What Engineers Without Borders USA | Orange County Chapter (EWB-OC) does

Engineers Without Borders USA | Orange County Chapter (EWB-OC) is a local 501(c)(3) non-profit chapter operating within the West Coast Regional section of Engineers Without Borders USA, headquartered in Irvine, California. The chapter designs and implements sustainable engineering infrastructure for underserved communities, with a primary focus on water supply systems. Active international projects are currently underway in Ziguinchor, Senegal (serving approximately 1,200 villagers) and La Mocora, Ecuador (serving approximately 140 families), while past projects have been completed in Guatemala, Honduras, Kenya, and El Salvador, collectively reaching thousands of beneficiaries with solutions including chlorination, sedimentation, rainwater collection, and pipeline distribution. Local engagement in Orange County spans STEM outreach, environmental restoration (Santiago Park Clean-Up), and partnership build events (Corazon Build).

The organization's technology stack is intentionally low-tech and appropriate to context: water treatment units (chlorination and sedimentation), rainwater collection systems, storage tanks (up to 20,000 gallons), and conveyance pipelines designed and overseen by volunteer engineers. A WordPress-based website serves as the primary digital surface for project information, volunteer coordination, and donation collection; no app, API, or proprietary software platform is offered.

EWB-OC's business model is donation-funded rather than commercial. Revenue streams comprise corporate and individual donations, with the annual Corporate Cup Challenge as the largest fundraising event, supplemented by community recreational events (Pickleball, Paintball). Distribution of services occurs through direct volunteer engagement and in-country project implementation, supported by partnerships with the parent EWB-USA organization, local NGOs such as ENLACE in El Salvador, the UCI Student Chapter, and Orange County community organizations. The chapter is governed by an 11-person volunteer board led by two Co-Presidents and operates with approximately 5 employees.

Name

Engineers Without Borders USA | Orange County Chapter (EWB-OC)

Legal name

Engineers Without Borders USA | Orange County Chapter (EWB-OC)

Website

https://ewb-oc.org

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Engineers Without Borders USA | Orange County Chapter (EWB-OC) is a volunteer-driven non-profit that designs and implements sustainable water supply and infrastructure projects for underserved communities in Senegal, Ecuador, and Orange County, funded through donations and fundraising events.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Humanitarian Engineering Services

NAICS

Environmental Consulting Services (54162), Engineering Services (541330), Business, Professional, Labor, Political, and Similar Organizations (8139)

SIC

Services-Engineering Services (8711), Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Environmental Justice & Community Environmental Health (BPAGAGAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

Environmental Compliance & Permitting (BPAHAJAA), Civil & Site Works EPC (Earthworks, Roads, Drainage, Foundations) (EUAEADAA), Official Development Assistance (ODA) Program Management (BPADAOAC)

Keywords

• Humanitarian engineering projects
• Water supply systems
• International development projects
• Sustainable infrastructure development
• Community engineering programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Orange County

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Corporate and Individual Donations: Projects are funded through direct financial contributions from corporations and individuals supporting humanitarian engineering initiatives.
2. Corporate Cup Challenge Fundraising: Annual flagship fundraising event where teams from local companies compete, raising money for international development projects. This is the chapter's largest fundraising event.
3. Recreational Events (Pickleball, Paintball): Fun community events like Pickleball and Paintball serve as both team-building activities and additional fundraising channels for the chapter.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Engineers Without Borders USA | Orange County Chapter (EWB-OC) is a non-profit humanitarian organization that mobilizes volunteer engineers, students, and professionals to design and implement sustainable engineering projects for developing communities. The chapter's core focus is international water supply infrastructure—including new water sources, treatment via chlorination and sedimentation, storage tanks, distribution pipelines, and rainwater collection systems—with active projects in Senegal and Ecuador and completed projects in Guatemala, Honduras, Kenya, and El Salvador. Locally, the chapter runs community restoration, building, and STEM outreach programs in Orange County, funded through donations, sponsorships, and fundraising events.

