An external review of the Gates Foundation found no evidence of payments to Jeffrey Epstein | Today’s news
The Gates Foundation said on Tuesday (July 21) that an independent external review found no evidence that Jeffrey Epstein was paid by the foundation or that its employees participated in or knew about his criminal activity, as it announced a series of governance reforms to strengthen oversight and risk management.
The review was conducted by law firm WilmerHale, which was retained earlier this year after the foundation admitted it regretted that staff had interacted in any capacity with the late financier and convicted sex offender.
The audit examined past engagements
The review, commissioned by CEO Mark Suzman in March 2026 with the support of foundation chairman Bill Gates and independent board members, included more than 50 interviews with current and former employees and examined extensive internal documents.
According to the foundation, WilmerHale found no evidence that Epstein received payments from the foundation, nor evidence that foundation employees were involved in or had knowledge of Epstein’s sex-trafficking operation or other criminal conduct.
Two areas of involvement were identified
The review found that the foundation’s cooperation with Epstein between 2011 and 2014 focused on two initiatives.
The first involved a proposed donor-advised fund (DAF) to pool donations from wealthy philanthropists to support global public health. The foundation eventually abandoned the proposal after promised donors and philanthropic partners failed to materialize.
The second involved the International Institute of Peace (IPI), a non-profit organization introduced to Bill Gates by Epstein. The foundation later awarded the IPI grant for polio eradication efforts based on a standard internal due diligence and review process.
The foundation approves changes in management
Following the review, the board unanimously approved several measures aimed at strengthening governance and accountability.
-Centralized vetting process for brokers, donor advisors, co-funders and other third parties connected through senior management.
– Formal escalation process for organizational and reputational risks associated with projects presented by the Chairman, Board members or Executive Management.
– Clearer authority and oversight of staff in dual roles with the foundation and organizations associated with Bill Gates.
– Expanded conflict of interest policy covering a wider range of actual and potential conflicts.
-Stronger security and approval requirements for handling sensitive and confidential foundation records.
The management of the foundation responds
CEO Mark Suzman said the review reinforces the importance of maintaining trust while strengthening internal controls.
“The work we do depends on integrity and earning and maintaining the trust of partners,” Suzman said. “That’s why we welcome the findings of this external review and are continuing to take actions approved by the board to further strengthen the way we screen partners, manage risk and ensure future accountability.”
Bill Gates said the completion of the review provides staff, partners and grantees with greater clarity while improving oversight.
“Completing this review is an important step in providing the clarity that partners, staff, and grantees deserve, while strengthening our oversight with additional future policies,” Gates said. “We are committed to ensuring that trust and transparency are never compromised.”
Gates Foundation board member Tom Tierney said the organization will now focus on implementing the recommendations.
“The review raised tough questions and we got straight answers,” Tierney said. “The trust of the foundation’s staff, partners and the communities it serves is critical to its mission. Now, the way forward is tactical implementation with the same rigor and discipline that the foundation applies to its core work.”
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