The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (or simply The Global Fund) is an international financing organization that aims to "[a]ttract and disburse additional resources to prevent and treat HIV and AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria." A public–private partnership, the organization has its secretariat in Geneva, Switzerland. The organization began operations in January 2002. Microsoft founder Bill Gates was one of the first private foundations among many bilateral donors to provide seed money for the project. The Global Fund is the world's largest financier of anti-AIDS, TB and malaria programs.