Economic Mobility and OpportunityBill & Melinda Gates FoundationBMGF_5c9ad658-f5c3-11e7-9cea-568cf3215f3cPeople Experiencing PovertyOur target population is the 47 million people ages 16 to 64 whose annual incomes are below 200% of the federal poverty level, which translates to $27,180 for an individual and $55,500 for a family of four as of 2022. Many of our partners work directly to support these individuals and connect them to opportunities and resources.Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation LeadersThe foundation's leaders come from a broad range of backgrounds and have a diversity of expertise and experience that spans science and technology, medicine, public policy, education, communications, law, and business. Our leaders are guided by the foundation's mission to create a world in which every person has the opportunity to live a healthy, productive life. ^^ We are governed by a board of trustees, which in 2022 was expanded to include the CEO and five independent experts. The members of the board contribute diverse perspectives, backgrounds, and expertise to help guide and strengthen the foundation's governance, strategic direction, operations, financial planning, and overall performance.William H. Gates Sr.Co-chair 2000-2020 (d. 2020) ~ William H. Gates Sr. (d. 2020) guided the vision and strategic direction of the foundation and served as an advocate for the foundation’s key issues. He first answered his son's request for help in using his resources to improve reproductive and child health in the developing world by directing the William H. Gates Foundation, which was established in 1994. It merged with the Gates Learning Foundation to create the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation in 2000. ^^ Bill Sr. earned his bachelor's and law degrees from the University of Washington, following three years of U.S. Army service in World War II. A founding partner at Preston Gates & Ellis, Bill Sr. served as president of both the Seattle/King County Bar Association and the Washington State Bar Association. He has served as trustee, officer, and volunteer for more than two dozen Northwest organizations, including the Greater Seattle Chamber of Commerce and King County United Way. In 1995, he founded the Technology Alliance, a cooperative regional effort to expand technology-based employment in Washington. Bill Sr. was also a strong advocate for education for many years, chairing the Seattle Public School Levy Campaign in 1971 and serving as a member of the University of Washington's Board of Regents from 1997-2012. ^^ Bill Sr. and his first wife, Mary Maxwell Gates (d. 1994), raised three children: Kristianne, Bill, and Libby. For many years, he continued his lifelong commitment to many civic programs, cultural organizations, and business initiatives. He passed away on September 14, 2020 and is survived by his second wife, Mimi Gardner Gates, his three children, and eight grandchildren.Warren BuffettTrustee 2006-2021 (emeritus 2021) ~ As a trustee from 2006 – 2021, Warren Buffett worked along with Bill Gates and Melinda French Gates to help shape our vision and develop strategies to address some of the world's most challenging inequities. ^^ Buffett is a U.S. businessman and philanthropist. As chairman and chief executive officer of Berkshire Hathaway Inc., he has invested in a broad range of companies, from See's Candies to Geico Insurance to Fruit of the Loom. ^^ Through 2022, Warren's contributions to the Gates Foundation total $36 billion valued at the time of receipt. ^^ Warren attended the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania and received his bachelor's degree from the University of Nebraska. In 1951, he earned a master's degree in economics from Columbia University. ^^ Warren and his late wife, Susan Thompson Buffett, raised three children: Susie, Howard, and Peter. Now married to Astrid Menks Buffett, Warren lives and works in his hometown of Omaha, Nebraska.Mark SuzmanCEO, Board Member ~ As CEO of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Mark Suzman leads the organization in service of our mission -- to help every person have the opportunity to live a healthy, productive life. Knowing that we cannot achieve that mission alone, he brings a deep commitment to building partnerships and ensuring that the culture of the foundation directly enables the impact we aspire to have. Mark serves as a member of the foundation’s board of trustees in his role as CEO. ^^ Mark's upbringing in apartheid South Africa instilled in him a desire to use the advantages afforded to him to help tackle injustice and inequality. He began his career doing that through journalism, writing for the Johannesburg Star and then the Financial Times, where he covered international trade policy, welfare reform, and political issues, including the historic 1994 election