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16563 PARK LANE CIR
Los Angeles CA 90049-1184
Los Angeles CA | IRS ruling year: 2010 | EIN: 27-3123341
Wells Bring Hope is a nonprofit committed to drilling wells to bring safe water and sanitation to
rural villagers in Niger, West Africa, one of the poorest countries ... (More)
Wells Bring Hope is a nonprofit committed to drilling wells to bring safe water and sanitation to
rural villagers in Niger, West Africa, one of the poorest countries in the world. Since its
inception in 2008, WBH has funded over 760 wells, delivering safe water to more than
760,000 people. WBH is a volunteer-driven organization, and 100% of all donations go directly to funding wells. (Less)
Great
This charity's score is 100%, earning it a Four-Star rating. If this organization aligns with your passions and values, you can give with confidence.
This overall score is calculated from multiple beacon scores: 85% Accountability & Finance, 10% Leadership & Adaptability, 5% Culture & Community. Learn more about our criteria and methodology.
We recognize that not all metrics and beacons equally predict a charity’s success. The percentage each beacon contributes to the organization’s overall rating depends on the number of beacons an organization has earned.
Use the tool below to select different beacons to see how the weighting shifts when only one, two, or three beacons are earned.
Rating histories are available for a growing number of rated organizations. Check back later to see if this organization has a rating history!
The IRS is significantly delayed in processing nonprofits' annual tax filings (Forms 990). As a result, the Accountability & Finance score for Wells Bring Hope is outdated and the overall rating may not be representative of its current operations. Please check with the charity directly for any questions you may have.
Wells Bring Hope has earned a 100% for the Accountability & Finance beacon. See the metrics below for more information.
This beacon provides an assessment of a charity's financial health (financial efficiency, sustainability, and trustworthiness) and its commitment to governance practices and policies.
This Accountability & Finance score represents IRS Form 990 data up until FY 2020, which is the most recent Form 990 currently available to us.
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Full Credit
Partial Credit
No Credit
Not ApplicableBoard Composition - 9/9 - 35/35 ptsBoard Composition - 9/9 - 35/35 pts
Charity Navigator looks for at least 3 board members, with more than 50% of those members identified as independent (not salaried).
The presence of an independent governing body is strongly recommended by many industry professionals to allow for full deliberation and diversity of thinking on governance and other organizational matters.
Source: IRS Form 990
Independent Audit or Financial Review - N/A - 0/0 ptsIndependent Audit or Financial Review - N/A - 0/0 pts
An Audit, Review, or Compilation provides important information about financial accountability and accuracy. Organizations are scored based on their Total Revenue Amount:
| Total Revenue Amount | Expectation to Receive Credit |
|---|---|
| $1 million or higher | Expected to complete an audit |
| $500,000 - $1 million | Expected to complete an audit, review, or compilation |
| Less than $500,000 | No expectation (removed from scoring methodology) |
Source: IRS Form 990
Conflict of Interest Policy - Listed - 5/5 ptsConflict of Interest Policy - Listed - 5/5 pts
Charity Navigator looks for the existence of a conflict of interest policy on the Form 990 as an accountability and transparency measure.
This policy protects the organization and by extension those it serves, when it is considering entering into a transaction that may benefit the private interest of an officer, director and/or key employee of the organization.
Source: IRS Form 990
Board Meeting Minutes - Documented - 5/5 ptsBoard Meeting Minutes - Documented - 5/5 pts
Charity Navigator looks to confirm on the Form 990 that the organization has this process in place as an accountability and transparency measure.
An official record of the events that take place during a board meeting ensures that a contemporaneous document exists for future reference.
Source: IRS Form 990
Document Retention and Destruction - Listed - 5/5 ptsDocument Retention and Destruction - Listed - 5/5 pts
Charity Navigator looks for the existence of a document retention and destruction policy per the Form 990 as an accountability and transparency measure.
This policy establishes guidelines for the handling, backing up, archiving and destruction of documents. These guidelines foster good record keeping procedures that promote data integrity.
Source: IRS Form 990
Whistleblower Policy - Listed - 5/5 ptsWhistleblower Policy - Listed - 5/5 pts
Charity Navigator looks for the existence of a whistleblower policy per the Form 990 as an accountability and transparency measure.
This policy outlines procedures for handling employee complaints, as well as a confidential way for employees to report financial or other types of mismanagement.
Source: IRS Form 990
Website - Listed - 5/5 ptsWebsite - Listed - 5/5 pts
Charity Navigator looks for a website on the Form 990 as an accountability and transparency metric.
Nonprofits act in the public trust and reporting publicly on activities is an important component.
