Paper for Water
Paper for Water is a Dallas-based 501c3 nonprofit that funds clean water projects in 20 countries by exchanging handcrafted origami ornaments for donations, having raised over $3.5 million to complete 350+ wells serving 100,000 people daily.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2011
- HeadquartersDallas, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Paper for Water does
Paper for Water is a 501c3 nonprofit organization (legally Keiki International Foundation) headquartered in Dallas, Texas, that funds clean water and sanitation projects in 20 countries by exchanging handcrafted origami ornaments and related donations for clean water infrastructure. Founded on November 3, 2011 by sisters Isabelle and Katherine Adams when they were 8 and 5 years old, the organization has cumulatively raised over $3.5 million to complete more than 350 water projects serving over 100,000 people daily, working with implementation partners such as Living Water and DigDeep on wells and household water connections in communities including those in Ethiopia, Kenya, India, Nepal, and the Navajo Nation.
The organization's revenue mechanics rest entirely on philanthropy rather than a technology product. Donation streams include one-time gift-tied ornament purchases ranging from $20 (Folding the Future Note Card Set) to $150 (Perfectly Purple), the Well of the Month Club at $10 per month targeting 500 recurring donors, corporate sponsorships of origami installations at venues such as Neiman Marcus, Four Seasons Hotel, and Galleria Dallas, book sales at $19.95, and passive affiliate revenue from Amazon Associates and Tom Thumb/Kroger community rewards. There is no proprietary technology platform; the website, social media channels, and OAuth-based donor login serve as the only digital infrastructure.
The go-to-market model is community-led and event-driven: grassroots volunteer networks, school and youth organization partnerships (Girl Scouts, BBYO, National Charity League), and public-facing origami installations at retail and hospitality venues drive donor acquisition and brand visibility. The organization is led by co-CEOs Isabelle and Katherine Adams, now in their early twenties, with Trinity Adams serving as Chief Creative Officer, Deborah Ann Adams as Project Coordinator, and a Board of Directors and Advisory Board drawn from healthcare, legal, finance, nonprofit, and arts leadership in the Dallas-Fort Worth region.
Paper for Water firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Paper for Water
- Legal name
- Keiki International Foundation
- Website
- https://paperforwater.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2011
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Paper for Water is a Dallas-based 501c3 nonprofit that funds clean water projects in 20 countries by exchanging handcrafted origami ornaments for donations, having raised over $3.5 million to complete 350+ wells serving 100,000 people daily.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Paper for Water industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Nonprofit Clean Water and Sanitation Services
- NAICS
- Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Water, Sanitation & Hygiene (WASH) (BPAGABAC)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- WASH (Water, Sanitation & Hygiene) Organizations (HLAJAKAI), Water, Sanitation & Hygiene (WASH) Solutions (BPAGALAI), Water Resources & Watershed Protection (BPAGAGAK)
Keywords
Where Paper for Water is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Dallas
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
Paper for Water business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Origami Ornament Donations: Donors contribute money to fund water projects and receive handcrafted origami ornaments as thank-you gifts. Donation levels range from $20 for note card sets to $150 for premium ornaments like 'Perfectly Purple'. This is the primary revenue mechanism that started the organization.
- Well of the Month Club (Recurring Donations): Monthly recurring donations of at least $10 per month, targeting 500 world changers to fund at least one well per month. Provides predictable, recurring revenue for water project funding.
- Corporate Sponsorships: Companies sponsor water wells or origami ornament installations. Includes corporate event decorations, Christmas tree projects, and installation sponsorships. Companies receive brand visibility and employee engagement opportunities.
- Retail Affiliate Programs: Partnership with Amazon Affiliates where purchases through Paper for Water's affiliate links generate donations. Tom Thumb and Kroger community reward programs contribute 1% of purchases to the organization.