of Nelson Mandela. In 2000, Mark joined the United Nations, where he was part of the effort to implement the Millennium Development Goals under the leadership of then Secretary-General Kofi Annan. He held multiple positions at the UN over his six-year tenure, including senior advisor for policy and strategic communications in the Office of the Secretary General, and policy director in the Office of the Administrator of the United Nations Development Program. ^^ Mark joined the foundation in 2007 as director of Global Development Policy, Advocacy, and Special Initiatives. Prior to becoming CEO, he served as managing director of Country Offices, president of Global Policy and Advocacy, and chief strategy officer. In these roles, he built and oversaw the development of the foundation’s offices in India, China, Africa, and Europe, and managed the foundation's relationships with government, private philanthropists, and civil society. He also implemented a new system for how the foundation measures impact and manages tradeoffs across its strategic priorities. ^^ Mark holds a doctorate in international relations from Oxford University, where he was a Rhodes Scholar. He earned his bachelor's degree, summa cum laude, from Harvard University.Carolyn AinslieChief Financial Officer ~ Carolyn Ainslie oversees the finance and resource planning functions including accounting, financial planning and analysis, risk and assurance, enterprise business management, the Strategic Investment Fund, facilities, events & travel, as well as oversight of the strategy and planning functions for the foundation. This role ensures we allocate the foundation's resources wisely to maximize the impact of our investments and people across all strategies, functions, geographies, and operations. ^^ Prior to the foundation in 2018, Carolyn worked for 10 years as Princeton University's vice president for Finance and treasurer where she was responsible for the central financial functions of the University and as a member of the president's senior staff, served as a key partner on strategic university initiatives. She also spent 10 years as the vice president for Planning and Budget at Cornell University. ^^ Carolyn holds a master's in business administration in finance from the University of Rochester and bachelor's degree from Bucknell University.Lauren W. BrightChief Legal Officer ~ Lauren W. Bright leads the foundation's legal team and is responsible for all legal matters and activities pertaining to the foundation and its affiliate organizations. In this capacity, she advises the foundation’s trustees, CEO, senior leadership, and staff on legal issues, is a member of the Executive Leadership Team, and serves as corporate secretary to the foundation’s board of trustees. ^^ Lauren’s responsibilities include managing global legal affairs, governance, conflict of interest issues, and legal risk management. Before her appointment as CLO, she served as the foundation’s co-general counsel and director of the foundation’s Washington, D.C., office. ^^ Before joining the foundation in 2005, Lauren worked at the law firm Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman, where she served nonprofit clients on a variety of legal issues, including governance, tax exemption, transactions, mergers, and legislative and regulatory issues. Over the course of her career, she has represented institutions and companies before the U.S. Congress and administrative agencies regarding federal education policies and programs. ^^ Lauren is the author of several articles on association practice and management and is a frequent speaker on legal topics affecting nonprofit organizations. She has also been a guest lecturer on legal issues affecting tax-exempt organizations at the University of Washington Law School Graduate Tax Program. ^^ Lauren received a J.D. from Villanova University's Charles Widger School of Law and a bachelor’s degree from Gettysburg College, where she currently serves as executive vice chair of the board of trustees.Susan ByrnesChief Communications Officer ~ Susan Byrnes leads the foundation's communications division, leveraging voice and brand on behalf of the foundation's mission to promote equity for all people around the world. ^^ Susan Byrnes has spent her professional career in communications and journalism, with a focus on social impact. She joined the foundation in 2007 to lead communications for the Global Development Program and spent seven years in a variety of communications leadership roles, overseeing all aspects of the foundation’s global communications functions. In 2015, Susan joined foundation grantee Malaria No More as managing director, strategic communications. Susan returned to the foundation in 2017. ^^ Susan previously spent a decade in journalism, first as a news producer for Italian national television (RAI-Uno) and