charity: water
Brings clean and safe drinking water to people in developing countries through sustainable water projects.
At a glance
Rating and filings checked Oct 12, 2026. Sources: Charity Navigator, IRS Form 990 via ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer. How we check
Is charity: water a good charity?
charity: water holds Charity Navigator's highest rating: 4 out of 4 stars, with an overall score of 100%. Its 2022 Form 990 reports $96.8M in revenue, up 38% from $70.1M in 2018, and $101.3M in expenses. Rating checked Oct 12, 2026.
Finances
From charity: water's annual IRS Form 990 filings (filed as Charity Global Inc).
| Year | Revenue | Expenses | Net assets | Officer & key staff pay | Filing |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | $96.8M | $101.3M | $85.5M | $1.8M | |
| 2021 | $101.6M | $98.8M | $94.2M | $1.7M | 990 PDF |
| 2020 | $92.9M | $62.9M | $90.8M | $1.2M | 990 PDF |
| 2019 | $90.1M | $74.5M | $62.2M | $1.6M | 990 PDF |
| 2018 | $70.1M | $59.3M | $43.7M | $1.6M | 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 charity: water:
Frequently asked
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