What FONDATION ONE DROP does

One Drop Foundation is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization founded in 2007 by Cirque du Soleil creator Guy Laliberté and headquartered in Montreal, Canada, with a U.S. registered entity. The foundation designs and implements water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) programs for underserved communities, applying a proprietary methodology trademarked as 'Social Art for Behaviour Change' (SABC) and 'A·B·C for Sustainability.' As of the latest reporting, One Drop has executed 29 projects across 14 countries in Latin America, Africa, Asia, and Indigenous communities in Canada, reaching approximately 1 million people with improved household water access, 1 million with improved healthcare-facility WASH, and 67,000 with improved school WASH. The signature regional initiative is the Lazos de Agua Program in Latin America and the Caribbean, which targets 1 million people by 2030 through a multi-stakeholder alliance.

One Drop has no commercial revenue model — it operates as a donation-funded foundation. Revenue is generated from five streams: individual donations, corporate and foundation grants, gala events and auctions (One Night for One Drop, La Cuvée One Drop, Art for One Drop), poker-tournament initiatives (Big One for One Drop with the World Series of Poker and World Poker Tour), and multi-stakeholder program funding. The foundation has raised over $25 million from WSOP-linked poker events since 2012, with single events such as One Night for One Drop 2018 ($8.8 million), the 2023 Laffite LM1 hypercar auction ($2.6 million), and the 2025 LA Gala ($3+ million) generating significant sums at single occasions. Distribution occurs through direct project implementation with local partners in target geographies, online donation portals, signature events in Las Vegas, Paris, Toronto, Monaco, and Los Angeles, and corporate CSR partnerships.

The organization is led by President & CEO Ernenek Duran (appointed 2023), with a team of approximately 11–50 professionals across international development, project management, behavior-change science, events, communications, and finance. Strategic partnerships anchor both fundraising and program delivery, including the World Series of Poker (since 2012), World Poker Tour (2023), Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation (since 2015), Ovivo, METRO, Water for People, WASRAG, and Cirque du Soleil. Recognition includes the UN 'Water for Life' Best Practices Award (2015), an International Water Association Award (2013), and Charity Intelligence top-impact charity listings (2018, 2019).

Name

FONDATION ONE DROP

Legal name

One Drop Foundation

Website

https://onedrop.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2007

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

One Drop Foundation is a Montreal-based 501(c)(3) charity founded in 2007 that delivers water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) programs to underserved communities in 14 countries using its trademarked Social Art for Behaviour Change methodology, funded by donations, corporate grants, and signature fundraising events.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

International Development — Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) Services

NAICS

Grantmaking Foundations (813211), Environment, Conservation and Wildlife Organizations (813312), Voluntary Health Organizations (813212)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Environmental & Climate Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAM)

akta.pro secondary industries

Community Health, Prevention & Health Education (BPAGACAC), Climate Change Mitigation & Adaptation (BPAGAGAF), Social Justice & Human Rights Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAN)

Keywords

• Water sanitation hygiene
• WASH project implementation
• Behavior change methodology
• Charitable fundraising events
• International development programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Montreal

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: Direct donations from individuals supporting water access initiatives globally
2. Corporate Partnerships: Funding and support from corporations and foundations through the partner network
3. Gala Events and Auctions: Signature fundraising events including One Night for One Drop (Las Vegas), La Cuvée One Drop (wine auctions with Cirque du Soleil, Ducasse Paris, MGM Resorts), and Art for One Drop contemporary art auctions. The 2023 One Night for One Drop sold the Laffite LM1 Hypercar for $2.6 million.
4. Poker Tournament Initiatives: Partnership with World Poker Tour and World Series of Poker. Over $25 million raised since 2012 through events like 'Big One for One Drop' ($1,000,000 buy-in) and 'The Big Deal for One Drop' at Resorts World Las Vegas.
5. Foundation Grants: Funding from other foundations including Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation, and multi-stakeholder alliances for Latin America programs

