charity: water

What charity: water does

charity: water is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization operating under the legal name Charity Global, Inc., founded in 2006 by Scott Harrison. The organization funds and implements clean water infrastructure projects in developing nations, serving communities across 29 countries in Africa and Asia through a network of 58 local implementing partners. To date, charity: water has raised over $925 million and funded more than 209,200 water projects serving approximately 21.6 million people, with operations headquartered in Franklin, Tennessee, and additional entities in the UK (Charity Global UK Limited, charity number 1169228) and the Netherlands (ANBI status).

The organization's core offering is an online donation platform (charitywater.org) that channels individual and corporate contributions into water infrastructure, complemented by proprietary IoT-based remote monitoring technology. Since 2012, charity: water has deployed capacitance-based sensors across wellheads in Africa and Asia, capturing water flow data twice per second and aggregating approximately 25 million liters of water flow data per month via AWS-powered analytics. Each completed project is verified with GPS coordinates and photographic proof provided directly to donors. Product surface includes The Spring ($20/month recurring giving), Water Project Sponsorship (starting at $10,000 per project), The Pool (equity/liquidity-event giving from business leaders), The Tributary (legacy giving), Tiny Heroes (youth fundraising), and the Experience Lab (an immersive storytelling exhibit at The Factory at Franklin). The organization also publishes 'Thirst,' a NYT bestseller by founder Scott Harrison, with 100% of net proceeds funding projects.

charity: water operates on a distinctive '100% Model' in which a small group of private donors (The Well) cover all operating expenses, enabling 100% of public donations to fund water projects directly. Revenue diversification includes individual one-time and recurring donations, corporate brand partnerships (PDS Health, Aiper, Kalahari Resorts, DB Services), cryptocurrency donations, book sales, and a novel liquidity-event giving program. GTM motion spans community-led peer-to-peer fundraising, enterprise partnerships, advisor-channel distribution (Advisor Toolkit for financial advisors), event-driven campaigns (annual September Campaign, Football Takes Water tied to the 2026 World Cup), and direct-to-consumer website giving. The organization employs 101–250 staff and is led by Founder & CEO Scott Harrison, President Melissa Russell, CRO Ben Greene, CTO Christa Stelzmuller, CFO John Passauer, Chief Water Programs Officer Brian Hoyer, and General Counsel Ceena Johnson.

Name

charity: water

Legal name

Charity Global, Inc.

Website

https://charitywater.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2006

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

charity: water is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that funds clean water infrastructure in developing nations, having raised over $925 million to support more than 209,200 projects across 29 countries serving 21.6 million people through a 100% donation model and proprietary IoT monitoring technology.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Humanitarian Aid / Clean Water Access Nonprofits

NAICS

Grantmaking Foundations (813211), Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321)

akta.pro primary industry

Water, Sanitation & Hygiene (WASH) (BPAGABAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Water, Sanitation & Hygiene (WASH) Solutions (BPAGALAI), WASH (Water, Sanitation & Hygiene) Organizations (HLAJAKAI)

Keywords

• Clean water access
• Nonprofit fundraising
• Water infrastructure projects
• Global development programs
• Humanitarian aid

Headquarters

HQ city

New York

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Public Donations: 100% of public donations go directly to fund clean water projects. Donors can give one-time, monthly (The Spring), or as project sponsors. Average project cost is $10,000. Donors receive GPS coordinates and photos proving their impact.
2. Private Donor Operations Funding (The Well): A small group of generous private donors fund all operating expenses, enabling the 100% model for public donations. The Well includes major donors like Michael and Xochi Birch who have contributed over $1 million.
3. The Pool (Equity/Liquidity Event Proceeds): Business leaders donate portion of private company shares to charity: water. Upon liquidity events (IPOs), 80% funds operations and 20% goes to employee bonus pool. First-of-its-kind employee equity incentive program for nonprofits.
4. Corporate Brand Partnerships: Companies support staff salaries and operations through corporate gifts, percentage of sales, and tailored campaigns. Partners include PDS Health, Aiper, Kalahari Resorts, and DB Services.
5. Cryptocurrency Donations: Accepts cryptocurrency donations with immediate conversion to fiat currency upon receipt.
6. Book Sales (Thirst): Scott Harrison's New York Times bestseller 'Thirst' with 100% of net proceeds funding charity: water projects. Bulk orders available for companies, churches, and schools.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion4 records

