What are the top reviewed jobs at Gates Foundation?

Program Officer (56) , Program Assistant (40) , Senior Program Officer (36) , Deputy Director (20) , Senior Program Assistant (16) , Associate Program Officer (12) , Program Coordinator (11) , Project Manager (9) , Director (7) , Program Manager (7) , Senior Officer (6) , Associate Strategy Officer (5) , Consultant (5) , Intern (5) , Senior Program Coordinator (5)

What are the pros of working at Gates Foundation according to real employee reviews?

"Benefits are great and very comprehensive" ((in 136 reviews)); "Great people all working towards the same mission" ((in 57 reviews)); "There are so many great colleagues and experiences to learn from." ((in 49 reviews)); "it was alright and good pay" ((in 15 reviews)); "great team to work with." ((in 13 reviews))

What are the cons of working at Gates Foundation according to real employee reviews?

"Culture is toxic and impractical" ((in 40 reviews)); "Instead, she seems more concerned with promoting her own profile than reforming bad management." ((in 25 reviews)); "Most of the senior leadership at this (global organization) is white and male" ((in 20 reviews)); "You will be the luckiest if you end up in a team that has a great manager." ((in 20 reviews)); "Terrible work/life balance." ((in 15 reviews))

What are employees saying about Gates Foundation layoffs in 2026?

Explore Glassdoor’s employee reviews to understand what current and former employees are saying about Gates Foundation layoffs and their outlook for job security at Gates Foundation in 2026.

What are the top reviewed Gates Foundation locations?

Seattle , Washington , New York , Chicago , Ridgewood , North Chicago , Vienna , Phoenix , Omaha , Arlington , San Antonio , Virginia , Los Angeles , Mountain View , Palo Alto , United , Laurel , Jacksonville , Boston , Cambridge , Springfield , South Seattle

Gates Foundation reviews

3.7

62% would recommend to a friend

(561 total reviews)

Mark Suzman

81% approve of CEO

70% positive business outlook

Ratings by demographic groups

Race / Ethnicity

Gender

Sexual orientation

Disability

Parent or family caregiver

Veteran status

Gates Foundation has an employee rating of 3.7 out of 5 stars, based on 561 company reviews on Glassdoor which indicates that most employees have a good working experience there. The Gates Foundation employee rating is in line with the average (within 1 standard deviation) for employers within the Nonprofit & NGO industry (3.7 stars).

Reviews by job title

561 reviews

5.0

Sep 26, 2013

Clear Mission, great benefits, improved culture, same issues as other fast paced environments.

Senior program officer

Recommend

CEO approval

Business Outlook

Pros

There is a great mission and people believe in the mission. The workplace environment, the benefits, and the support given to employees in order to do their best work is amazing. There is ample opportunity to learn and grow even outside of your specific area of expertise.

Cons

Nothing unique. There are some people more difficult to work with than others. There is a perception that "I am so busy" which is self perpetuating and prevents people from being as effective as they can be in the moment.

5.0

Feb 17, 2013

Excellent experience, the environment is dynamic and challenging

Program officer

Recommend

CEO approval

Business Outlook

Pros

Great colleagues, challenging environment, important issues. It is a very unique place to work -- great opportunities, the chance to be entrepreneurial, and to push for positive change. The diversity of the issues is also unique and creates an opportunity to learn from other areas.

Cons

Growing quickly, increasingly corporate and more process.

5.0

Aug 10, 2011

The foundation is an excellent place to work: amazing co-workers, great benefits, gratifying work.

Program coordinator

Recommend

CEO approval

Business Outlook

Pros

The staff includes some of the brightest, most focused, most empathetic people I've ever worked with. The gold-plated benefits package includes amazing health insurance, 3 weeks paid vacation (which you're encouraged to take) + 2 weeks sick + holidays, 3 months full paid maternity leave. There are some international travel opportunities, depending on which section you work in and your role. The work is generally fascinating. Everyone is very proud of the mission.

Cons

It is difficult to move upwards in the organization - positions such as Program Officers and Senior Program Officers generally require many years of work experience. There is no natural career progression within the foundation. The foundation is still growing rapidly as an organization, and thus many of its internal processes and systems haven't kept up well with its growth -- meaning there are often IT and communications frustrations, and a seeming lack of internal structure. Some managers have little-to-no experience or training in managing employees.

Viewing 319 - 321 of 561 Reviews

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Jobs at Gates Foundation

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Principal Officer, Measurement, Learning & Evaluation

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