Source: IRS Form 990
Full CreditPartial CreditNo CreditNot ApplicableLiabilities to Assets Ratio - 0.00% - 25/25 ptsLiabilities to Assets Ratio - 0.00% - 25/25 pts
The Liabilities to Assets Ratio is determined by Total Liabilities divided by Total Assets (most recent 990). This ratio is an indicator of an organization’s solvency and/or long-term sustainability.
| Liabilities to Assets Ratio | Amount of Credit Received |
|---|---|
| Less than 50% | Full Credit |
| 50% - 59.9% | Partial Credit |
| 60% or more | No Credit |
Source: IRS Form 990
Program Expense Ratio - 79.45% - 25/25 ptsProgram Expense Ratio - 79.45% - 25/25 pts
The Program Expense Ratio is determined by Program Expenses divided by Total Expense (average of most recent three 990s). This measure reflects the percent of its total expenses a charity spends on the programs and services it exists to deliver.
| Program Expense Percentage | Amount of Credit Received |
|---|---|
| 70% or higher | Full Credit |
| 60% - 69.9% | Partial Credit |
| 50% - 59.9% | Zero Points for Program Expense Score |
| Below 50% | Zero Points for Both Program Expense AND Liabilities to Assets Scores |
Source: IRS Form 990
This chart displays the trend of revenue and expenses over the past several years for this organization, as reported on their IRS Form 990.
Presented here are up to five of this organization's highest compensated employees. This compensation data includes salary, cash bonuses, and expense accounts and is displayed exactly how it is reported to the IRS. The amounts do not include nontaxable benefits, deferred compensation, or other amounts not reported on Form W-2. In some cases, these amounts may include compensation from related organizations. Read the IRS policies for compensation reporting
Source: IRS Form 990 (page 7), filing year 2020
Below are some key data points from the Exempt Organization IRS Business Master File (BMF) for this organization. Learn more about the BMF on the IRS website
Activities:
Activity data not reported from the IRS
Foundation Status:
Organization which receives a substantial part of its support from a governmental unit or the general public 170(b)(1)(A)(vi) (BMF foundation code: 15)
Affiliation:
Independent - the organization is an independent organization or an independent auxiliary (i.e., not affiliated with a National, Regional, or Geographic grouping of organizations). (BMF affiliation code: 3)
The Form 990 is a document that nonprofit organizations file with the IRS annually. We leverage finance and accountability data from it to form Encompass ratings. Click here to search for this organization's Forms 990 on the IRS website (if any are available). Simply enter the organization's name (Wells Bring Hope) or EIN (273123341) in the 'Search Term' field.
This organization was impacted by COVID-19 in a way that effected their financial health in 2020. This normally would have reduced their star rating. Due to the unprecedented nature of the pandemic, we give charities such as this one the opportunity to share the story of COVID's impact on them, and doing this pauses our revision of their rating. Charities may submit their own pandemic responses through their nonprofit portal.
Wells Bring Hope reported being impacted by COVID-19 in the following ways:
Program Delivery
Fundraising Capacity
Revenue
How COVID-19 impacted the organization's operations financially:
Our fundraising capacity was impacted both by the realities of the pandemic and its effect on the economy. Many of our donors suffered business reversals or lost jobs, which impacted their ability to make charitable contributions. Two of our largest donors had their businesses completely shut down, so their combined commitment to us dropped by over $110,000 from 2019 to 2020. Social distancing restrictions and concern for the health of our donors and volunteers meant that we had to cancel our annual fundraiser, which is our single largest revenue source in a normal year. We did move to a virtual fundraiser, but it was much less profitable, bringing in over $100,000 less than in 2019. In addition, our operating expense underwriters cut their contribution by $20,000.
How COVID-19 impacted the organization's delivery of programs:
Operations on the ground in Niger, West Africa, the only country that we work in, were impacted by the pandemic as well. Social distancing restrictions limited the number of staff who could travel to the villages, and savings group training was temporarily put on hold or done remotely. More significantly, border closures made it very difficult to get the hand pumps necessary to complete the wells, and replacement parts for drilling rigs were impossible to obtain. As a result, the number of wells that we were able to drill and cap in 2019 was significantly reduced compared to previous years. Fortunately, the border closures and trade restrictions have eased, and our partners on the ground now have everything they need and have returned to normal operations. They have almost caught up on their drilling schedule.