Product overview

Engineers Without Borders USA | Orange County Chapter (EWB-OC) is a non-profit humanitarian organization that implements sustainable engineering projects for developing communities worldwide. The organization's core offerings include international water supply system projects (currently active in Senegal and Ecuador, with completed projects in Guatemala, Honduras, Kenya, and El Salvador) that provide clean water access to underserved populations. EWB-OC also conducts local community projects in Orange County including environmental restoration and STEM outreach programs. Fundraising activities include the annual Corporate Cup Challenge, pickleball, and paintball events. The organization operates as part of the Engineers Without Borders USA West Coast Regional section and collaborates with student chapters for mentorship. Financial support comes through corporate and individual donations via their donation platform.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Ziguinchor, Senegal Water Supply System

Quantifiable outcome

• Completed water supply projects serving communities in Guatemala (2019-2020), Honduras (135 homes with 20,000 gallon tank), Kenya (8000+ gallons rainwater storage, 4 systems installed), El Salvador (10,000 people/2,000 families)

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Engineers Without Borders USAcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEWB-OC is part of the West Coast Regional section of Engineers Without Borders USA. The parent organization provides access to project frameworks, global network of volunteers, training resources, and participates in regional and national meetings for knowledge sharing.
• ENLACE (El Salvador)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal NGO partner in El Salvador for clean water distribution system project in Milagro village. ENLACE helped provide clean water distribution system and hygiene education, with EWB-OC providing technical expertise and project support.
• UCI Student ChaptercoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorUniversity of California Irvine student chapter partnership where EWB-OC provides mentorship, collaboration on projects, and support for student engineering volunteers.
• Corazon (Local Non-profit)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for local build events in Orange County supporting community development and non-profit organizations.
• Local Orange County OrganizationsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnerships with local non-profit organizations in Orange County for STEM outreach and community support initiatives.

Scale indicators3 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Water.org: Global non-profit co-founded by Matt Damon and Gary White that funds water and sanitation solutions in developing countries. Comparable donor-supported model with global project portfolio targeting similar low-income communities.
• Engineers Without Borders USA: The national parent organization of which EWB-OC is a regional chapter. Operates the same humanitarian engineering model at scale across the U.S., providing the brand, training, Volunteer Village platform, and donor infrastructure that EWB-OC relies on.
• IRC Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) Program: International Rescue Committee's WASH program delivers water and sanitation infrastructure in fragile states and developing countries. Operates at much larger scale but addresses the same beneficiary needs and beneficiary geographies as EWB-OC's Senegal and Ecuador projects.
• WaterAid America: Large international NGO focused exclusively on clean water and sanitation access in developing countries. Directly comparable mission and beneficiary profile (sub-Saharan Africa, Latin America, South Asia) to EWB-OC's Senegal, Ecuador, and El Salvador projects.
• charity: water: Major non-profit funding clean water infrastructure projects in developing countries. Highly comparable mission targeting the same end-beneficiary communities EWB-OC serves, with a much larger fundraising operation and similar volunteer/donor engagement model.

Direct peers

• Engineers Without Borders UK: U.K. chapter of the global Engineers Without Borders movement. Directly comparable as a national affiliate running volunteer-driven humanitarian engineering projects, sharing the same brand and mission framework as EWB-OC.
• DIGDEEP Right to Water Project: U.S.-based non-profit working to ensure every American has access to clean water, with international water projects as well. Operates a similar volunteer-supported model for water infrastructure in underserved communities.
• Water for People: Non-profit that builds sustainable water, sanitation, and hygiene infrastructure in developing countries with a focus on long-term local capacity building — closely aligned with EWB-OC's community-led implementation model and beneficiary geographies in Latin America and Africa.
• Engineers Without Borders Canada: Sister organization under the broader Engineers Without Borders international network. Operates a parallel model of volunteer-led engineering projects in developing countries, with similar organizational structure and partnership with student chapters.

Emerging players

• Architecture for Humanity (legacy/closed): Former non-profit that connected design and engineering professionals with humanitarian projects in developing regions. Highly analogous model of mobilizing professional volunteers for infrastructure projects serving under-resourced communities.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/engineers-without-borders-orange-county--ewb-oc-

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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 Engineers Without Borders USA | Orange County Chapter (EWB-OC)