Chemists Without Borders
Chemists Without Borders is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that mobilizes the global chemistry community to deliver clean water, arsenic remediation, and science education programs to underserved communities in Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Seychelles, and India.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2005
- HeadquartersSunnyvale, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Chemists Without Borders does
Chemists Without Borders (CWB) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit humanitarian organization founded in 2005 by Dr. Bego Gerber and Dr. Steve Chambreau, headquartered in Pasadena, California. Its mission is to mobilize the global chemistry community to address humanitarian challenges, with operational focus on clean water access, arsenic remediation, rural science education, and laboratory capacity-building in underserved regions. The organization is entirely volunteer-led, with no paid staff and a roster of 1,000+ members contributing over 300 years of combined scientific and leadership experience.
CWB's core programs are the Clean Water Initiatives (arsenic water testing, removal systems, and a community-based water-sharing program in Bangladesh), ASPIRE (Advancing Science Programming in Rural Education, a rural development initiative spanning teacher training, adult education, and economic development), a Student Chapters network at universities globally, and a Laboratory Equipment Donation Program that channels donated analytical instruments (e.g., Coulter particle size analyzers, Agilent gas chromatographs) to universities in developing countries. Underlying technical work spans arsenic remediation, UV water disinfection, electrochemical wastewater treatment, and pyrolysis-based waste management. Active projects are concentrated in Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Seychelles, and India, with stated plans to expand the water-sharing model to additional arsenic-affected countries.
CWB's revenue model is donations-based, including individual giving (online and mail-in checks) and corporate sponsorship packages offering visibility to its 1,000+ member base. The organization does not sell products or services; beneficiaries receive services free of charge. It is governed by a Board of Directors under current President & CEO Ramin Sedehi and Chairman Dr. Achal Garg. The operating model is community-led, with field projects executed through partnerships with Rotary International, IIT Jodhpur, CUFSAA-NA, Dow Chemical, and the Mandela Washington Exchange Program, and reach is extended through university student chapters.
Chemists Without Borders firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Chemists Without Borders
- Legal name
- Chemists Without Borders, Inc.
- Website
- https://chemistswithoutborders.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2005
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Chemists Without Borders is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that mobilizes the global chemistry community to deliver clean water, arsenic remediation, and science education programs to underserved communities in Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Seychelles, and India.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Chemists Without Borders industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Humanitarian Nonprofit Services
- NAICS
- Testing Laboratories and Services (54138), Environmental Consulting Services (54162), Research and Development in Biotechnology (except Nanobiotechnology) (541714)
- SIC
- Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731), Services-Testing Laboratories (8734)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Pollution Prevention & Toxics Reduction (BPAGAGAJ)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Pollution Prevention, Chemicals & Waste (incl. Plastics) (BPADALAJ), Chemistry Enrichment Programs (EDAMABAG), Hands-on Science Exploration & Experiments (Lab Kits, Science Clubs) (EDAMABAA)
Keywords
Where Chemists Without Borders is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Sunnyvale
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Chemists Without Borders business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations
Revenue model
- Donations: Chemists Without Borders relies entirely on donations from members, friends, and organizations. The organization is a US 501(c)(3) non-profit, making all donations tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law. Donations can be made online or by mail (check payable to Chemists Without Borders, PO Box 5327 Pasadena, CA 91117). The organization also accepts donations of goods and services as sponsorship.
- Sponsorship: The organization offers tailored sponsorship packages for corporate partners that include global reach to 1,000+ members, website visibility with logo and links, inclusion in promotional materials, and recognition in mailshots, newsletters, and press releases.
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels7 records
Chemists Without Borders product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Chemists Without Borders is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that mobilizes volunteer chemists and scientists to deliver humanitarian programs, primarily providing clean water access (including arsenic remediation and well-water testing), science education in rural communities, and donated laboratory equipment to universities in developing countries. Programs include Clean Water Initiatives, ASPIRE (Advancing Science Programming in Rural Education), Student Chapters, and a Laboratory Equipment Donation Program. All services are delivered free of charge to beneficiary communities and funded through donations and corporate sponsorships.
Product overview
Chemists Without Borders is a global humanitarian nonprofit organization (501(c)(3)) that operates several interconnected programs rather than a traditional product platform. Its core offerings include the Clean Water Initiatives (featuring arsenic remediation, well-water testing, and the water-sharing program), the ASPIRE program for rural science education, a network of Student Chapters at universities, and a Laboratory Equipment Donation Program. These programs work together to advance the organization's mission of using science to improve quality of life in communities most in need through service, education, innovation, and community empowerment.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Clean Water Initiatives A humanitarian program focused on making clean and safe drinking water and sanitation facilities available to underserved communities. Includes arsenic remediation systems, well-water testing with field test kits, and a water-sharing program enabling communities to share water from certified arsenic-free wells.
- ASPIRE (Advancing Science Programming in Rural Education) A signature initiative providing holistically-based support for rural community development through science education, teacher training, adult education, and economic development components.
- Student Chapters A network of student chapters at universities that extends Chemists Without Borders' reach and provides local capabilities to address community needs. Includes students from all disciplines and provides leadership opportunities, with established chapters such as Southeastern University of Sri Lanka.
- Laboratory Equipment Donation Program Program that donates analytical equipment such as particle size analyzers and gas chromatographs to universities in developing countries to support quality research, peer-reviewed publications, and hands-on student learning.
Quantifiable outcome
- Over 1,500 students benefit from arsenic-free drinking water in Bangladesh
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Chemists Without Borders
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Chemists Without Borders technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
Chemists Without Borders partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Rotary San FranciscocoreRotary International service club providing international humanitarian support. Organizations collaborate on international service projects aligned with Rotary's focus on clean water, education, and community development.