How this organization adapted to changing conditions caused by COVID-19:
As soon as the severity of the pandemic became clear, we began to adapt our annual fundraiser to an online event. We restructured ticket prices, rethought our program, and reached out to a highly-acclaimed Nigerien singer who sent us a performance to share with our donors. The Mayor of Los Angeles also sent a video greeting. We also found ourselves inundated with high school students who were looking for virtual volunteering opportunities, so we developed a community outreach training program for them that we call the Wells Bring Hope Ambassadors Program. Our founder and president developed an 8-week program of weekly hour-long sessions and a culminating video project. The program was very popular, and we have now run it a total of three times with a fourth session planned for August. Finally, we held a virtual panel discussion titled Female Achievement and Inequity Through a Global Lens. We made this available at no cost and hope to expand it into a series.
Innovations the organization intends to continue permanently after the pandemic:
There are quite a few changes that we intend to keep in place in a post-COVID world. First is our Ambassadors program. We intend to offer sessions two to three times a year. We are also in the process of developing a partner program wherein graduates of the Ambassadors program can go on to become leaders of Wells Bring Hope chapters or clubs in their own communities. We loved that having a virtual event allowed us to include supporters from all across the country as well as those for whom a ticket to our annual fundraiser is cost prohibitive. We plan to include some virtual element in all future fundraisers, so that we can continue to be inclusive of all of our supporters.
Not Currently Scored
Wells Bring Hope cannot currently be evaluated by our Impact & Results methodology because either (A) it is eligible, but we have not yet received data; (B) we have not yet developed an algorithm to estimate its programmatic impact; (C) its programs are not direct services; or (D) it is not heavily reliant on contributions from individual donors.
Note: The absence of a score does not indicate a positive or negative assessment, it only indicates that we have not yet evaluated the organization.
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Wells Bring Hope reported its largest program on its FY 2020 Form 990 as:
Spent in most recent FY
Percent of program expenses
DRILLING WELLS IN NIGER, WEST AFRICA, EDUCATING VILLAGERS ON SANITATION & HYGIENE, WELL MAINTENANCE, DRIP FARMING. ALSO EDUCATING WOMEN ON HOW TO START THEIR OWN SMALL BUSINESSES
Wells Bring Hope has earned a 100% for the Culture & Community beacon. See the metrics below for more information.
This beacon provides an assessment of the organization's culture and connectedness to the community it serves.
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Full CreditPartial CreditNo CreditNot ApplicableConstituent Feedback - Data Available - 100/100 ptsConstituent Feedback - Data Available - 100/100 pts
100% of beacon score
This organization reported that it is collecting feedback from the constituents and/or communities it serves. Charity Navigator believes nonprofit organizations that engage in inclusive practices, such as collecting feedback from the people and communities they serve, may be more effective.
Who are the people you serve with your mission? Describe briefly.
We serve the people who reside in rural villages in Niger, West Africa, those who do not have access to safe, clean water. Women and girls as young as seven, walk 4-6 miles every day to find water, water that is often contaminated. One out of seven children dies in rural Niger, from contaminated water. We serve people who face increasingly frequent famines. When a well is drilled in a village, child mortality is reduced by upwards of 70%. Girls have time to attend school and women can work and earn money. When a famine comes, the crops they grow enable them to survive.
How is your organization collecting feedback from the people you serve?
Focus groups or interviews (by phone or in person)
How is your organization using feedback from the people you serve?
To make fundamental changes to our programs and/or operations, To inform the development of new programs/projects
With whom does your organization share the feedback you got from the people you serve?
Our staff, Our board, Our funders
How has asking for feedback from the people you serve changed your relationship with them or shifted power - over decisions, resources, rules or in other ways - to them?
Asking for feedback from the women and girls we serve has clearly shifted power to them. When women knew that they were heard, that they were given training to start their own small businesses, power was shifted from only men to both women and men. As women who contributed to the economic well-being of their families, they shared in decision-making regarding monetary expenditures. The village chief and elders viewed women in a different light, acknowledging their contribution to improving life in the village. Women are no longer as dependent as they once were, and they are not powerless the way they were before they began working and earning money. Men no longer “made the rules,” nor did they have all the power within the family.
What challenges does your organization face in collecting feedback from the people you serve?
Other means
Briefly describe a recent change that your organization made in response to feedback from the people you serve.
Early on, we realized that it was not enough to give clean water; women wanted to work and earn money but needed education. We established a savings group program to accomplish this. Over time, we heard that the hand pump was laborious to use. Changing the system was economically infeasible until September 2021, when we began installing cost efficient solar-powered water systems. This crucial change has helped alleviate the daily burden of women in getting water because now they simply have to turn on a tap. In 2019, we learned that there were many health clinics in rural Niger with no access to any water. Women in labor had to carry water for their delivery. Our mission expanded to include one solar-powered water project for a health clinic a year.