then as a reporter for The Los Angeles Times. She also worked as a reporter, columnist, and editorial writer at The Seattle Times. Susan earned a bachelor’s degree in history at Brown University and a master's degree in journalism at Columbia University's Graduate School of Journalism. ^^ Susan serves on the board of Seattle's Downtown Emergency Service Center (DESC), an organization that provides housing, emergency shelter, crisis intervention, and health care to some of the region’s most marginalized people.Christopher EliasPresident, Global Development ~ Dr. Chris Elias focuses on high-impact, sustainable solutions for people in developing countries. ^^ Dr. Chris Elias is the president of the Global Development Division, where he leads the foundation’s efforts in a diverse range of program areas aimed at finding creative new ways to ensure solutions and products get into the hands of people in poor countries who need them most. Focusing on areas with the potential for high-impact, sustainable solutions that can reach hundreds of millions of people, Chris oversees Global Development’s portfolio in Emergency Response; Family Planning; Maternal, Newborn & Child Health; Nutrition; Polio Eradication; and Vaccine Delivery. A common theme of these programs is innovative and integrated delivery, including an emphasis on strengthening of primary health care systems. ^^ Chris’s professional background is in public health and medicine. Prior to joining the Gates Foundation in February 2012, he worked in various positions and countries for international nonprofit organizations, most recently serving as the president and CEO of PATH, an international, nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the health of people around the world by advancing technologies, strengthening systems, and encouraging healthy behaviors. ^^ Chris holds an M.D. from Creighton University, having completed postgraduate training in internal medicine at the University of California San Francisco, and an M.P.H. from the University of Washington, where he was a fellow in the Robert Wood Johnson Clinical Scholars Program. He is a member of the Institute of Medicine.Gargee GhoshPresident, Global Policy & Advocacy ~ Gargee Ghosh leads the foundation's worldwide government affairs, development policy, resource mobilization partnerships, and advocacy campaigns. ^^ Gargee Ghosh is president of the foundation's Global Policy & Advocacy division. A member of the foundation’s executive leadership team, she is accountable for the organization's worldwide government affairs, development policy, resource mobilization partnerships, and advocacy campaigns. Her division works hand in hand with all program teams at the foundation -- from global health to climate adaptation -- to build policy and partnerships for meaningful global action. ^^ Gargee aims to bring head and heart to her career in global development. She holds graduate degrees in economics and international relations from Oxford and Georgetown Universities, respectively. Her personal connection to drivers of development progress began with her own family's experiences in West Bengal and continued through deep work in Southeast Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa. Her career has spanned public and private sectors from the United Nations to McKinsey & Company, the Center for Global Development, and Google. ^^ For over a decade, Gargee has held roles of increasing responsibility at the Gates Foundation: successfully deepening the foundation's work in economic policy, modernizing partnership strategies and organizational structures to be more effective globally, and juggling complex geopolitical tensions to deliver strong outcomes for foundation goals and the SDGs. ^^ Gargee lives in Washington DC with her husband, two active children, and one lazy rescue dog.Allan GolstonPresident, U.S. Program ~ Allan C. Golston leads the foundation's efforts to advance student achievement for all young people in the United States. ^^ Allan C. Golston leads the foundation's efforts to advance educational opportunity and student achievement in the United States to ensure that all students -- and particularly low-income students and students of color -- receive a high-quality education that leads to success in college and their careers. He oversees the U.S. Program’s major areas of investment -- Education, Economic Mobility and Opportunity, Special Initiatives, and Family Homelessness and Community Grants in Washington State. ^^ Originally joining the foundation in 2000 as the chief financial officer, Allan felt a deep connection to the U.S. Program education work -- which spans early learning, K-12, and postsecondary -- and began serving as president in 2006. ^^ Allan believes education provides a bridge to opportunity unlike any other in America, and he is committed to ensuring all young people