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The Gates Foundation was established and funded by [[Bill Gates]] and his wife Melinda, and receives annual donations by [[Warren Buffett]].<ref>http://www.gatesfoundation.org</ref>  It is the largest charitable, grant-giving foundation in the world, with assets in excess of $33 billion and a promise to receive another $60 billion over several decades.  The vast majority of the donations from the Gates Foundation goes towards secular, non-faith-based programs.  The federal government gives a much higher percentage of discretionary grants to faith-based programs than the Gates Foundation does.

The Gates Foundation was established and funded by [[Bill Gates]] and his wife Melinda, and receives annual donations by [[Warren Buffett]].<ref>http://www.gatesfoundation.org</ref>  It is the largest charitable, grant-giving foundation in the world, with assets in excess of $33 billion and a promise to receive another $60 billion over several decades.  The vast majority of the donations from the Gates Foundation goes towards secular, non-faith-based programs.  The federal government gives a much higher percentage of discretionary grants to faith-based programs than the Gates Foundation does. For example, 11% of [[United States of America|United States]] federal community grants by the Bush Administration goes towards [[faith-based programs]].  Zero percent of the $100+ million in grants by the [[Gates Foundation]] in 2007 has gone towards faith-based programs, even though the the [[Gates Foundation]] is not constrained by the [[Establishment Clause]].<ref>[http://www.gatesfoundation.org/UnitedStates/Grants/default.htm?showYear=2007] </ref>

As of January 2007, the Gates Foundation was making grants at a rate of $1.75 billion per year.  It announced its plan to increase that to $3.5 billion per year by 2009, and to give all the money away within 50 years of the death of Bill or Melinda Gates, whichever occurs latest.

As of January 2007, the Gates Foundation was making grants at a rate of $1.75 billion per year.  It announced its plan to increase that to $3.5 billion per year by 2009, and to give all the money away within 50 years of the death of Bill or Melinda Gates, whichever occurs latest.