What Wine to Water does

Wine to Water is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2004 by Doc Hendley (a CNN Hero) and headquartered in Boone, North Carolina. The organization provides clean water access to underserved and disaster-affected communities through WASH (water, sanitation, and hygiene) programs operating in 60 countries, with long-term country offices in Nepal, Tanzania, the Dominican Republic, the Amazon region, and Western North Carolina, plus a recently added South Africa program. Since 2004 it claims to have impacted more than 2.5 million people with clean water access, and it operates an active Disaster Response team that deploys supplies to crisis zones (e.g., Hurricane Helene in Western North Carolina, the 2025 Venezuela earthquakes).

The organization's core technology is the proprietary DROP Filter™, a portable ceramic water filtration device deployed directly to communities and during emergencies. Complementary programmatic offerings include the Water4Schools curriculum linking U.S. classrooms to schools in the Dominican Republic, Tanzania, Nepal, and the Amazon; a free regional water quality testing service launched in June 2025 across 23 Western North Carolina counties (with well and spring box repair); and the #JustOneShift-style wine industry fundraising campaigns. The DROP Filter is sold/distributed only through charitable programs, not commercial sales.

Wine to Water's revenue model is donations-based. It accepts one-time and recurring donations (The TAP monthly giving program) through its website (Stripe, PayPal, and Adyen payment processing), supplemented by corporate partnerships (e.g., Lenovo in Tanzania, Maison Villevert, wine industry partners), event-driven fundraising tied to Filter Build volunteer events, and targeted disaster response campaigns. Financial transparency is maintained via publicly accessible 990 tax returns and annual reports through FY2024-25. The organization employs 51-100 staff, is governed by an 11-member board expanded in May 2023, and reports no parent company, private equity backing, or external ownership.

Name

Wine to Water

Legal name

Wine To Water

Website

https://wtw.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2004

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Wine to Water is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2004 that delivers clean water access through its proprietary DROP Filter and WASH programs across 60 countries, serving underserved communities, schools, and disaster-affected populations via donation-funded field operations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Boone

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: Wine To Water operates as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization funded primarily through individual and corporate donations. The organization accepts one-time and monthly recurring donations through its website, with The TAP monthly giving program providing steady support for families through clean water access.
2. Disaster Response Fundraising: Targeted fundraising campaigns for specific disaster response efforts, such as the Venezuela Earthquake 2026 campaign, where donors can contribute to immediate relief efforts deploying DROP Filters and essentials.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Wine to Water is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that provides portable ceramic water filtration (DROP Filter) and WASH (water, sanitation, and hygiene) programs to underserved communities in 60 countries. It operates long-term country offices, runs free water quality testing with infrastructure repair in Western North Carolina, delivers an educational Water4Schools program, and conducts rapid disaster response deployments of filters and essentials.

Product overview

Wine To Water is a global nonprofit organization (501(c)(3)) founded in 2004, offering a portfolio of clean water solutions including the proprietary DROP Filter portable water filtration device, free water quality testing services, Water4Schools educational programs, and disaster response initiatives. The organization operates regional WASH (water access, sanitation, and hygiene) programs across 60 countries including the US, reaching beyond-the-last-mile communities. Programs include Filter Build Events for volunteer engagement and The TAP monthly giving program for sustained donor support.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• DROP Filter: Proprietary portable water filter developed and deployed by Wine To Water for clean water access in remote communities and disaster response scenarios.
• DROP
• Water4Schools

Products and services

• DROP Filter Proprietary portable ceramic water filtration device developed by Wine To Water to provide clean drinking water in communities lacking infrastructure and in disaster-affected areas. Distributed via field deployment rather than commercial sales.
• WASH Programs Water access, sanitation, and hygiene programs delivered through long-term country offices in Nepal, Tanzania, the Dominican Republic, the Amazon, and Western North Carolina, reaching beyond-the-last-mile communities in 60 countries.
• Disaster Response Emergency response initiative that rapidly deploys DROP Filters and essential supplies to communities impacted by natural disasters and humanitarian crises.
• Water4Schools Educational program connecting U.S. classrooms with schools in the Dominican Republic, Tanzania, Nepal, and the Amazon, providing clean water access, filtration systems, and a 9-month WASH curriculum to schools while empowering students to become clean water advocates.
• Free Regional Water Quality Testing Program Free water quality testing service for private wells and spring boxes across Western North Carolina, including infrastructure repair services aimed at improving safe drinking water access in 23 counties.