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

charity: water is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that funds and implements clean and safe drinking water projects in developing nations, serving over 21.6 million people across 29 countries through more than 209,200 funded projects. The organization operates on a 100% donation model where private donors cover all operating costs, enabling every public donation to directly fund water infrastructure. Its proprietary offering includes IoT remote water point monitoring sensors and a cloud-based analytics dashboard for real-time sustainability tracking, paired with branded donation programs (The Spring monthly giving, Water Project Sponsorship, The Pool equity-based giving).

Product overview

charity: water operates as a nonprofit organization offering a unified donation platform through its main website, complemented by multiple giving programs and experiential offerings. Core products include the online donation platform enabling one-time and monthly giving, Water Project Sponsorship for targeted funding, and The Spring monthly giving program. Supporting programs include The Pool (equity-based giving), The Tributary (legacy giving), and Tiny Heroes (youth engagement). Experiential offerings encompass the Experience Lab immersive exhibit and The Journey video documentary series. The organization also operates Sensors, an IoT-based remote monitoring system for tracking water system functionality, and publishes Thirst, a bestselling book by the founder. Key campaigns include Football Takes Water and the annual September Campaign.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• charity: water Website Donation Platform Online platform enabling individual donors to make one-time or recurring donations, sponsor water projects, start fundraisers, and track the impact of completed projects through photos and GPS coordinates.
• The Spring (Monthly Giving) Monthly giving program where donors contribute $20 per month to bring clean water to an entire family of six annually; donors receive ongoing impact updates.
• Water Project Sponsorship Program allowing individual and corporate donors to fund specific clean water projects for communities, schools, or health clinics with customized impact reports including photos and GPS coordinates; average project cost approximately $10,000.
• The Pool (Equity-Based Giving Program) Community of business leaders, founders, and entrepreneurs who donate a portion of their private company shares to support charity: water operations, with IPO and liquidity event proceeds; 80% funds overhead and 20% provides employee equity bonuses.
• The Tributary (Legacy Giving) Planned giving program for donors making lasting charitable contributions through estate and legacy vehicles.
• Tiny Heroes (Kids Program) Program engaging children and youth to fundraise and learn about the global water crisis through age-appropriate campaigns and educational resources.
• Experience Lab (Immersive Exhibit) Immersive storytelling exhibit at The Factory in Franklin, Tennessee featuring sensory-rich exhibits, VR experiences, and interactive displays about the global water crisis; open for free guided tours Friday through Sunday.
• Thirst (Book) New York Times bestselling book by founder Scott Harrison about his journey from nightclub promoter to nonprofit founder, with 100% of net proceeds funding charity: water projects.
• Sensors (IoT Remote Water Monitoring) IoT remote monitoring technology using sensors and cloud computing to track water system functionality in real-time across Africa and Asia, processing data on approximately 25 million liters of water per month via AWS IoT and analytics tools.
• Advisor Toolkit Curated resources for financial advisors and wealth managers to help high-net-worth clients with strategic philanthropy, including financial reports, storytelling assets, and giving vehicle information.
• Peer-to-Peer Fundraising Platform (my.charitywater.org) Self-serve platform enabling supporters to create personal fundraising pages, birthday campaigns, and team fundraising efforts with embedded donation functionality and impact tracking.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 21.6 million people served with clean water access
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• PDS HealthcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 9 June 2026PDS Health raised over $2 million through its campaign supporting charity: water to fund community water systems in Ethiopia, benefiting over 50,000 people. The campaign involved the organization's nationwide network of dental practices and aimed to improve health, education, and economic opportunities for underserved communities. PDS Health has supported over 500 water projects across 6 countries since 2009.
• AipercoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 5 June 2026Aiper announced partnership with charity: water on World Environment Day (June 5, 2026) to support global water sustainability by financing the nonprofit's community-led clean water infrastructure projects. The partnership aligns with Aiper's ESG mission and its IrriSense 2 Water Saving Initiative. charity: water will deliver a comprehensive impact report tracking clean water deployed and families supported.
• Kalahari Resorts & ConventionscoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 2 March 2026Kalahari Resorts & Conventions has raised over $12.2 million to improve access to clean water in Africa, impacting more than 295,000 people. Partnership involves corporate fundraising campaigns and employee engagement initiatives.
• DB ServicesminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 3 November 2025DB Services announced support for charity: water during Q4 2025 as part of its Surveys for Success program, donating to the nonprofit for each customer survey received. Demonstrates corporate social responsibility through per-transaction giving.
• ARMcoreTechnology or IntegrationTechnology partner for Sensors R&D program. ARM provides processor technology enabling the IoT sensors used for remote water point monitoring.
• AWS (Amazon Web Services)coreTechnology or IntegrationCloud infrastructure partner powering data analytics for the sensor monitoring program. AWS IoT and analytics tools process approximately 25 million liters of water data per month.
• CiscocoreTechnology or IntegrationTechnology partner for sensors program providing networking and connectivity solutions for IoT water monitoring infrastructure.
• u-bloxcoreTechnology or IntegrationTechnology partner providing positioning and wireless modules for the remote water point sensors enabling auto-geolocation functionality.
• AeriscoreTechnology or IntegrationIoT connectivity partner supporting the sensor program with cellular connectivity solutions for water monitoring in remote areas.
• Fleetwood ElectronicscoreTechnology or IntegrationElectronics manufacturing partner for sensor hardware production ensuring industrial-grade quality for field deployment.
• International Lifeline FundcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerField implementation partner for sensor deployment and water project monitoring across Africa and Asia.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• WaterAid: International WASH nonprofit operating across Africa, Asia, and the Americas with a comparable mission of sustainable clean water access. Similar geographic footprint, donor base, and project-funding model make it a direct peer.
• Lifewater International: Faith-inspired WASH nonprofit focused on rural water access in sub-Saharan Africa. Comparable donor-funded project model, rural village focus, and emphasis on long-term sustainability monitoring.
• water.org: Founded by Matt Damon and Gary White, water.org is the closest direct peer to charity: water — a globally recognized WASH-focused nonprofit using market-based approaches (WaterCredit) and donor funding to deliver clean water and sanitation in developing countries, with comparable transparency branding.
• Water For People: US-based WASH nonprofit operating in 9+ countries with a 'Everyone Forever' model aimed at sustainable universal water access. Closely comparable mission, geographic profile, and locally-led implementation approach.
• The Water Project: Smaller WASH nonprofit funding water access in sub-Saharan Africa with a strong digital donor experience and per-project transparency reporting — directly comparable to charity: water's project-sponsorship and GPS-tracking model.