Equity Practices - No Data Available - UnscoredEquity Practices - No Data Available - Unscored
This organization has not provided information regarding the Equity Practices it is presently implementing. As such, the organization has not earned a score on this metric. Charity Navigator believes nonprofit organizations implementing effective equity policies and practices can enhance a nonprofit's decision-making, staff motivation, innovation, and effectiveness.
Wells Bring Hope has earned a 100% for the Leadership & Adaptability beacon. See the metrics below for more information.
This beacon provides an assessment of the organization's leadership capacity, strategic thinking and planning, and ability to innovate or respond to changes in constituent demand/need or other relevant social and economic conditions to achieve the organization's mission.
Learn more
Full CreditPartial CreditNo CreditNot ApplicableMission - 10/10 ptsMission - 10/10 pts
The nonprofit organization presents evidence of strategic thinking through articulating the organization's mission
Wells Bring Hope is committed to drilling wells to bring safe water and sanitation to rural villages in Niger, West Africa, the poorest country in the world.
Vision - 10/10 ptsVision - 10/10 pts
The nonprofit organization presents evidence of strategic thinking through articulating the organization’s vision.
We are working toward a Niger where everyone has access to safe water, where girls go to school, and women have the freedom to pursue income-generating work.
Source: Nonprofit submitted responses
Goals - 20/20 ptsGoals - 20/20 pts
The nonprofit organization presents evidence of strategic thinking and goal setting through sharing their most important strategic goals.
Goal One: Transition from hand pump wells to fully mechanized, solar-powered wells
Goal Type: New program(s) based on observed changes in needs among our constituencies/communities served.
Goal Two: Add more large-scale, water projects at health care facilities that lack access to running water
Goal Type: Grow, expand, scale or increase access to the existing programs and services.
Goal Three: Attract new corporate partnerrs
Goal Type: Invest in the capacity of our organization (financial, management, technical, etc.).
Leadership Development - 15/15 ptsLeadership Development - 15/15 pts
The nonprofit provides evidence of investment in leadership development
As a volunteer-led organization, we have always been committed to developing the leadership potential of all of our volunteers, particularly our team managers. At the beginning of the pandemic, we initiated a team manager development program wherein we meet quarterly with all of our team managers to discuss team building and management issues. We recommended that our team managers stay in close touch with their team members, given changes that might have occurred in both their work life and their mental state. Our goal was flexibility, acknowledging that our expectations of volunteer work output might have to shift to accommodate their changing needs and work patterns. Barbara has also been holding monthly meetings with the grant team to help them develop their leadership abilities. Since the beginning of this effort, the team members have developed a greater sense of confidence, feel a greater connection to our cause, and are working more closely with one another.
Mobilizing for Mission - 15/15 ptsMobilizing for Mission - 15/15 pts
The nonprofit provides evidence of leadership through focusing externally and mobilizing resources for the mission.
Strategic Partnerships
Thought Leadership
Raising Awareness
Community Building
Wells Bring Hope initiated its 8-week Ambassadors Program to train high school and college students in community outreach after receiving many volunteer requests at the start of the pandemic. We continue to work with graduates as they start WBH clubs/chapters in their school and communities. Our Board Members do outreach in their professional and personal communities. Ida Harding has spoken at Project Management International conferences and published in the PMI magazine. Treasurer Lawrence Johnson works closely with Rotary. Director of Public Relations, Todd Bendjen seeks out speaking opportunities for our president, which have included speaking to community groups via Zoom, participating in panel discussions at UCLA, Santa Monica College, & Marymount, as well as appearing on podcasts and radio shows. Prior to the pandemic, she also spoke at schools to educate students about the water crisis with emphasis on the hardship it causes for women and girls.
Adaptability Story - 30/30 ptsAdaptability Story - 30/30 pts
The nonprofit has an opportunity to tell the story of how the organization adapted to tremendous external changes in the last year.
The most significant external changes we faced in the last year can be traced back to the pandemic. A handful of our largest donors faced serious business reversals and other forms of economic uncertainty, which resulted in a significant drop in our revenue. We knew donations would be down, so we decided to view 2020 as a building year. We put together a panel on gender equity and began offering a community outreach training program for high school and college students as a way to grow our audience. We also converted our annual fundraiser from a live event to a virtual one. We planned an exciting Zoom event that gave donors the opportunity to engage their friends & family and allowed us to involve donors and supporters from across the country. We featured Grammy-winning musician, Bombino, who sang to us from Niger. Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti conveyed his support via a video that encouraged people to donate. Our revenue from the event ended up surpassing our expectations.
Impact & Results
Accountability & Finance
Culture & Community
Leadership & Adaptability
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