Bill Gates and Melinda French Gates reportedly view their foundation as 'their fourth child'

• Bill Gates and Melinda French Gates see their foundation as "their fourth child," according to WSJ.
• The Gates Foundation is committing $2.1 billion to gender equality efforts, the Journal reported.
• The two have said they will remain co-chairs of the foundation despite their May divorce.

Bill Gates and Melinda French Gates think of their charitable foundation as another one of their children, according to reporting in The Wall Street Journal.

Gates Foundation CEO Mark Suzman told the Journal that the pair, who have three kids together, "view this as, this is their fourth child." Gates and French Gates have put much of their $130 billion fortune towards philanthropic efforts through their foundation.

The foundation is committing $2.1 billion over five years to efforts to achieve gender equality, the Journal reported Wednesday. The money will go toward broadening access to birth control, securing training and financial services for women, and propelling women into leadership positions in economics, health, and law, according to the Journal.

The announcement tracks with French Gates' prior advocacy on women's issues. The philanthropist previously pledged $1 billion towards gender equality initiatives in 2019.

The Microsoft cofounder and French Gates intend to remain co-chairs of their foundation despite divorcing in May after 27 years of marriage.

"After a great deal of thought and a lot of work on our relationship, we have made the decision to end our marriage," Gates and French Gates said at the time. "Over the last 27 years, we have raised three incredible children and built a foundation that works all over the world to enable all people to lead healthy, productive lives. We continue to share a belief in that mission and will continue our work together at the foundation, but we no longer believe we can grow together as a couple in this next phase of our lives."

Weeks after the two announced their split, Berkshire Hathaway CEO Warren Buffett resigned as a trustee of the Gates Foundation.

"My goals are 100% in sync with those of the foundation, and my physical participation is in no way needed to achieve these goals," Buffett said in his announcement.