WHOlives
- Company typePrivate
- Founded-
- HeadquartersSouth Jordan, United States
- Headcount—
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
WHOlives firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- WHOlives
- Legal name
- WHOlives
- Website
- https://wholives.org
- Company type
- Private
- Operating status
- Operating
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
WHOlives industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Clean Water Access
- NAICS
- Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813), Business, Professional, Labor, Political, and Similar Organizations (8139)
- SIC
- Water Supply (4941), Water, Sewer, Pipeline, Comm & Power Line Construction (1623)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Water, Sanitation & Hygiene (WASH) (BPAGABAC)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- WASH (Water, Sanitation & Hygiene) Organizations (HLAJAKAI), Federated Giving Organizations (e.g., United Way-type) (BPAGAKAG)
Keywords
Where WHOlives is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- South Jordan
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
WHOlives business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Donations and Grants: WHOlives operates as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization funded primarily through donations from individuals, corporations, and foundations. The organization maximizes impact per dollar donated, with 92% of donations going directly to projects.
- Village Drill Sales: The Village Drill Hybrid is sold for $34,900 USD (plus shipping and taxes). Organizations and entrepreneurs purchase the complete drilling system including patented drill frame, components for both manual and electric operation, generator, and motor.
- Community-Funded Wells: Through the Community-Funded Loan Program, villagers contribute down payments and make small monthly payments for wells averaging $3,500-$5,000. This creates local ownership and sustainability.
- Impact Missions: Fee-based humanitarian adventure trips to East Africa that include ground transportation, lodging, meals, sightseeing activities, and trip leadership. Customizable for individuals, families, corporations, and students.
- Corporate Giving Programs: Customized corporate giving programs including employer matching, social impact events, adopt-a-project, and team impact missions for corporate clients.
- Merchandise Sales: Online store selling WHOlives branded merchandise including swag items through Shopify storefront.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| One time/ perpetual license | One time/ perpetual license | Village Drill Hybrid Complete Unit |
| Unit Pricing | One time/ perpetual license | Per Well Drilling Cost |
| Unit Pricing | Multi-year contract | Community-Funded Wells |
| Unit Pricing | Monthly | Individual Clean Water Access |
| Subscription | One time/ perpetual license | NGO Mini Grants |
| Unit Pricing | One time/ perpetual license | Business Training Program Donation |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels6 records
Marketing channels8 records
WHOlives product offering
Product offeringCore offering
WHOlives is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that expands clean water access in developing regions by manufacturing, distributing, and deploying the patented Village Drill — a portable, human-powered and hybrid electric drilling system capable of reaching remote communities at a fraction of traditional drilling costs. The organization funds operations through charitable donations, sells Village Drill units to NGOs and entrepreneurs, runs a Community-Funded Loan Program for village-owned wells, and operates programs for FGM prevention, business training, and impact-mission travel.
Product overview
WHOlives offers a portfolio of water access solutions anchored by the Village Drill product line. The core offerings include the original human-powered Village Drill (launched 2011) and the newer Village Drill Hybrid (launched 2024), a portable drilling system capable of reaching remote communities at 25% of traditional drilling costs. These are supplemented by a Community-Funded Loan Program that provides interest-free microloans for village-owned wells, a Business Training and Mentorship Program for local entrepreneurs, and Impact Missions that combine humanitarian travel with field service. The company focuses on sustainability through its 'Trade, not Aid' philosophy, emphasizing community ownership and self-reliance rather than dependency.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Village Drill: A portable, hybrid-powered drilling system designed to provide clean water in remote regions at a fraction of the cost of traditional drilling rigs.
Products and services
- Village Drill (Original Human-Powered) A portable, human-powered drilling system designed to drill water wells in remote developing regions. Can be manually transported and assembled in under an hour, reaching areas inaccessible to traditional drilling rigs. Drills to depths of up to 90 meters (270 feet). Sold to NGOs, entrepreneurs, and humanitarian organizations.
