The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Trust has relinquished its longstanding mandate Microsoft (NASDAQ: Image of MSFT), selling its remaining shares in the first quarter of 2026.
According to the quarter 13F delivery and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on May 15, the trust sold its last 7.7 million shares of Microsoft, a value of about $ 3.2 billion.
The move reduces Microsoft’s endowment to zero for the first time in decades, marking the end of a closely watched relationship between a major philanthropic donor and a technology company.
The exit follows a downsizing process that has already reduced Microsoft’s reliance in recent markets.
As of the end of March 2025, the foundation still has about 28.5 million shares worth $10.7 billion. However, this position was significantly reduced in 2025, including a large sale in the third quarter that reduced the price by about 65%.
Along with the Microsoft divestment, the foundation of the trust underwent several other changes during the reporting period.
The organization saw a decrease in positions associated with Berkshire Hathaway and Waste Management as the organization continues to restructure its finances and plans to increase annual charitable giving.
These changes are in line with the foundation’s broader strategy to increase investment volume and diversification money foundation as it prepares for a long-term decline in blessings.
The agency is committed to increasing annual giving to nearly $9 billion while accelerating spending on global health, poverty reduction, education, and other humanitarian projects over the next two decades.
Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Trust other funds
Since Microsoft is no longer part of the portfolio, the trustee’s largest remaining balance remains intact Berkshire Hathaway (NYSE: BRK.B), Waste Management (NYSE: WM ), Canadian National Railway, and Caterpillar (NYSE: CAT).
The change is expected to lower the default risk while maintaining exposure to fixed, long-term industrial and infrastructure-focused assets.
This service is working for the foundation of the trust and does not show Bill Gates‘ personal data, which is said to reside on more than 100 million Microsoft servers.
The trust operates as a third-party investment vehicle managed with the help of Cascade Asset Management, with Gates serving as sole trustee.
Despite the importance of the withdrawal, the market is expected to remain stable, as investors see the sale as being in line with the foundation’s and philanthropic goals rather than worrying about the company’s performance.