Quantifiable outcome

• 2.5+ million people impacted with clean water access since 2004
• +3 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• LenovocoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 2 May 2023Lenovo partnered with Wine To Water on a project transforming communities in Tanzania, continuing its commitment to empowering underrepresented populations through access to clean and safe water and hygiene education. The partnership was featured in The Guardian.
• KETOSminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 2 May 2023KETOS founder and CEO Meena Sankaran joined the Wine To Water Board of Directors. KETOS is a vertically integrated IoT solution delivering water intelligence through patented hardware and enterprise software platform.
• Young, Conaway, Stargatt & Taylor, LLPminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 2 May 2023Partner and Vice Chair Mike Nestor joined the Wine To Water Board of Directors. Nestor is a top bankruptcy lawyer who participated in a WTW Filter Build at his firm and volunteered in Nepal.
• Dionysus Group LLLPminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 2 May 2023Founding partner Kristine Davis serves on the Wine To Water Board of Directors.
• Maison VillevertminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 2 May 2023Maison Villevert mobilized global partners for the #JustOneShift campaign from September 15 to October 15 to raise funds for Wine To Water Boone, leveraging wine industry connections for fundraising.
• Wine PartnerscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorWine industry partners support Wine To Water's mission through fundraising events, filter build participation, and awareness campaigns. The organization's name originates from wine industry roots.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• The Water Project: The Water Project is a U.S.-based nonprofit funding clean water and sanitation projects across sub-Saharan Africa. It is comparable to Wine To Water on rural African geography, donor-supported model, and school-focused WASH programs.
• WaterAid: WaterAid is an international nonprofit focused on providing clean water, decent toilets, and good hygiene in low-income countries. It overlaps with Wine To Water on WASH programming, country footprint, and institutional donor base.
• Lifewater International: Lifewater International is a faith-based nonprofit that provides clean water, sanitation, and hygiene education to rural villages in Africa and Asia. It is directly comparable to Wine To Water on WASH curriculum, rural-village targeting, and faith-based donor model.
• charity:water: charity:water is a U.S.-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit focused exclusively on funding clean and safe drinking water projects in developing countries. It is the most direct functional peer to Wine To Water in mission, donor model, and beneficiary communities.
• Water.org: Water.org is an international nonprofit that pioneers market-driven, household-level water and sanitation solutions in the developing world. It is directly comparable to Wine To Water in WASH mission, geographic scope, and donor-supported model.
• Splash: Splash is a nonprofit focused on clean water and handwashing access for children living in urban poverty in Asia and Africa. It is directly comparable to Wine To Water on school-based WASH programs in Nepal and East Africa.
• Water Mission: Water Mission is a Christian engineering nonprofit that designs, builds, and implements safe water and sanitation solutions in developing communities and disaster settings. It is directly comparable to Wine To Water on faith-based mission, technical approach, and disaster response.
• Water For People: Water For People is a global nonprofit working to ensure lasting access to safe water and sanitation in developing countries. It overlaps with Wine To Water on geography, WASH programming, and institutional donor funding.
• Planet Water Foundation: Planet Water Foundation is a nonprofit that deploys clean water solutions and hygiene education to children and communities in developing countries, particularly through school-based programs. It is directly comparable to Wine To Water's Water4Schools program and Asia-Pacific footprint.

Broad incumbents

• Engineers Without Borders USA: Engineers Without Borders USA is a broader nonprofit that partners with developing communities to implement infrastructure projects including water and sanitation. It is comparable to Wine To Water on water infrastructure work in developing regions but as part of a wider engineering portfolio rather than a water-only focus.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/c/WineToWatercommunity
• Facebookfacebook.com/winetowater
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/wine-to-water
• Instagraminstagram.com/winetowater/?hl=en
• Xx.com/winetowater

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 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 Wine to Water