- Book Sales: Sale of the book 'One Piece of Paper at a Time' chronicling the organization's first ten years. Sold at $19.95 per copy through onepieceofpaperatatime.com.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Pay-as-you-go | Premium origami ornament donations ($100-$150) |
| Subscription | Pay-as-you-go | Mid-tier origami ornament donations ($30-$60) |
| Subscription | Pay-as-you-go | Entry-level origami donation ($20) |
| Subscription | Monthly | Well of the Month Club monthly donation |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Book purchase |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels6 records
Marketing channels8 records
Paper for Water product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Paper for Water is a 501c3 nonprofit that funds clean water and sanitation infrastructure in 20+ countries by accepting charitable donations in exchange for handcrafted origami ornaments. Donors contribute preset amounts ($20 to $150) or custom amounts via the website, corporate installations, recurring monthly giving (Well of the Month Club), or book/note card purchases, with nearly 100% of funding directed toward water project programmatic costs through implementation partners such as Living Water and DigDeep.
Product overview
Paper for Water is a non-profit organization offering a portfolio of donation-based products centered around origami art. The core offerings include handcrafted origami ornaments (priced at $60-$150 as donations), their published book 'One Piece of Paper at a Time' ($19.95), and note card sets ($20). These products serve as thank-you gifts for donors who contribute to clean water projects. The organization also operates programmatic offerings including the Well of the Month Club (recurring donation program) and Christmas Tree Project (corporate sponsorship opportunity). All products and programs work together to support the mission of funding water and sanitation projects in 20 countries.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Origami Ornaments (Donation-based) Handcrafted origami ornaments offered as thank-you gifts to donors in exchange for charitable contributions. Each ornament corresponds to a preset donation amount that funds clean water projects worldwide (examples include Perfectly Purple at $150, Better than a Bouquet at $60, Polka Dot Perfect at $100, and Be Mine at $30).
- One Piece of Paper at a Time (Book)
Quantifiable outcome
- 100,000+ people provided clean water daily
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Paper for Water
Customer profileNamed customers2 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Paper for Water technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration2 records
Paper for Water partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
15 partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.
- Four Seasons Hotel Las ColinascoreIn 2018 and 2019, Paper for Water decorated beautiful trees at the Four Seasons Hotel in Las Colinas, Texas as part of their holiday program.
- Galleria DallascoreCreated 'Fold to Flight' installation suspended above Galleria Dallas ice rink comprised of 4,000 origami butterflies requiring 1,000 volunteer hours. Also hosted 'Folding the Future' installation in 2025.
- Neiman MarcusflagshipPaper for Water was featured as one of Neiman Marcus's exclusive Fantasy Gifts in 2017. An anonymous buyer purchased the Paper for Water fantasy gift ornaments, catapulting the mission in front of millions of people. In 2017, decorated the famed Neiman Marcus Palladium tree in their historic downtown Dallas store.
- KleenexflagshipPartnership with Kleenex and DigDeep to bring running water to the Delgaritos family on the Navajo Nation. The Gift of Water campaign was featured in a Kleenex commercial. Kleenex partnership enabled bringing water to communities in New Mexico.
- Living WatercoreInternational water organization partner. Living Water experts are involved in drilling water wells and implementing water projects. Change Makers have visited Living Water project sites and met with Living Water experts.
- DigDeepcorePartnership with DigDeep for the Gift of Water campaign on the Navajo Nation. DigDeep focuses on bringing clean water access to underserved communities in the US and abroad.
- Crow Museum of Asian ArtcorePartnership for origami installations at the Crow Museum of Asian Art. The museum features Asian art and culture, aligning with origami's Japanese heritage.
- WagamamaminorRestaurant chain featuring origami installations as part of their decor or partnership activities.
- Lemi ShineminorCorporate partner with origami installation at their location.
- Intown Plumbing (Navajo Project)corePartnership for the Navajo Project bringing clean water to families on the Navajo Reservation. Intown Plumbing provides plumbing services for water installation projects.
- Bemax GroupminorMarketing agency partner providing marketing support for Paper for Water.
- Talulah & HesscoreRetail partner where Paper for Water origami ornaments are available in-store.
- Tom ThumbminorGrocery store chain participating in Good Neighbor Program. Shoppers can link their rewards card to Paper for Water (Organization #14206) and 1% of purchases are donated.
- KrogerminorKroger Rewards Program allows customers to link their account and select Paper for Water (QG515) for community rewards donations.