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels11 records

Core offering

One Drop Foundation designs, funds, and implements sustainable water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) projects for vulnerable communities across 14 countries, using its proprietary Social Art for Behaviour Change (SABC) methodology to drive lasting behavior change. The foundation raises funds through individual donations, corporate and foundation grants, and high-profile signature events (One Night for One Drop, Walk for Water, La Cuvée One Drop, Art for One Drop, Big Deal for One Drop poker tournaments), and delivers its impact through direct project implementation and multi-stakeholder alliances such as the Lazos de Agua Program in Latin America.

Product overview

One Drop Foundation is a charitable organization that implements a comprehensive portfolio of water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) programs and fundraising initiatives globally. The organization's core methodology is Social Art for Behaviour Change (SABC), an innovative approach that uses artistic interventions to inspire sustainable behavior change. This methodology is operationalized through the Lazos de Agua Program in Latin America and delivered as a service offering called Matter of Art. One Drop raises funds through signature events including One Night for One Drop (imagined by Cirque du Soleil), Walk for Water, La Cuvée One Drop (wine auction), Big Deal for One Drop (charity poker), and Art for One Drop (contemporary art auction). The foundation also runs the Women at the Source initiative to empower women in water-access communities. The organization has implemented 29 projects in 14 countries since 2007.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Matter of Art: A One Drop service offering that uses social art to drive behavior change and enhance project impact.
• Lazos de Agua Program
• Women at the Source
• Social Art for Behaviour Change (SABC)

Products and services

• Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) Projects Direct design and implementation of sustainable water, sanitation, and hygiene projects in 14 countries across Latin America, Africa, Asia, and Indigenous communities in Canada, delivered in partnership with local NGOs, governments, and communities.
• Lazos de Agua Program Multi-country regional initiative across Latin America and the Caribbean combining WASH infrastructure, behavior change, social art, and blended finance to enable sustainable water services for 1 million people by 2030.
• Matter of Art One Drop service offering that applies social art methodologies to drive behavior change and enhance project impact, providing partner organizations with expertise in artistic approaches for social change outcomes.
• Women at the Source Initiative focused on empowering women as change agents in water-access communities, recognizing that women are disproportionately affected by water scarcity and are key to sustainable solutions.
• One Night for One Drop Annual high-profile charity event imagined by Cirque du Soleil featuring live auctions, performances, and celebrity appearances to raise funds and awareness for One Drop's global water access mission.
• Walk for Water Annual fundraising walk event that raises awareness and funds for global safe water access; participants walk to simulate the distance many people travel daily to collect water.
• La Cuvée One Drop Philanthropic wine auction event partnership with Cirque du Soleil, MGM Resorts, and Maison Ducasse Paris featuring exceptional wine and gastronomy experiences to raise funds for One Drop's water mission.
• Art for One Drop Contemporary art auction initiative featuring works from notable artists to raise funds for One Drop's safe water initiatives globally.
• Big Deal for One Drop (Charity Poker) Charity poker tournament held at Resorts World Las Vegas during Race Week and at WSOP/WPT venues, part of One Drop's poker initiative that has raised over $25 million since 2012.

Quantifiable outcome

• 1 million people gained improved access to water services for their households
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Feature1 record

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered minor, flagship, core and major.

