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Gates Foundation

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Horrific culture, great benefits - Senior Program Officer Gates Foundation Employee Review

2.0
Aug 12, 2016
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Benefits ( one year paid paternity/maternity leave; free health care) Access (influential individuals)

Cons

Leadership and employee base lacks cultural competence, particularly in light of the communities the organization works in. There is an overall lack of people of color. Employee surveys explicit reflect that there is a culture of fear, arrogance, and white is right. McKinsey and Deloitte clones run the organization. Look at the lack of racial diversity of the organization, especially within leadership. How does one justify this?

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Gates Foundation Response
9y
“Thank you for taking the time to share your thoughtful feedback with us. We believe, our employee workforce should reflect the rich diversity of the global populations we serve, including in race, gender, sexual orientation, age, cultures, and beliefs. We are in the process of developing and rolling out several new employment practices, such as the parental leave program you mention, that should help us better realize this goal. I’d love to hear directly from you on this issue, if you’re open to discussing further. You can reach me at pam.yanchik@gatesfoundation.org

Explore other reviews about Gates Foundation

5.0
Apr 24, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Everyone is aligned to the mission. Fantastic benefits.

Cons

These could be pros for some but travel and ambiguity are things to deal with

3.0
Jun 8, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Mission-based work Diverse, passionate employee base Healthcare benefit Parental leave and support Unlimited PTO

Cons

Poor work-life balance Perfectionist culture Unreasonable expectations with working hours High levels of burnout Retaliation for setting boundaries with working hours Culture resistant to prioritization of work

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