The Water Project
Provides reliable water projects to communities in sub-Saharan Africa who suffer needlessly from water scarcity.
At a glance
Rating and filings checked Oct 12, 2026. Sources: Charity Navigator, IRS Form 990 via ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer. How we check
Is The Water Project a good charity?
The Water Project holds Charity Navigator's highest rating: 4 out of 4 stars, with an overall score of 100%. Its 2023 Form 990 reports $5.6M in revenue, up 70% from $3.3M in 2019, and $5.7M in expenses. Rating checked Oct 12, 2026.
Finances
From The Water Project's annual IRS Form 990 filings (filed as The Water Project Inc).
| Year | Revenue | Expenses | Net assets | Officer & key staff pay | Filing |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | $5.6M | $5.7M | $9.2M | $182K | |
| 2022 | $7.2M | $6.6M | $8.8M | $163K | 990 PDF |
| 2021 | $7.2M | $4.6M | $8.5M | $155K | 990 PDF |
| 2020 | $5.4M | $2.9M | $5.8M | $144K | |
| 2019 | $3.3M | $3.5M | $3.3M | $140K | 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 The Water Project:
Frequently asked
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