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International : Development and Relief Services

Water.org

Providing access to safe water and sanitation

four stars

96.85

117 West 20th Street Suite 203
Kansas City, MO 64108
tel: (816) 877-8400   Web Site
EIN: 58-2060131

Board Leadership
Jennifer Schorsch
President

CEO
Gary White
CEO and Co-Founder

 
 
  Score
(out of 100) 		Rating
Overall Score & Rating 96.85 four stars
  Financial 95.55 four stars
  Accountability & Transparency 100.00 four stars
This rating was published 08/01/2017 and includes data from FY2016, the most recent 990 received at that time.
Why isn't this based on more recent data?

Co-founded by Gary White and Matt Damon, Water.org has transformed hundreds of communities in Africa, South Asia, and Central America by providing access to safe water and sanitation. Water.org traces its roots back to the founding of WaterPartners in 1990. In July 2009, WaterPartners merged with H2O Africa, resulting in the launch of Water.org. Water.org works with local partners to deliver innovative solutions for long-term success. Its microfinance-based WaterCredit Initiative is pioneering sustainable giving in the sector. All of the projects Water.org supports are self-sustaining, with organizational and financial structures in place to allow communities to independently operate and maintain them. Projects have an active water committee governing the operation of the water system, and users paying a water bill to cover the costs of operating and maintaining the water system.

Co-founded by Gary White and Matt Damon, Water.org has transformed hundreds of communities in Africa, South Asia, and Central America by providing access to safe water and sanitation. Water.org traces its roots back to the founding of WaterPartners in 1990. In July 2009, WaterPartners merged with H2O Africa, resulting in the launch of Water.org. Water.org works with local partners to deliver innovative solutions for long-term success. Its microfinance-based WaterCredit Initiative is pioneering sustainable giving in the sector. All of the projects Water.org supports are self-sustaining, with organizational and financial structures in place to allow communities to independently operate and maintain them. Projects have an active water committee governing the operation of the water system, and users paying a water bill to cover the costs of operating and maintaining the water system.

Learn more about how we calculate the overall score and rating.

Financial

four stars

95.55

Accountability & Transparency

four stars

100.00

This rating was published 08/01/2017 and includes data from FY2016, the most recent 990 received at that time.
Why isn't this based on more recent data?
Overall Rating Chart
  Program Expenses
(Percent of the charity's total expenses spent on the programs
and services it delivers)		 78.2%
  Administrative Expenses 13.2%
  Fundraising Expenses 8.5%
  Fundraising Efficiency $0.06
  Working Capital Ratio (years) 1.55
  Program Expenses Growth 29.6%
  Liabilities to Assets 6.7%
All data for Financial Performance Metrics calculations was provided by Water.org on recent 990s filed with the IRS.
All data for Financial Performance Metrics calculations was provided by Water.org on recent 990s filed with the IRS.
Information Provided on the Form 990  
  Independent Voting Board Members
  No Material diversion of assets
  Audited financials prepared by independent accountant
  Does Not Provide Loan(s) to or Receive Loan(s) From related parties
  Documents Board Meeting Minutes
  Provided copy of Form 990 to organization's governing body in advance of filing
  Conflict of Interest Policy
  Whistleblower Policy
  Records Retention and Destruction Policy
  CEO listed with salary
  Process for determining CEO compensation
  Board Listed / Board Members Not Compensated
Is the following information easily accessible on the charity's website?  
  Donor Privacy Policy
  Board Members Listed
  Audited Financials
  Form 990
  Key staff listed

Highly Rated

Charity Name & State Overall Score Overall Rating
Water.org (MO) 96.85 four stars
Bridges to Prosperity (CO) 93.98 four stars
BrazilFoundation (NY) 87.62 three stars
Akshaya Patra USA (MA) 95.19 four stars
buildOn (CT) 93.64 four stars

Compare These Charities (Highly Rated)