- Rotary InternationalcoreGlobal humanitarian organization with The Rotary Foundation supporting clean water initiatives, education, and community development projects worldwide.
- Indian Institute of Technology JodhpurminorPremier Indian technical university collaborating on academic partnerships and knowledge exchange for science education and water management initiatives.
- Colombo University Faculty of Science Alumni Association – North America (CUFSAA-NA)coreAlumni organization facilitating the donation of analytical equipment to University of Colombo, Sri Lanka, including shipping coordination and academic partnerships.
- Dow Chemical CompanycoreMajor chemical company that donated analytical equipment including two particle size analyzers (Coulter) and an Agilent 6890 gas chromatograph to University of Colombo through CWB's facilitation.
- AIDSFree AfricaminorNonprofit organization working on health and humanitarian initiatives in Africa, potential collaboration on science education and water access programs.
- Science is ElementalminorOrganization focused on science education and outreach, potential collaboration on advancing science literacy and education programs.
- Lawyers Without BorderscoreProvided pro bono legal assistance to help Chemists Without Borders obtain legal non-profit status as an NGO, enabling the organization's formation and operations.
- Mandela Washington Exchange ProgramcoreProgram through which Dr. Achal Garg traveled to Seychelles to deliver lectures and workshops on water pollution, wastewater treatment, and pollution prevention as part of CWB's blue economy initiatives.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Chemists Without Borders competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Engineers Without Borders USA: Humanitarian nonprofit using the same 'Without Borders' brand model that mobilizes a specific professional community (engineers) to solve development problems in underserved regions. Directly comparable in structure, mission framing, volunteer-driven model, and partnership-driven execution.
- WaterAid: International nonprofit focused on clean water access, sanitation, and hygiene in developing countries. Directly comparable to CWB's Clean Water Initiatives program in mission, beneficiary base, and operational geography.
- charity: water: Nonprofit funding clean water projects in developing countries with a donor-driven, transparency-focused model. Comparable to CWB in mission focus on safe drinking water access and reliance on individual donations and corporate sponsorships.
- Water.org: Global nonprofit addressing the water crisis through financial solutions and partnerships. Comparable to CWB in mission focus on water access for underserved communities and partnership-driven execution model.
- Splash: Nonprofit focused on clean water access for children in urban areas of developing countries. Comparable to CWB's Bangladesh arsenic remediation work in mission scope and child-serving beneficiary base.
Broad incumbents
- Doctors Without Borders / MSF: The largest and most established 'Without Borders' humanitarian organization. While operating in healthcare rather than chemistry, its humanitarian brand architecture, volunteer mobilization model, and field operations in similar geographies provide a reference benchmark for CWB's potential scale.
- IRC (International Rescue Committee): Major humanitarian organization responding to humanitarian crises with water, sanitation, and education programs. Comparable to CWB in serving similar beneficiary populations in developing regions, though IRC operates at vastly larger scale with paid staff.
Emerging players
- EarthEcho International: Environmental nonprofit focused on water quality education and youth engagement. Comparable to CWB in combining water protection work with science education for students, particularly in the ASPIRE program.
Regional players
- Water Research Commission: Organization funding and coordinating water-related research with development focus. Comparable to CWB in mobilizing scientific expertise for water-related humanitarian challenges, though focused on South Africa.
Others
- AIChE (American Institute of Chemical Engineers) Foundation: Professional chemical engineering society with humanitarian and educational programs. Comparable to CWB as a mobilizing force for the chemistry/chemical engineering community, though primarily a professional membership organization rather than a field-implementing nonprofit.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Chemists Without Borders social profiles
Digital presenceChemists Without Borders compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance3 records
Chemists Without Borders financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Chemists Without Borders leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles17 records
Chemists Without Borders funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Chemists Without Borders M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Chemists Without Borders
What does Chemists Without Borders do?
Chemists Without Borders is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that mobilizes volunteer chemists and scientists to deliver humanitarian programs, primarily providing clean water access (including arsenic remediation and well-water testing), science education in rural communities, and donated laboratory equipment to universities in developing countries. Programs include Clean Water Initiatives, ASPIRE (Advancing Science Programming in Rural Education), Student Chapters, and a Laboratory Equipment Donation Program. All services are delivered free of charge to beneficiary communities and funded through donations and corporate sponsorships.
Is Chemists Without Borders a public or private company?
Chemists Without Borders is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Chemists Without Borders founded?
Chemists Without Borders was founded in 2005. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Chemists Without Borders based?
Chemists Without Borders is headquartered in Sunnyvale, United States, in the North America region.
How does Chemists Without Borders make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Donations are the primary driver. The others are sponsorship.
Who are Chemists Without Borders's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Engineers Without Borders USA, WaterAid, charity: water, Water.org and Splash. Broad incumbents are Doctors Without Borders / MSF and IRC (International Rescue Committee). EarthEcho International is listed as an emerging player. Water Research Commission is listed as a regional player. AIChE (American Institute of Chemical Engineers) Foundation is listed as an others.
Does Chemists Without Borders have an API?
No public API is recorded for Chemists Without Borders.
What industry is Chemists Without Borders in?
Chemists Without Borders's product category is Humanitarian Nonprofit Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGAGAJ, Pollution Prevention & Toxics Reduction, with a secondary code of BPADALAJ, Pollution Prevention, Chemicals & Waste (incl. Plastics). Its NAICS code is 54138 and its SIC code is 8731.