have the education and opportunity they deserve. This includes a deep focus on equity in education and using data to get to better outcomes for students of all backgrounds. ^^ Allan's professional background is in consulting, public accounting, consumer packaged goods, software development, finance, healthcare, and education. He holds an MBA from Seattle University and a bachelor’s degree in accounting from the University of Colorado.Leslie MaysChief Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Officer ~ Leslie Mays is responsible for ensuring the integration and impact of diversity, equity, and inclusion across all areas of the foundation. ^^ Leslie Mays has led significant culture transformation efforts for more than 30 years across industries and sectors. She established and led the creation of innovative diversity and inclusion strategies for some of the world’s largest firms including Avon Products, Kimberly Clark, Pfizer Inc., Royal Dutch Shell, and General Mills. ^^ She currently serves as chief diversity, equity, and inclusion officer and is responsible for ensuring the integration and impact of diversity, equity and inclusion across all areas of the foundation including culture, talent, grantmaking, and ultimately, program outcomes. Prior to joining the foundation, she was a partner at Mercer Consulting, based in New York City. ^^ Leslie has been a pioneer in the practical application of advanced workforce analytics to effectively build future-focused HR and DEI strategies which deliver measurable results. A respected thought leader, she has extensive experience developing human capital plans for advancing women, managing generational differences, maximizing impact of D&I Leadership Councils and Employee Resource Groups (ERGs), and de-biasing HR and talent processes to achieve desired outcomes. She is regarded as a trusted advisor to Executive Leadership Teams, Corporate Boards, and management teams. ^^ With a long history and commitment to community service, she is an active member of the Executive Leadership Council, an American Leadership Forum Senior Fellow, and former board member of the Girl Scout Council of Greater New York. Leslie is a proud graduate of Texas Southern University where she earned a B.A. in Communications.Trevor MundelPresident, Global Health ~ Trevor Mundel leads the foundation's efforts to develop high-impact interventions against the leading causes of death and disability in developing countries. ^^ Trevor Mundel leads the foundation's efforts to develop high-impact interventions against the leading causes of death and disability in developing countries. He manages the foundation’s disease-specific R&D investments in HIV, Tuberculosis, Malaria, Pneumonia, Enteric and Diarrheal Diseases, and Neglected Tropical Diseases. He also manages cross-cutting product development programs, including Discovery & Translational Sciences, Innovative Technology Solutions, Integrated Development, and Vaccine Development & Surveillance. This work relies on close collaboration with an international network of grantees and partners. ^^ Prior to joining the foundation in 2011, Trevor was global head of development with Novartis and previously was involved in clinical research at Pfizer and Parke-Davis. ^^ Born and raised in South Africa, Trevor earned his bachelor's and medical degrees from the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg. He also studied mathematics, logic, and philosophy as a Rhodes Scholar at Oxford University, and he earned a Ph.D. in mathematics at the University of Chicago.Shana TarbellChief Operating Officer ~ Shana Tarbell is responsible for much of the foundation's daily operations, overseeing several teams: Global Security, Facilities, Events, and Travel; Information Technology; Grants and Contracts Services; and Business Design. ^^ Shana Tarbell is responsible for much of the foundation's daily operations, overseeing several teams: Global Security, Facilities, Events, and Travel; Information Technology; Grants and Contracts Services; and Business Design. In this role, she provides guidance and leads strategic planning to ensure operational efficiency and effectiveness in support of the foundation’s mission. ^^ Shana most recently served as the foundation's chief security officer, managing all aspects of staff safety and security, including information security. ^^ Before joining the foundation in 2015 as a deputy director on the Security team, Shana had an 18-year career at the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), where she served on the Senior Intelligence Service and worked on a broad range of global issues. In recognition of her sustained excellence in public service at the senior executive level, Shana was awarded the federal government’s Meritorious Presidential Rank Award in 2015, an honor given to no more than 5% of federal