Water Education for Latino Leaders (WELL)

What Water Education for Latino Leaders (WELL) does

Water Education for Latino Leaders (WELL) is a Los Angeles-based nonprofit founded in 2012 that educates and trains local Latino elected officials, water sector professionals, and school district teams on California water policy, addressing the structural underrepresentation of Latinos in water governance (Latinos are 40% of California's population but hold approximately 13% of elected water positions). Its core products are the UnTapped Fellowship, a selective six-month program launched in 2018 that has graduated 120+ elected officials across 11 cohorts using a proprietary WELL Method of Inquiry and the Public Narrative framework (developed via Harvard Kennedy School's Marshall Ganz), and the more recently launched Educate 2 Lead (E2L) program delivered in partnership with the California African American Water Education Foundation (CAAWEF) for mid-level water and energy sector professionals. The organization also operates an annual statewide conference, the SoCal Water Summit, regional legislative water workshops led by UnTapped alumni, free live webinars, the Growing Water Smart program (in partnership with Sonoran Institute and Babbitt Center for Land and Water Policy), and the Watershed Learning Labs school greening initiative funded by Los Angeles County.

WELL's revenue model blends four streams: program participation fees (UnTapped Fellowship priced at $3,500 for city council/supervisors/school board members and $4,500 for water district directors; E2L subsidized to $1,500 from $2,000 via California Workforce Development Board support, with limited scholarships), Associate Memberships for partnering organizations, individual donations (via PayPal) and event/webinar sponsorships, and government grants including a $4 million state workforce development grant awarded as part of a four-member coalition (with CAAWEF, Jewish Vocational Services, and California Municipal Utilities Association). Distribution is event-driven and regionally concentrated in California, delivered through in-person sessions at multiple watersheds, application-based enrollment, and a website (latinosforwater.org) anchored newsletter, and Instagram presence.

The organization has built a coalition of strategic partnerships spanning UC Davis (joint Water Governance Study covering 688+ public water agencies), the California State Senate and Assembly (legislative briefings), the State Water Resources Control Board and Department of Water Resources, Claremont Graduate University (curriculum and leadership assessments), and the Water Replenishment District (facility hosting). As of 2026, WELL was recognized as a California Nonprofit of the Year by CalNonprofits, nominated by Senator María Elena Durazo, signaling durable political access. The organization has educated over 2,000 leaders cumulatively and continues to be led by founder Victor Griego.

Name

Water Education for Latino Leaders (WELL)

Legal name

Water Education for Latino Leaders (WELL)

Website

https://latinosforwater.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2012

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Water Education for Latino Leaders (WELL) is a Los Angeles-based nonprofit founded in 2012 that educates and trains local Latino elected officials and mid-level water sector professionals on California water policy through fellowship programs, summits, and workforce development initiatives.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Civic Leadership and Water Policy Education

NAICS

Educational Services (611), Educational Support Services (611710), Administration of Environmental Quality Programs (9241)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Environmental Education & Outreach (BPAGAGAH)

akta.pro secondary industry

Water Resources & Watershed Protection (BPAGAGAK)

Keywords

• Water policy education
• Civic leadership training
• Workforce development programs
• Elected official fellowships
• Watershed planning workshops

Headquarters

HQ city

Los Angeles

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Donations and Sponsorships: Individual donations via PayPal and organizational sponsorships through Associate Membership program. Organizations join as Associate Members to partner with WELL's educational efforts and gain access to Latino leaders for community partnerships.
2. Associate Membership Program: Annual memberships providing benefits to organizations seeking to partner with WELL and access Latino leaders. Includes webinar sponsorships and conference sponsorships.
3. Program Participation Fees: Fees charged for UnTapped Fellowship ($3,500 for city council/supervisors/school board; $4,500 for water district directors) and Educate 2 Lead ($2,000 per participant, subsidized to $1,500).
4. State and Grant Funding: Received $4 million state workforce development grant as part of a four-member statewide grant team to pilot workforce training programs. Additional grant funding through Los Angeles County's Safe, Clean Water Program for Watershed Learning Labs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Water Education for Latino Leaders (WELL) educates and trains local Latino elected officials on California water policy through its flagship six-month UnTapped Fellowship, the Educate 2 Lead (E2L) program for mid-level water and energy sector professionals, annual conferences, regional summits, legislative water workshops, and webinars. Programs combine policy content on water history, governance, economics, climate, and human rights with evidence-based leadership training (Public Narrative framework, WELL Method of Inquiry) delivered via in-person sessions at California watersheds.

