The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation is the largest private foundation in the world, founded by Bill and Melinda Gates to enhance healthcare, reduce poverty, and expand education opportunities globally. The Foundation is controlled by Bill and Melinda Gates and Warren Buffett and had over $38 billion in endowments as of 2013. It was established in 1997 and has increased its funding to over $2 billion through donations from its founders, focused on addressing global health issues like polio eradication.