career senior executives. While at the CIA, she also received the Distinguished Career Intelligence Medal. ^^ Shana has an M.A. in security policy from George Washington University and a B.A. in Russian studies and international affairs from George Mason University.Rodger VoorhiesPresident, Global Growth & Opportunity ~ Rodger Voorhies leads the foundation’s work focused on reducing the underlying causes of systemic poverty, including agricultural development, sanitation, financial services, and global education. ^^ Rodger Voorhies is president of the foundation’s Global Growth & Opportunity Division. In this role, Rodger leads the foundation's efforts to alleviate hunger and poverty for millions of farming families in Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia by increasing agricultural productivity in a sustainable way; make high quality digital financial services widely accessible to people living in the poorest parts of the world; promote sustainable approaches to gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls; and bring groundbreaking innovations in sanitation technology and new ways to deliver sanitation products and services to people in the developing world. Prior to his current role, Rodger was director of the foundation’s Financial Services for the Poor program. ^^ Before joining the foundation in 2011, Rodger worked in emerging markets for nearly 20 years. In Sub-Saharan Africa and Eastern Europe, he helped establish and grow successful microfinance organizations with client-driven organizational cultures that delivered innovative financial services to poor households and communities. He was CEO of Opportunity Bank of Serbia, where he managed the bank through a successful turnaround, using data to reach smallholder farmers. He founded Opportunity Bank of Malawi, the first commercial microfinance bank in Malawi, and grew it to become one of the largest providers of financial services in the country using alternative delivery channels (e.g., biometric smart cards, mobile banking). Today, nearly one out of every five Malawi families has a relationship with the bank. ^^ Rodger was a postgraduate student in Organizational Behavior and Sociology at Northwestern University, holds a master’s degree in management from Kellogg School of Management, and a Bachelor of Science degree in business administration from Biola University. Rodger contributes to numerous publications in the microfinance industry and is a former member of the board of Nyika-Vwaza Trust, which is dedicated to conserving the wildlife and habitats of Northern Malawi.Ankur VoraChief Strategy Officer ~ Ankur Vora serves as a principal advisor to the co-chairs, chief executive officer, and Executive Leadership Team on the foundation's overall strategic opportunities, risks, and tradeoffs. ^^ As chief strategy officer, Ankur Vora serves as a principal advisor to the co-chairs, chief executive officer and Executive Leadership Team on the foundation’s overall strategic opportunities, risks, and tradeoffs. He leads the Strategy Office, which is responsible for enabling the highest and best use of the our resources - co-chair time, reputation, people, and dollars - to accelerate the foundation’s impact. ^^ Ankur is a thought partner who pushes innovative thinking and brings an outlook of positivity and optimism. He strives to bring an external perspective and insight to support longer term strategic planning. As CSO, Ankur leads a community of practice for foundation deputy directors of Strategy, Planning, and Management to develop organizational norms that optimize the implementation of strategies and improve coordination and alignment across teams. ^^ Ankur joined the foundation in 2013 to lead the foundation's strategy team. Prior to that, he was the director of programs at The Children's Investment Fund Foundation (CIFF) in London where he oversaw a cross-cutting portfolio of programs focused on health, nutrition, education, and climate change across Africa and South Asia. Before CIFF, he served as principal at The Boston Consulting Group (BCG), where he focused on healthcare, financial services, and social impact projects. Ankur was also a lecturer of Economics at the University of Chicago, and worked briefly at Goldman Sachs, the Industrial Development Bank of India, and the Bhabha Atomic Research Center in India. ^^ Ankur grew up in India watching his parents donate most of their time, energy, and money to help others. This upbringing and mentality has been foundational to Ankur's perspectives and purpose. With the fundamental belief that the world can be a lot better, Ankur fights the solvable injustices of our time with IQ, EQ, and a mindset to win. He holds a doctorate in Economics from the University of Chicago, along with a Master of Science in Economics and bachelor's in Engineering, Computer Science from