• Bored & ThirstyminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 February 2024Partnership to help promote and fund access to safe water around the world through brand collaboration.
• World Poker Tour (WPT)flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 February 2023Partnership to elevate charity poker events. Includes 'Big One for One Drop' with $1,000,000 buy-in at WPT World Championship and WPT tournaments in Jeju, South Korea with Alpha8 events for One Drop.
• HelvetascoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 March 2021Swiss development organization partnership for sustainable water access and climate resilience project in Madagascar (Telomiova).
• OvivocoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021Water treatment technology company partnership renewed in 2021 and 2022 for continued and impactful WASH programming support.
• METROcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019Global wholesaler partnership to provide safe water access and sanitation for more than 250,000 people in India through WASH projects.
• Lazos de Agua Program PartnerscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2016Multi-stakeholder alliance launched in 2016 to bring safe water access to Latin America. Partners include regional conveners, local NGOs, governments, and private sector. Target: 1 million people by 2030.
• Prince Albert II of Monaco FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2015Partnership for sustainable water access initiatives. Collaborated on Time Counts Philanthropic Initiative with Phillips watch auction raising over $2 million in 2020. Also partnered on Madagascar Telomiova project.
• Formula EmajorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2014Partnership to raise awareness and funds for water access. 2014-2015 season helped raise over $1 million USD. Leveraged sustainability messaging at electric racing events.
• Water for PeoplemajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2014Partnership to develop sustainable programming to end water and sanitation poverty through combined organizational expertise.
• WASRAGmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2014Launched '2020 Water Partnership' to provide sustainable water and sanitation access to communities in need on three continents with an investment of $20 million.
• World Series of Poker (WSOP)flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2012Long-standing partnership since 2012. Poker community has raised over $25 million through WSOP events. Features 'Big One for One Drop' million-dollar buy-in tournament.
• Cirque du Soleil Entertainment GroupflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-founder Guy Laliberté's company creates signature 'One Night for One Drop' performances. Partnership also includes 'A Swing for One Drop' golf event with Presidents Cup and Cirque du Soleil special broadcasts.
• Resorts World Las VegasmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerHost venue for 'The Big Deal for One Drop' charity poker tournament during Race Week 2024 and 2025.
• Wynn Las VegasmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerHost venue for WPT World Championship Big One for One Drop events and Wynn Summer Classic One Drop events.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Others

• International Water Association: Global network of water professionals that has formally recognized One Drop. Relevant as ecosystem/peer network rather than a fundraising competitor; potential partnership channel for technical credibility.

Direct peers

• Water.org: Founded by Matt Damon and Gary White, Water.org combines direct WASH program funding with market-based financing solutions. Comparable in celebrity-founder brand equity and global WASH mission.
• Living Water International: Faith-based nonprofit implementing sustainable WASH programs in Africa, Latin America, and Asia. Comparable geographic scope and WASH project model, though different funder base.
• charity: water: US-based nonprofit funding clean water projects in developing countries with strong digital fundraising, donor storytelling, and brand-driven campaigns — directly comparable donor-facing model to One Drop.
• WaterAid: Global nonprofit focused exclusively on WASH (water, sanitation, hygiene) access in low-income countries. Most direct functional peer to One Drop in mission, geographic reach, and program design.
• Water For People: International WASH nonprofit working in Latin America, Africa, and Asia with monitoring-based 'Everyone Forever' model. Named as a One Drop partner; highly comparable in geographic focus and donor base.

Broad incumbents

• CARE International: Major humanitarian INGOs running WASH alongside health, education, and livelihoods. Competes with One Drop for institutional donors and corporate partnerships at the intersection of WASH and women's empowerment.
• Engineers Without Borders: Larger development organization with WASH and broader international development programs. Comparable as a fundraising competitor for corporate CSR and foundation grants, though broader mission scope.

Regional players

• WaterAid Canada: Canadian arm of WaterAid. Directly comparable Canadian-registered WASH charity competing for the same corporate and individual donor dollars in One Drop's home market.
• WaterCan: Canadian nonprofit (now WaterAid Canada-adjacent) historically focused on WASH in Africa. Comparable as a Canada-based WASH charity competing for the same donor and corporate CSR market.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/twitter
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/onedropfoundation
• Facebookfacebook.com/ONE.DROP.Foundation
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/one-drop
• Instagraminstagram.com/1dropwater
• TikToktiktok.com/@onedropfoundation

Compliance2 records

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 FONDATION ONE DROP