- Village Drill Hybrid An upgraded version of the Village Drill featuring dual power options (human or electric). Includes an 8-ton ram, generator, and motor producing over 1000 ft. lbs. of rotational torque. Can penetrate harder substrates and drill deeper than the original model. Priced at $34,900 USD.
- Impact Missions Fee-based humanitarian travel experiences to Africa where participants serve in villages, experience cultural immersion, participate in service projects, and join African safari adventures. Customizable for individuals, families, corporations, and students. Includes ground transportation, lodging, meals, sightseeing, and trip leadership.
- Water Well Drilling Services Professional drilling of boreholes for communities using the Village Drill technology. Wells are installed with pumps, cement pads, and casing materials, with training provided for long-term maintenance. Average cost for drilling and installing a completed well including pump and labor is under $3,000 USD.
- Community-Funded Loan Program An interest-free microloan program that allows villages to purchase their own low-cost boreholes over time. Villages contribute a down payment and make small monthly payments on wells averaging $3,500–$5,000. Promotes ownership, self-reliance, and long-term well maintenance under the Trade not Aid model.
- Business Training and Mentorship Program A small business training and mentorship program for entrepreneurs in developing regions. Includes quality training, effective local mentorship, access to affordable credit, and accountability measures. Part of the Trade not Aid philosophy to replace dependency with self-reliance.
Quantifiable outcome
- 30% increase in school attendance after well installation
- +5 more outcomes
Companies that use WHOlives
Customer profileNamed customers7 records
Segments7 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
WHOlives technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature5 records
WHOlives partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
31 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- World VisioncoreWorld Vision purchases Village Drills and uses them in their international water programs across Sub-Saharan Africa and other regions.
- Red CrosscoreAmerican Red Cross recognized founder John Renouard with International Hero Award in 2015. Red Cross purchases and deploys Village Drills in their humanitarian water programs.
- Samaritan's PursecoreSamaritan's Purse used Village Drill to drill 11 productive wells in 5 months, serving 5,500 people. Purchased additional drill for Liberia expansion.
- Rotary InternationalcoreRotary International supports Village Drill deployment through their global network of clubs and humanitarian programs.
- BYU (Brighham Young University)coreBYU engineering students helped design the original Village Drill as part of their capstone project in 2011. Ongoing partnership for innovation and student involvement.
- PTENcorePTEN (PTEN/Ulterra partnership) works with WHOlives on sustainable well programs that are changing lives and motivating employees through community outreach.
- MagTraxminorListed as corporate partner supporting WHOlives mission.
- Hutch MountainminorEvent Headline Sponsor for WHOlives 2026 Gala. Provides propane generators ensuring peace of mind.
- Paramount TaxminorEvent Headline Sponsor for WHOlives 2026 Gala. Provides in-person and virtual tax preparation services.
- RedmondminorCorporate partner offering Real Salt, Re-Lyte, and natural products. Promo code 'cleanwater' available.
- Blue LogicminorCorporate partner providing whole home reverse osmosis systems for health-conscious consumers.
- AseaminorCorporate partner offering products supporting cellular health and wellness.
- Elite Business BrandingminorCorporate partner with Cutco gal donating 10% of orders to WHOlives.
- NuSkinminorListed as corporate partner supporting WHOlives mission.
- GWIC (Ground Water Interest Corporation)minorListed as corporate partner supporting WHOlives mission.
- Powder RiverminorListed as corporate partner supporting WHOlives mission.
- MicrosoftminorListed as corporate partner supporting WHOlives mission.
- SorensonminorListed as corporate partner supporting WHOlives mission.
- Village WaterminorListed as corporate partner supporting WHOlives mission.
- Young LivingminorListed as corporate partner supporting WHOlives mission.
- World ReliefminorListed as corporate partner supporting WHOlives mission.
- Wells of LifeminorListed as corporate partner supporting WHOlives mission.
- Go Conscious EarthminorHas enabled clean water for 22,000 indigenous people in Congo using Village Drill. Purchased two additional units for expansion.