REVENUE  
Contributions  
   Contributions, Gifts & Grants $15,723,525
   Federated Campaigns $189,992
   Membership Dues $0
   Fundraising Events $0
   Related Organizations $0
   Government Grants $0
Total Contributions $15,913,517
   Program Service Revenue $0
Total Primary Revenue $15,913,517
   Other Revenue $497,727
TOTAL REVENUE $16,411,244
   
EXPENSES  
   Program Expenses $14,788,916
   Administrative Expenses $2,005,874
   Fundraising Expenses $983,283
TOTAL FUNCTIONAL EXPENSES $17,778,073
   
Payments to Affiliates $0
Excess (or Deficit) for the year $-1,366,829
   
Net Assets $21,929,310

Program names and associated costs are listed for the top programs as reported on the charity's most recently filed Form 990. The top programs displayed will include the largest three programs, or those programs covering at least 60% of the charity's total expenses, whichever comes first.

Program Name Amount Spent % of Program Expenses
Water Programs and Water Credit Initiative $11,817,506 79.9%
Advocacy And Outreach $1,915,381 13.0%
New Ventures $1,056,029 7.1%

Ratings History
Water.org has received 8 consecutive 4-star ratings from Charity Navigator.

Form 990 FYE Date Published Overall Score Overall Rating
CN 2.1
2016-09 08/01/2017 96.85 four stars
2015-09 08/01/2016 93.61 four stars
2014-09 06/01/2016 93.36 four stars
 
CN 2.0
2014-09 11/01/2015 95.38 four stars
2013-09 10/01/2014 96.33 four stars
2012-09 09/01/2013 91.90 four stars
2011-09 07/01/2012 94.72 four stars
2010-09 02/01/2012 94.83 four stars
2009-09 09/20/2011 96.83 four stars
 
CN 1.0
2009-09 11/01/2010 95.51 four stars
2008-09 10/01/2009 89.61 three stars
2007-09 12/01/2008 87.20 three stars
2006-09 11/01/2007 89.35 three stars
2005-09 12/01/2006 92.70 four stars
2004-09 07/01/2005 87.61 three stars

The data displayed on this tab is provided by the IRS in the form of Publication 78 and the Business Master File (BMF).

EIN 58-2060131
Name in IRS Master File WATER ORG INC
NTEE Code Q30
NTEE Classification International Development, Relief Services
NTEE Type International, Foreign Affairs and National Security
Classification Charitable Organization
Subsection 501(c)(3)  (View the list of codes)
Activities (927) Fundraising
(602) Gifts, grants, or loans to other organizations
Foundation Status Organization which receives a substantial part of its support from a governmental unit or the general public   170(b)(1)(A)(vi)
Deductibility Contributions are deductible
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).
Group Name [Not Applicable]
Ruling Date July, 1993
Filing Requirement 990 (all other) or 990EZ return
Fiscal Year End September
IRS Forms 990
(provided courtesy of Foundation Center)		 (Log In or Register Now to View Forms 990!)
  • September, 2016
  • September, 2015
  • September, 2014
  • September, 2013
  • September, 2013

The data displayed in this profile is provided by the IRS for free in the form of Publication 78 and the Business Master File (BMF).

Compensation % of Expenses Paid to Title
$231,281 1.30% Gary White Chief Executive Officer
Other Salaries of Note
$199,622 1.12% Jennifer Schorsch President

Highly Rated

Charity Name & State Overall Score Overall Rating
Water.org (MO) 96.85 four stars
Bridges to Prosperity (CO) 93.98 four stars
Thousand Currents (CA) 96.65 four stars
Mercy-USA for Aid and Development (MI) 92.92 four stars
Friends of Women's World Banking (FWWB) (NY) 87.58 three stars

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This charity has an official representative registered with Charity Navigator.

Charity Contact Info

Water.org
117 West 20th Street
Suite 203
Kansas City, MO 64108
tel: (816) 877-8400
fax: (816) 421-2086
EIN: 58-2060131

Visit Web Site

Board Leadership

Jennifer Schorsch
President

CEO

Gary White
CEO and Co-Founder

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