Product overview

Water Education for Latino Leaders (WELL) is a nonprofit organization that educates and trains local Latino elected officials about California water policy. WELL operates as a program-centric organization offering multiple distinct educational products: the flagship UnTapped Fellowship Program (six-month leadership program for elected officials), Educate 2 Lead (E2L, leadership development for water/energy sector professionals), Annual Conferences, Webinars, Legislative Water Workshops, Roundtable Events/Water Summits, Growing Water Smart, and the California Water/Wastewater/Energy Workforce Development Program. Programs are complemented by the WELL UnTapped Network (WUN) alumni community. WELL functions as a convening and educational organization rather than a technology platform.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• WELL UnTapped Fellowship Program: A selective six-month leadership development program for local elected officials focused on water education and policy engagement, with graduates becoming part of the WELL UnTapped Network (WUN).
• Educate 2 Lead (E2L)
• Growing Water Smart
• WELL UnTapped Network (WUN)

Products and services

• UnTapped Fellowship Program Selective six-month leadership development program for local elected officials providing California water policy education, public narrative and leadership training, watershed tours, expert panels, and a capstone legislative water workshop. Graduates join the WELL UnTapped Network (WUN).
• Educate 2 Lead (E2L) Statewide leadership development program for mid-level managers in California's water and energy sectors covering self-awareness, inclusive leadership, and innovation, with curriculum supported by Claremont Graduate University's LeAD Labs assessments.
• Annual Statewide Conference

Quantifiable outcome

• 120 elected officials have graduated from WELL's UnTapped Fellowship Program
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and secondary.

• California African American Water Education Foundation (CAAWEF)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-founders of the Educate 2 Lead (E2L) program, a statewide leadership initiative for mid-level managers in California's water and energy sectors. The partnership addresses diversity, equity, and inclusion in water sector leadership by developing career pathways for underrepresented populations through entry, mid, and executive-level positions.
• University of California, DaviscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint research partnership conducting the landmark UC Davis/WELL Water Governance Study on representation, access, and transparency in California's water sector. Part I examined 688 Public Water Agencies; Part II examined Groundwater Sustainability Agencies, State Water Agencies, and regulatory boards.
• Sonoran InstitutecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to bring the Growing Water Smart program to California, helping local government leaders integrate water and land use planning for community sustainability and resilience. The program has conducted nearly 20 workshops in Colorado River Basin states.
• Babbitt Center for Land and Water PolicycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the Growing Water Smart program bringing water-land use planning integration to California communities. Provides expertise and resources for local governments to address water resource challenges.
• Union of Concerned ScientistssecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to develop the UnTapped Glossary featuring key terminology from the water industry. Dr. J. Pablo Ortiz-Partida serves as Science and Curriculum Advisor to WELL.
• African American Water Education FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMember of The Coalition (four-member team) for the California Water, Wastewater, and Energy Workforce Development Program. Coalition includes Jewish Vocational Services and California Municipal Utilities Association.
• Jewish Vocational ServicescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMember of The Coalition (four-member team) for the California Water, Wastewater, and Energy Workforce Development Program to develop career pathways for underrepresented populations.
• California Municipal Utilities AssociationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMember of The Coalition (four-member team) for the California Water, Wastewater, and Energy Workforce Development Program to develop career pathways for underrepresented populations in water and energy sectors.
• Water Replenishment DistrictsecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerOngoing collaboration including hosting E2L sessions at Albert Robles Center, hosting SoCal Water Summit, careers workshops, and volunteer support from E2L graduates.
• Claremont Graduate UniversitysecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partner providing faculty for Educate 2 Lead curriculum development. LeAD Labs provides leadership assessments for E2L participants.
• Council for Watershed HealthsecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Watershed Learning Labs Program providing watershed education and facilitating school greening initiatives with Los Angeles County school districts.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Hispanic Federation: National Latino advocacy and service organization promoting civic engagement and policy participation across many issue areas. Overlaps with WELL's mission to engage Latino leaders but focuses on broader social/economic policy, not water specifically.
• Sonoran Institute: Western-US water and land-use organization delivering the Growing Water Smart program — an active WELL partner. Comparable in convening role and water-land-use focus, with broader regional reach across the Colorado River Basin.
• Water Foundation: Philanthropy and grantmaking organization advancing integrated water resource management through funding and convening. Adjacent funding/convener role to WELL in California water policy space but operates at foundation scale rather than direct program delivery.

Direct peers

• Pacific Institute: Oakland-based water sustainability research organization producing policy research and convening practitioners on California water. Comparable in California water-policy focus and role as convener/researcher, but broader than Latino leadership specialty.
• GreenLatinos: National Latino environmental advocacy organization convening Latino leaders around climate, water, and conservation policy. Highly comparable to WELL on demographic focus and policy-education model, though operating at national rather than state level.
• WaterNow Alliance: Network of local government water leaders supporting sustainable water management through peer learning and policy education. Comparable on training local elected officials on water, though it does not center Latino representation.
• Water Education Foundation: California-based nonprofit that educates water resource professionals, policymakers, and the public about water issues. Closest parallel to WELL on mission and California focus, though it does not specialize in Latino elected-official leadership development.
• National Hispanic Environmental Council: Latino environmental policy and leadership organization advancing Hispanic participation in environmental decision-making. Direct overlap with WELL's mission of training Latino leaders on environmental/water issues.

Others

• Babbitt Center for Land and Water Policy: Partner of WELL on the Growing Water Smart initiative, focused on integrating land and water planning for local governments. Ecosystem partner rather than competitor, providing curriculum and workshop infrastructure.

Emerging players

• Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute: National Latino leadership development organization offering fellowships, internships, and policy programs for young Hispanic leaders. Comparable on Latino leadership development mission but focused on federal-level and broader leadership pipelines rather than state water policy.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/p/DXpqGerFDIH

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 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 Water Education for Latino Leaders (WELL)