Birla Institute of Technology and Science, Pilani.Sonia VoraChief Human Resources Officer ~ Sonia Vora oversees the foundation's talent and people strategies, processes, and programs that support our employees around the world. ^^ Sonia Vora oversees the talent and people strategies, processes, and programs that support our employees around the world -- in alignment with the foundation’s values, commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion, and our goal of accelerating impact as measured by lives saved or improved. ^^ Sonia previously served as the director of talent at the foundation. In that role, she was responsible for developing and delivering talent-focused solutions to support a high-integrity culture and global impact, and she oversaw internal and external talent acquisition, talent and succession planning, people analytics, and workforce planning. ^^ Throughout her career, Sonia has been instrumental in building global functions and organizations to improve customer experience, employee engagement, and scalable growth. She worked in investment banking and strategy consulting before joining Northern Trust in human resources. As the organization’s senior vice president for global talent development, Sonia launched Northern Trust's global operations center in Bangalore, India, along with associated programs in areas such as mentoring, onboarding, and training for 6,000 employees. ^^ Earlier, as the head of talent at Cetera Financial Group, Sonia built the end-to-end talent management department from the ground up before serving as the head of customer experience for 15,000 financial advisors. In that role, she oversaw advisor training, business consulting, and change management. ^^ A highly collaborative partner, Sonia's focus has always been to support growth, transformation, and high-integrity cultures that deliver on customer expectations and respond nimbly to the needs of employees. ^^ Sonia earned an M.A. with honors in creative writing from Temple University and an MBA in international finance from Georgetown University. She has a B.A. from Albion College with a double major in English and economics.Anita ZaidiPresident, Gender Equality Division ~ Anita Zaidi leads the foundation's Gender Equality division whose mission is a gender equal world. ^^ As president of the foundation's Gender Equality Division, Anita Zaidi oversees the foundation's efforts to achieve gender equality by integrating gender across the foundation’s global work and by ensuring that women and girls in Africa and South Asia can enjoy good health, make their own choices, earn their own money, and be leaders in their societies. The mission of the division is a world in which women, babies, and girls can thrive. ^^ Anita joined the foundation in 2014 to lead a team focused on vaccine development for people in the poorest parts of the world, disease surveillance to identify and address causes of death in children in the most underserved areas, and significantly reducing the adverse consequences of diarrheal and enteric infections on children's health in low and middle-income countries. She served as director of the foundation’s Enteric and Diarrheal Diseases team and Vaccine Development and Surveillance team until November 2022. In those roles, Anita led strategies resulting in the development and deployment of many lifesaving and disease-preventing vaccines, including rotavirus vaccines, typhoid conjugate vaccines, cholera vaccines, and novel oral polio vaccines. She also championed innovative work on behalf of low-income women and children, including the creation of the foundation's Maternal, Newborn & Child Health Discovery & Tools program and the development of the Women Leaders in Global Health program -- now called WomenLift Health -- to promote diversity in global health leadership. She has led the Gender Equality Division since November 2020. ^^ Previously, Anita served as chair of the Department of Pediatrics and Child Health at the Aga Khan University (AKU) in Karachi, Pakistan, where she worked to reduce child mortality through the prevention and treatment of newborn illnesses and vaccine-preventable diseases. ^^ Anita earned a medical degree at AKU and completed further training at Duke University (pediatrics and microbiology), Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School (pediatric infectious diseases), and the Harvard School of Public Health. Anita has published more than 200 research papers on vaccine-preventable diseases and newborn infections in resource-limited settings. ^^ In 2013, Anita became the first recipient of the $1 million Caplow Children's Prize for her pioneering work in bringing health services and wraparound care to mothers and children in poverty-stricken communities in Karachi. In 2014, she was nominated as a physician of the year by Medscape. In 2021, she was elected