Changes

The Gates Foundation focuses its gifts in the areas of global health, global development, education and technology in public libraries.  Its website describes its mission, "Guided by the belief that every life has equal value, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation works to help all people lead healthy, productive lives. In developing countries, it focuses on improving people's health and giving them the chance to lift themselves out of hunger and extreme poverty. In the United States, it seeks to ensure that all people—especially those with the fewest resources—have access to the opportunities they need to succeed in school and life."<ref name=fs>{{cite web|url=http://www.gatesfoundation.org/Who-We-Are/General-Information/Foundation-Factsheet|title=Foundation Fact Sheet|accessdate=December 26, 2016}}</ref>

The Gates Foundation focuses its gifts in the areas of global health, global development, education and technology in public libraries.  Its website describes its mission, "Guided by the belief that every life has equal value, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation works to help all people lead healthy, productive lives. In developing countries, it focuses on improving people's health and giving them the chance to lift themselves out of hunger and extreme poverty. In the United States, it seeks to ensure that all people—especially those with the fewest resources—have access to the opportunities they need to succeed in school and life."<ref name=fs>{{cite web|url=http://www.gatesfoundation.org/Who-We-Are/General-Information/Foundation-Factsheet|title=Foundation Fact Sheet|accessdate=December 26, 2016}}</ref>

The foundation employs 1,420 people, and has a endowment of $39.6 billion, as of December 31, 2015.<ref name=fs/>  The foudation supports grantees in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. Internationally, it supports work in more than 100 countries.<ref name=fs/>

The foundation employs 1,420 people, and has an endowment of $39.6 billion, as of December 31, 2015.<ref name=fs/>  The foudation supports grantees in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. Internationally, it supports work in more than 100 countries.<ref name=fs/>

The Foundation is controlled by the Gates family, and for about five years until 2006 Melinda Gates exercised considerable control.  However, in 2006 the Foundation restructured as follows:<ref>Marilyn Chase, "Gates's new role in foundation promises questions," The Wall Street Journal (June 26, 2006).</ref>

The Foundation is controlled by the Gates family, and for about five years until 2006 Melinda Gates exercised considerable control.  However, in 2006 the Foundation restructured as follows:<ref>Marilyn Chase, "Gates's new role in foundation promises questions," The Wall Street Journal (June 26, 2006).</ref>