Water.org
Provides access to safe water and sanitation through innovative financing solutions and partnerships.
At a glance
Rating and filings checked Oct 12, 2026. Sources: Charity Navigator, IRS Form 990 via ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer. How we check
Is Water.org a good charity?
Water.org holds Charity Navigator's highest rating: 4 out of 4 stars, with an overall score of 98%. Its 2023 Form 990 reports $51.5M in revenue, up 110% from $24.6M in 2019, and $35.8M in expenses. Rating checked Oct 12, 2026.
Finances
From Water.org's annual IRS Form 990 filings (filed as Water Org Inc).
| Year | Revenue | Expenses | Net assets | Officer & key staff pay | Filing |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | $51.5M | $35.8M | $53.6M | $1.4M | 990 PDF |
| 2022 | $39.1M | $28.8M | $38.1M | $1.5M | 990 PDF |
| 2021 | $37.5M | $23.7M | $27.9M | $840K | |
| 2020 | $19.0M | $25.5M | $14.1M | $850K | |
| 2019 | $24.6M | $28.1M | $20.3M | $1.5M | 990 PDF |
A newer filing for 2024 is out but not yet summarized: read the 2024 Form 990 (PDF).
Officer & key staff pay is the 990's total for current officers, directors, trustees and key employees, not one salary.
What charities in water & sanitation 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.
How to judge charities in this area
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 to support beyond a one-time gift
- + 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
Verify before you give
A few minutes of independent verification pays off — especially for larger gifts. These resources let you confirm the details on Water.org:
Frequently asked
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