盖茨基金会计划在未来几年内裁减至多500个工作岗位，约占其员工总数的20%。这家慈善巨头还启动了一项针对其与已故杰弗里·爱泼斯坦（Jeffrey Epstein） 关系的外部审查。基金会周二在一封致员工电子邮件中分享了这些举措的细节。 The foundation and its co-founder Bill Gates have been rocked by revelations about the Microsoft billionaire's ties to Epstein.
Earlier this year, Gates apologized for extramarital affairs with two women at an all-hands meeting and said he regretted his association with Epstein and had no role in the sex offender's crimes.他被要求于6月就他与爱泼斯坦的关系向国会作证。
"This is a challenging time for our organization in many ways, but it also highlights the critical importance of taking difficult action now," Gates Foundation CEO Mark Suzman wrote in the memo.
The foundation previously shared some information in January about the layoffs, which were tied to a budget of about $9 billion through 2026 and plans to keep operating expenses at $1.25 billion.这将要求到2030年将其劳动力减少至多500个职位。
根据备忘录，在重组的第一阶段，该组织计划到2027年底将目前2375名员工减少200人。 The organization also seeks to reduce travel and other expenses.
一位基金会发言人证实了备忘录中分享的重组细节。
In addition to the reorganization, Suzman said he had commissioned an external review in February related to the foundation's contacts with Epstein and the review and development of new philanthropic partnership policies. The review is ongoing and the foundation expects to receive an update in the summer, the memo said.
In a subsequent statement, the foundation said the review was launched in March with the support of its chairman, Gates, and independent board members.
Suzman told staff that a recent board meeting in London included a segment on the impact of the Justice Department’s Epstein documents and how they relate to the foundation’s work and reputation.
The foundation has an endowment of $86 billion and focuses on global health and development in Africa, including child mortality and infectious diseases. It will end in 2045. Two of its biggest backers, Melinda French Gates and billionaire Warren Buffett, have left the board in recent years after the couple announced their divorce.
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