to the U.S. National Academy of Medicine for global leadership in pediatric infectious disease research and capacity development for improving newborn and child survival in LMICs.Economic Mobility and Opportunity teamOur Economic Mobility and Opportunity team works with local and state governments and policymakers, small and medium-sized businesses, community and advocacy organizations, funders, and researchers to help increase long-term economic security for people earning low incomes.Lower-Income PeopleOur target population is the 47 million people ages 16 to 64 whose annual incomes are below 200% of the federal poverty level, which translates to $27,180 for an individual and $55,500 for a family of four as of 2022. Many of our partners work directly to support these individuals and connect them to opportunities and resources.Ryan RippelDirector, Economic Mobility and Opportunity ~ Ryan Rippel is the founding director of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation's U.S. Economic Opportunity and Mobility (EMO) strategy. In this role, Ryan works with a team of leaders and advocates who are committed to breaking down the barriers that hold back nearly 50 million people from experiencing economic mobility and opportunity across the U.S. - in rural, urban, and suburban communities. The EMO strategy is organized around approaches to addressing everyday barriers to security and opportunity, better equipping communities and employers to create long-term pathways to mobility and overcome structural barriers to mobility, and helping other funders and advocates work together to set even bigger goals to achieve a more equitable, just U.S. ^^ Ryan has spent more than a decade working to better understand why poverty is so persistent in America and what we can do about it. His career has been shaped by his upbringing in central Missouri, through the example and devotion of his mother who raised Ryan and his sister as a single parent, and through the opportunities he’s had to witness communities coming together to make opportunity possible for their residents. Ryan is trained as a lawyer, with a particular interest in local government law. Prior to his current role, he’s held a number of leadership positions within the Gates Foundation including interim chief of staff to the CEO and special assistant to the Co-chair, William H. Gates, Sr. He serves on a number of non-profit boards and is an adjunct professor at Washington University School of Law. He resides with his family in St. Louis.Caira WoodsDeputy Director, Economic Mobility and Opportunity ~ Caira Woods, Ph.D., is deputy director for Economic Mobility and Opportunity. In this role, she develops and advances the foundation’s U.S. Economic Mobility and Opportunity strategy, a national effort to increase the number and range of actors committed to dramatically increasing mobility from poverty. ^^ Prior to joining the foundation in 2017, Dr. Woods served in senior advisory roles at the White House and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. In this capacity, she provided leadership on policy priorities including opioid use, advancing equity and empowerment, HIV/AIDS, and violence against women. In addition, Dr. Woods previously held positions at the U.S. House of Representatives; National Institutes of Health; and National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. Dr. Woods is a proud alumna of New York University and Spelman College and serves on the board of the D.C. Rape Crisis Center.Local GovernmentsState GovernmentsPolicymakersSmall BusinessesMedium-Sized BusinessesCommunity OrganizationsAdvocacy OrganizationsFundersResearchersAn economic system that works for everyone -- a system where no one is unfairly left behind._352dce30-9c80-11ee-abd4-1076f982ea00To help the U.S. economic system better meet the needs of those experiencing poverty and significantly increase their opportunities to achieve economic success._352dcf52-9c80-11ee-abd4-1076f982ea00Economic MobilityWhy focus on economic mobility and opportunity? ~ Economic mobility is decreasing in the United States. Among people born in the U.S. in 1940, 90% went on to earn more than their parents did. For those born in the 1980s, that figure has dropped to 50%.Economic OpportunityWe know that education beyond high school provides more opportunities to climb the economic ladder, and we have spent years investing in and working to improve our U.S. education system, from pre-kindergarten through postsecondary education. But education alone is not enough to guarantee financial stability. Millions of people with college degrees still live below the poverty line. ^^ Bureaucratic processes create further obstacles, by making it difficult for people to access the safety net benefits and tax credits they are eligible to receive. Those benefits could help them secure a foothold