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 140 reviews)); "Great people all working towards the same mission" ((in 58 reviews)); "There are so many great colleagues and experiences to learn from." ((in 48 reviews)); "it was alright and good pay" ((in 18 reviews)); "Salaries are good for those coming from the non" ((in 12 reviews))

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

"Culture is toxic and impractical" ((in 42 reviews)); "HR and management is poor" ((in 29 reviews)); "Most of the senior leadership at this (global organization) is white and male" ((in 21 reviews)); "You will be the luckiest if you end up in a team that has a great manager." ((in 21 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

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Gates Foundation

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 category

4.5

Compensation and benefits

3.5

Diversity & inclusion

3.4

Culture & values

3.3

Work/Life balance

3.2

Career opportunities

2.9

Senior management

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).

Ratings by demographic groups

Race / Ethnicity

Gender

Sexual orientation

Disability

Parent or family caregiver

Veteran status

Reviews by job title

561 reviews

4.0

Dec 23, 2015

Deputy Director

Deputy director

Recommend

CEO approval

Business Outlook

Pros

You get to work with extremely smart and impressive colleagues. You get to invest in creative entrepreneurs and innovators who are trying to change the world for the better.

Cons

It takes almost a year to earn "your operating license" within the organization and too much time is spent on internal process versus investing and working with the field to maximize impact.

Gates Foundation Response

Thanks so much for your thoughtful review. If you are open to it, I'd love to get your thoughts on our new First Year Success Plans. Our intent is to support new hires to be more productive and operating faster than in the past. Please let me know. Pam.yanchik@gatesfoundation.org

5.0

Sep 6, 2013

I worked in the programmatic side at the foundation for 4 years

Programs

Recommend

CEO approval

Business Outlook

Pros

Great opportunity for impact, networks, wide range of experiences and the chance to grow and develop as an individual contributor.

Cons

Surprisingly risk averse group of people who lack creativity as funders. Raikes has all the right intentions, but does not have the respect he needs to change things at the level of the directors and deputy directors. Too many staff that do not share foundation taste for "silver bullets" leads to dysfunction as try to do things not strictly on strategy.

2.0

Jul 24, 2012

Intense

Administrative

Recommend

CEO approval

Business Outlook

Pros

Great learning experience; brilliant people; focused missions and strategies; perfect for the beginning of ones career or at the end of it. Great stepping stone to further ones career.

Cons

No career opportunities; limited positions; too many changes and processes; no real work/life balance at the lower end of the food chain; good stepping stone, but nowhere to go except back to public/private sector.

Viewing 184 - 186 of 561 Reviews

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Jobs at Gates Foundation

Senior Communications Officer, Brand Experiential Design

Senior Business Systems Analyst, HR & Payroll

Principal Officer, Measurement, Learning & Evaluation

Deputy Director, Ending Infectious Diseases

Senior Research Manager, Elimination & Eradication

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Ratings by category

Ratings by demographic groups

Reviews by job title

Deputy Director

I worked in the programmatic side at the foundation for 4 years

Intense

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