Zuckerberg to donate 99% of Facebook shares to new initiative

The couple made the announcement on Facebook in a letter to their new daughter Max, who was born last week.

He wrote that the couple is setting up the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, which will “join people across the world to advance human potential and promote equality for all children in the next generation”.

It will initially focus on personalised learning, curing disease, connecting people and building strong communities.

The pair will donate 99% of their Facebook shares to the initiative during their lives, which are currently valued at around $45bn (£29.9bn).

“We know this is a small contribution compared to all the resources and talents of those already working on these issues,” he wrote.

“But we want to do what we can, working alongside many others.

Zuckerberg said while headlines often focus on what's wrong, the world is getting better in a number of ways.

“Health is improving. Poverty is shrinking. Knowledge is growing. People are connecting. Technological progress in every field means your life should be dramatically better than ours today.

“We will do our part to make this happen, not only because we love you, but also because we have a moral responsibility to all children in the next generation.”

Zuckerberg also highlighted how the internet can help people, saying for many people it can be a “lifeline”.

“It provides education if you don't live near a good school. It provides health information on how to avoid diseases or raise healthy children if you don't live near a doctor. It provides financial services if you don't live near a bank. It provides access to jobs and opportunities if you don't live in a good economy.”

He claimed that for every 10 people who gain internet access, one person is lifted out of poverty and one new job is created.