The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation has quietly stopped funding nonprofit groups managed by Arabella Advisors, a Washington, D.C.–based consulting firm long accused of channelling «dark money» into progressive causes and Democratic campaigns, Daily Mail reports.
In an internal June 24 announcement, the $77 bn foundation said it would no longer invest in or renew grants linked to Arabella and would seek «early exits» from some existing partnerships.
Executives cited a shift toward working «directly with programmatic partners — organizations that are deeply embedded in the communities we serve.»
The move comes as Arabella faces growing criticism from conservatives and heightened political risk. President Donald Trump has threatened to review the tax-exempt status of nonprofits tied to Democratic-aligned funding networks, while Elon Musk has called for investigations into Arabella’s entities.
Arabella manages funds such as the New Venture Fund and Sixteen Thirty Fund, which have supported Democratic super PACs and activist groups. Since 2009, the Gates Foundation has pledged or disbursed about $450 mln through Arabella-managed nonprofits, including $41 mln last year for global women’s health initiatives.
A Gates spokesperson told the New York Times the decision was simply a «business move» based on strategic review, but analysts say it reflects Bill Gates’ desire to insulate his foundation from political headwinds.
Arabella executives downplayed the shift, with New Venture Fund president Lee Bodner noting that Gates’ money accounted for just two percent of its funding in 2024.
«Gates has been an important partner since the beginning, and we continue working with them today,» Bodner said.
Some nonprofits, however, are already distancing themselves from Arabella to protect their ties with the Gates Foundation, amid concerns of tighter U.S. scrutiny on politically connected philanthropy.
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