- Four Seasons Hotel (Multiple DFW Locations)coreCorporate partner hosting origami holiday tree installations. Decorated trees at Four Seasons Hotel in Las Colinas (2018, 2019) and additional local DFW companies and private homes.
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Paper for Water competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- WaterAid: Broad incumbent: large international NGO focused exclusively on water, sanitation, and hygiene across Africa, Asia, and the Pacific. Operates with institutional donors and government partnerships at a substantially larger scale than Paper for Water.
- Water.org: Broad incumbent: co-founded by Matt Damon and Gary White, Water.org tackles global water and sanitation access through both philanthropic and microfinance mechanisms. Comparable mission but far larger scope, institutional funding, and brand recognition.
Direct peers
- DigDeep: Direct peer and existing partner: nonprofit focused on water access in the U.S. (especially the Navajo Nation) and abroad. Strong overlap with Paper for Water's domestic Navajo Reservation project and Kleenex Gift of Water campaign.
- The Water Project: Direct peer: nonprofit funding clean water access in sub-Saharan Africa through well drilling, sanitation, and hygiene education. Comparable donor-driven model with grassroots fundraising and individual well sponsorship programs.
- charity: water: Direct peer: nonprofit solely focused on funding clean water projects in developing countries. Both organizations compete for the same donor pool in the clean-water philanthropy category and share a story-driven fundraising model, though charity: water operates at much larger scale.
- Living Water International: Direct peer and existing Paper for Water implementation partner (Living Water drills wells for the org). Faith-based nonprofit drilling and rehabilitating water wells in developing countries—directly comparable service model and geographic overlap.
- Wells Bring Hope: Direct peer: smaller nonprofit focused on drilling wells in Niger and West Africa, with story-driven fundraising from individual donors. Operates at similar scale and similarly narrow geographic focus.
Emerging players
- Wine To Water: Emerging player: nonprofit combining craft storytelling with WASH funding. Similar grassroots, story-led fundraising DNA to Paper for Water's origami model, though anchored in wine-industry partnerships rather than paper art.
- Splash: Emerging player: nonprofit focused on clean water, sanitation, and hygiene for children in urban Asia and Africa. Operates at moderate scale with city-level programs, partially overlapping Paper for Water's mission in India and Ethiopia.
- Blood:Water: Emerging player: faith-inspired nonprofit partnering with African organizations to deliver clean water and HIV/AIDS support. Overlaps with Paper for Water's WASH mission and faith-based volunteer pipeline but extends beyond water to broader health.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Paper for Water social profiles
Digital presencePaper for Water financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Paper for Water leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles21 records
Paper for Water funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Paper for Water 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 Paper for Water
What does Paper for Water do?
Paper for Water is a 501c3 nonprofit that funds clean water and sanitation infrastructure in 20+ countries by accepting charitable donations in exchange for handcrafted origami ornaments. Donors contribute preset amounts ($20 to $150) or custom amounts via the website, corporate installations, recurring monthly giving (Well of the Month Club), or book/note card purchases, with nearly 100% of funding directed toward water project programmatic costs through implementation partners such as Living Water and DigDeep.
Is Paper for Water a public or private company?
Paper for Water is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Paper for Water founded?
Paper for Water was founded in 2011. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Paper for Water based?
Paper for Water is headquartered in Dallas, United States, in the North America region.
How does Paper for Water make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Origami Ornament Donations are the primary driver. The others are well of the Month Club (Recurring Donations), corporate Sponsorships, retail Affiliate Programs and book Sales.
Who are Paper for Water's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are WaterAid and Water.org. Direct peers are DigDeep, The Water Project, charity: water, Living Water International and Wells Bring Hope. Emerging players are Wine To Water, Splash and Blood:Water.
Does Paper for Water have an API?
No public API is recorded for Paper for Water.
What industry is Paper for Water in?
Paper for Water's product category is Nonprofit Clean Water and Sanitation Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGABAC, Water, Sanitation & Hygiene (WASH), with a secondary code of HLAJAKAI, WASH (Water, Sanitation & Hygiene) Organizations. Its NAICS code is 81321.