- Truth x VisionminorUsing Village Drill in Ghana for poverty-fighting strategy. Has provided thousands with water.
- Clinton FoundationminorListed as corporate partner supporting WHOlives mission.
- SUUBI Community ProjectsminorDrilled nearly 200 wells in Uganda using Village Drill with minimal maintenance issues.
- TIFIEminorListed as corporate partner supporting WHOlives mission.
- Farm StewminorListed as corporate partner supporting WHOlives mission.
- ILPminorListed as corporate partner supporting WHOlives mission.
- Give Salt LakeminorListed as corporate partner supporting WHOlives mission.
- Baylor UniversityminorListed as corporate partner supporting WHOlives mission.
Scale indicators11 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights4 records
WHOlives competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- charity: water: Large WASH-focused nonprofit funding clean water access in developing countries. Directly comparable mission and donor-driven funding model, though it relies on partner drilling contractors rather than proprietary drill technology.
- Water For People: Nonprofit focused on sustainable water and sanitation access in developing countries. Closely aligned geographic focus, rural community model, and donor-funded program structure.
- Lifewater International: Faith-inspired WASH nonprofit drilling wells and building latrines in Africa and Asia. Comparable rural community focus, donor-supported drilling model, and community-ownership framing.
- Water4: Nonprofit that developed its own low-cost, locally-manufactured drilling rigs and trains African entrepreneurs to operate them. Closest analog to WHOlives on the proprietary-drill + entrepreneur training model.
- The Water Project: Nonprofit funding sustainable clean water access in sub-Saharan Africa via well drilling and community training. Similar donor-driven funding model and rural community impact metrics.
- Wine To Water: Nonprofit providing clean water access through drilling, filtration, and education in developing countries. Comparable grassroots fundraising, drilling operations, and Africa focus.
- Wells Bring Hope: Smaller WASH nonprofit drilling wells in Niger and West Africa, with explicit focus on women's and girls' time savings. Comparable single-issue water focus and donor-supported well funding.
Broad incumbents
- WaterAid: Established international WASH NGO operating across water, sanitation, and hygiene in 40+ countries. Comparable mission and global footprint, but is a larger, multi-program incumbent versus WHOlives' drill-anchored model.
- Engineers Without Borders: Larger nonprofit deploying engineering volunteers to deliver water and infrastructure projects in developing countries. Comparable international development mission and rural water infrastructure delivery, but a broader mandate beyond WASH.
Emerging players
- WaterLines: Smaller nonprofit focused on sustainable clean water solutions in East Africa. Comparable rural community focus and small-team model, with a smaller operational footprint than WHOlives.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
WHOlives social profiles
Digital presenceWHOlives financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
WHOlives leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles4 records
WHOlives funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
WHOlives 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 WHOlives
What does WHOlives do?
WHOlives is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that expands clean water access in developing regions by manufacturing, distributing, and deploying the patented Village Drill — a portable, human-powered and hybrid electric drilling system capable of reaching remote communities at a fraction of traditional drilling costs. The organization funds operations through charitable donations, sells Village Drill units to NGOs and entrepreneurs, runs a Community-Funded Loan Program for village-owned wells, and operates programs for FGM prevention, business training, and impact-mission travel.
Is WHOlives a public or private company?
WHOlives is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was WHOlives founded?
WHOlives was founded in -1.
Where is WHOlives based?
WHOlives is headquartered in South Jordan, United States, in the North America region.
How does WHOlives make money?
Six revenue lines are on record. Donations and Grants are the primary driver. The others are village Drill Sales, community-Funded Wells, impact Missions, corporate Giving Programs and merchandise Sales.
Who are WHOlives's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are charity: water, Water For People, Lifewater International, Water4, The Water Project, Wine To Water and Wells Bring Hope. Broad incumbents are WaterAid and Engineers Without Borders. WaterLines is listed as an emerging player.
Does WHOlives have an API?
No public API is recorded for WHOlives.
What industry is WHOlives in?
WHOlives's product category is Clean Water Access. 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 813 and its SIC code is 4941.