Global health and technology-era wealth
People and institutions: Bill Gates and Melinda French Gates
What happened, and when
The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation was formed in 2000 from earlier charitable entities. Its programs have included vaccination, infectious-disease research, agriculture and education; it is now called the Gates Foundation.
Effects on communities and other countries
Large-scale funding can accelerate research and help health systems purchase and distribute interventions. Dependence on a few funders can also skew attention toward measurable technologies over local workforce needs.
Benefits, influence and possible misuse
Founders gain substantial agenda-setting influence through partnerships with governments, universities and international agencies. Charitable funding is not proof of improper conduct, but it warrants scrutiny of incentives and results.
Checks and balances
Publish grants and evaluations, disclose commercial interests, include host-country health officials and plan for sustainable local financing.