fter years of staying out of political donations, billionaire Bill Gates has privately revealed that he recently contributed around $50 million to a nonprofit organization backing Vice President Kamala Harris's presidential campaign, according to three individuals familiar with the matter.
The donation was intended to remain confidential. Gates, one of Microsoft's founders, has not publicly endorsed Harris, and this significant contribution marks a departure from his previous approach of avoiding political gifts of this nature.
In private conversations with friends and others this year, Gates has expressed concerns about the implications of a second Donald Trump presidency, according to someone familiar with his thoughts. While he emphasized that he could work with either candidate, Gates has recognized the Biden-Harris administration's efforts on climate change. Although Gates does not have a close relationship with Harris, his philanthropic foundation, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, is worried about potential cuts to family planning and global health programs if Trump is re-elected, according to two sources close to the foundation.
Gates’s donation was directed to Future Forward, the primary outside fundraising group supporting Harris, according to the sources. He has discussed his pro-Harris donation with peers, including Mike Bloomberg, the former New York City mayor and another significant supporter of Future Forward, who has considered a similar contribution. Gates’s donation specifically went to Future Forward’s nonprofit arm, Future Forward USA Action, a 501(c)(4) "dark money" organization that does not disclose its donors, meaning Gates's contribution will not appear in public records.
In response to inquiries about the donation, Gates did not explicitly confirm the contribution or endorse Harris directly. However, he emphasized his bipartisanship, while noting, "this election is different."