Regional players

• Pump Aid: UK- and Africa-based WASH nonprofit primarily serving rural communities in sub-Saharan Africa with gravity-fed and pump-based water systems. Comparable mission and Africa focus, but smaller scale and more geographically concentrated than charity: water.

Others

• Candid: Nonprofit information and transparency platform (formerly GuideStar) that issues the Platinum Seal of Transparency held by charity: water. Relevant ecosystem participant rather than direct competitor; useful proxy for nonprofit accountability infrastructure.

Broad incumbents

• World Vision: One of the largest international development NGOs with a significant WASH program alongside health, education, and child sponsorship. Overlaps with charity: water on water funding and country footprint but offers a much broader program portfolio.
• Mercy Corps: Large global humanitarian organization with WASH as one component of broader emergency response and economic development programs. Comparable country footprint and donor base, but broader mission than charity: water's water-only focus.

Emerging players

• Engineers Without Borders: Engineering-focused nonprofit with WASH as a core program area, leveraging technical volunteer capacity to design and implement water projects. Comparable project delivery model but a different value proposition (volunteer engineering vs. donor-funded scale).

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/charitywater
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/charitywater
• Facebookfacebook.com/charitywater
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/charity-water
• Instagraminstagram.com/charitywater

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Subsidiaries3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds3 records

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about charity: water