Best water & sanitation charities
6 water & sanitation charities, ranked by rating. Every rating, EIN and filing was checked in October 2026.
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charity: water
Brings clean and safe drinking water to people in developing countries through sustainable water projects.
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The Water Project
Provides reliable water projects to communities in sub-Saharan Africa who suffer needlessly from water scarcity.
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DigDeep
Brings running water and sanitation to US households that lack it, including on the Navajo Nation.
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Water Mission
Designs and builds safe water and sanitation systems in developing countries and disaster areas.
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Water.org
Provides access to safe water and sanitation through innovative financing solutions and partnerships.
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WaterAid
Transforms lives by improving access to safe water, sanitation, and hygiene in the world's poorest communities.
How to judge water & sanitation charities
Critical metric: percentage of projects still functioning 5 and 10 years after construction. Strong organizations track this and report it honestly; many do not, and their wells fall into disuse. Look for community-management models, training programs for local technicians, and explicit maintenance funding. charity: water and The Water Project publish functionality data — emulate those standards.
What these charities do
Water and sanitation organizations build and maintain water-supply infrastructure (wells, piped systems, rainwater harvesting), sanitation facilities (latrines, sewage systems), and hygiene education programs. The most cost-effective focus on community-managed solutions — training local committees and pump operators so projects keep working long after donors leave. Funding supports drilling and construction, hygiene education, training of local technicians, and replacement-parts logistics for long-term maintenance.
- Drilling boreholes and protected wells in water-scarce communities
- Piped water systems and household connections in peri-urban areas
- Latrine construction and sanitation facilities in schools and clinics
- Hygiene-education and behavior-change programs (handwashing, safe water storage)
- Training local technicians to maintain water infrastructure long-term
Ways to help beyond a donation
- Cash gifts are most useful — water charities can buy materials in bulk at far better rates than donated supplies
- Recurring monthly gifts support multi-year maintenance commitments that determine whether projects keep working
- Sponsor specific water projects (a well, a latrine block) for clear impact reporting
- Fund maintenance programs, not just new construction — many wells fail within 5 years without maintenance funding
- Avoid "donate a well" gimmicks that ignore the maintenance cost — instead support charities that build maintenance into their model
Frequently asked
What is the highest-rated water & sanitation charity?
Among the 6 water & sanitation charities in our directory, charity: water and The Water Project share the highest Charity Navigator score, 100%. Ratings checked October 2026.
How many water & sanitation charities have a 4-star rating?
6 of the 6 water & sanitation charities we list hold Charity Navigator's top rating of 4 stars. Each charity's page shows its exact score, its EIN and its recent Form 990 financials.
How do I choose a water & sanitation charity?
Critical metric: percentage of projects still functioning 5 and 10 years after construction. Strong organizations track this and report it honestly; many do not, and their wells fall into disuse. Look for community-management models, training programs for local technicians, and explicit maintenance funding. charity: water and The Water Project publish functionality data — emulate those standards.
How we rank: GiveWell and Animal Charity Evaluators picks come first, then charities by Charity Navigator's overall score. Financials come from each charity's IRS Form 990, via ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer. More on our method.