in an ever-changing economy -- one in which events such as the COVID-19 pandemic can set people back through no fault of their own. The data show that women and people of color, particularly Black and Latino people, often face additional barriers to economic security due to sexism and racism.Economic StabilityWe believe that by working across sectors, we can improve our economic system and help low-income people achieve short- and long-term economic stability, decide the direction of their own lives, and have a valued place within their communities.NeedsAddress the immediate needs of our focus population_352dd024-9c80-11ee-abd4-1076f982ea001Making lives better now ~ We work to address the immediate needs of our focus population by supporting the creation and use of tools that help individuals and families access safety net benefits and tax credits.ToolsSupport the creation and use of tools that help individuals and families access safety net benefits and tax credits_352dd0f6-9c80-11ee-abd4-1076f982ea001.1Code for AmericaOne example is our partnership with Code for America to create easy-to-use digital tools that transform the delivery of public safety net benefits and tax credits, allowing people to get the food and cash assistance, child tax credits, and earned income tax credits they are eligible to receive. An estimated $60 billion in safety net benefits go unclaimed each year by those who are eligible for them.JobsConnect employers with skilled workers and help workers navigate the job market_c781743a-a360-11ee-b247-cf281783ea001.2Skilled WorkersEmployersWe also support efforts to connect employers with skilled workers and help workers navigate the job market ...ResearchFund research into how to support our focus population in the financial, professional, and other aspects of their lives_c7817656-a360-11ee-b247-cf281783ea001.3and we fund research into how to support our focus population in the financial, professional, and other aspects of their lives.OpportunitiesCreate more opportunities for people living in poverty to achieve economic success_352dd1c8-9c80-11ee-abd4-1076f982ea002People Living in Poverty Tools, Insights & ResourcesProvide tools, insights, and resources to local governments, businesses, and organizations_352dd290-9c80-11ee-abd4-1076f982ea002.1Local GovernmentsBusinessesFor example, we help owners of small and medium-sized businesses (which employ more than 66% of our focus population) adopt employment practices that improve workers’ career and economic trajectories while helping their own businesses grow.OrganizationsCreating and sharing user-friendly tools and insights ~ We provide tools, insights, and resources to local governments, businesses, and organizations to help them create more opportunities for people living in poverty to achieve economic success.Research & Best PracticesDevelop and share new research and best practices that advance short- and long-term economic stability for low-wage workers and help ensure that they are treated with dignity_c78177d2-a360-11ee-b247-cf281783ea002.2Low-Wage WorkersOpportunity AtlasOne project we support is the Opportunity Atlas, an online tool designed for policymakers and local leaders that uses anonymized data to follow 20 million Americans from childhood to their mid-30s, tracing the roots of their economic mobility back to the neighborhoods where they grew up.Decision-MakersThis information helps decision-makers at all levels understand where opportunity exists and which factors contribute to affluence or poverty.We also develop and share new research and best practices that advance short- and long-term economic stability for low-wage workers and help ensure that they are treated with dignity.PartnershipsBring together partners across sectors_352dd3a8-9c80-11ee-abd4-1076f982ea003WorkRiseOne example is our investment in creating WorkRise, a national platform that funds research and data collection on the labor market and shares promising insights, practices, and policies that can help increase economic opportunity for low-income workers.Bringing together partners across sectors ~ Economic mobility is too big a challenge for one organization alone to solve. We collaborate with government agencies, businesses, nonprofits, funders, and others to increase the flow of capital, facilitate learning, and advance shared goals in a way that builds momentum around efforts in our two other focus areas.CapitalIincrease the flow of capital_352dd484-9c80-11ee-abd4-1076f982ea003.1LearningFacilitate learning_c781799e-a360-11ee-b247-cf281783ea003.2GoalsAdvance shared goals_c7817b10-a360-11ee-b247-cf281783ea003.32023-12-26https://www.gatesfoundation.org/our-work/programs/us-program/economic-mobility-and-opportunity#:~:text=Our%20strategy&text=Our%20Economic%20Mobility%20and%20Opportunity,for%20people%20earning%20low%20incomes.OwenAmburOwen.Ambur@verizon.net