The philanthropy world weighs in on Bill Gates’ $200 billion bet on global health: ‘People will be watching this as an example’

The world of philanthropy is abuzz this week following the Gates Foundation’s announcement Thursday that it will ramp up its spending to $200 billion over a 20-year period—then close its doors at the end of 2045. 

Bill Gates told Fortune that the commitment will help the foundation eradicate or dramatically reduce the world’s deadliest diseases and cut maternal and child mortality rates to a fraction of what they are. “By spending the money sooner than later, it allows us to be very ambitious,” he said.