Microsoft co-founder Gates donated $50M to Harris to win election: report

Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT) co-founder Bill Gates has said privately that he has donated $50M to a nonprofit organization that is supporting Vice President Kamala Harris to win the 2024 U.S. presidential election, The New York Times reported.

The donation was supposed to be kept under wraps and was made to the Future Forward organization, which has become the main fundraising organization outside the official Harris campaign, the news outlet added, citing people briefed on the matter.

The donation went to Future Forward’s non-profit arm, which is a tax-exempt 501(c)(4) organization and does not have to disclose its donors, The Times added.

While Gates has said he can work with either candidate, he has expressed concern what a second term for former President Trump would look like and is “significantly concerned” about potential cuts to family planning and global health programs if Trump were re-elected, some of the people added.

Gates is said to not have a “deep relationship” with Vice President Harris but has publicly congratulated the Biden administration for its work on climate change.

In a statement to the Times, Gates did not acknowledge the donation, but said this election is different, with “unprecedented significance.”

“I support candidates who demonstrate a clear commitment to improving health care, reducing poverty and fighting climate change in the U.S. and around the world,” Gates told The New York Times. “I have a long history of working with leaders across the political spectrum, but this election is different, with unprecedented significance for Americans and the most vulnerable people around the world.”

Gates was a member of the board of directors for Microsoft and Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.A) (BRK.B) until he stepped down in 2020 to focus on his philanthropic efforts at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. He stepped down from his role of CEO at Microsoft in 2000.

Microsoft did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Seeking Alpha.

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