Charity: Water

What it reported doing in 2024

Bangladesh - in fiscal year 2025, charity: water funded 281 water projects in bangladesh, which will serve an estimated 99,013 people. Charity: water funds two local partners in bangladesh, an exceptionally densely populated country facing significant challenges with water access and quality, compounded by extreme weather such as monsoon floods and dry-season droughts. Its rural population (59%) relies heavily on groundwater, which is prone to contamination from improper access and treatment, as well as from the widespread lack of basic sanitation and drainage systems. While only 1% of the rural population lacks access to basic water services, water quality remains a significant issue, and 32% lack access to basic sanitation services. Burkina faso - in fiscal year 2025, charity: water funded 175 water projects in burkina faso, which will serve an estimated 39,138 people. Charity: water funds two local partners in burkina faso, a landlocked west african country. Unfortunately, burkina faso has been plagued by recurring droughts and military coups, causing violence and instability across the country. In response to these challenges, the government has initiated several reforms, including a 2016 program to provide universal access to clean, affordable drinking water, sanitation, and hygiene by 2030. In rural areas, 66% of the population lacks access to basic water services, and 76% lacks access to basic sanitation services. Cambodia - in fiscal year 2025, charity: water funded biosand filters, a household water filtration system, in 695 communities in cambodia, serving an estimated 129,200 people. Charity: water funds one local partner in cambodia, a southeast asian country. Nearly 74% of its population lives in rural areas, where they face significant challenges with water and sanitation. In these areas, 21% lack access to basic water, and 20% lack basic sanitation, often relying on polluted open surface water or contaminated wells with broken pumps. Central african republic - in fiscal year 2025, charity: water funded 48 water projects in the central african republic (car), which will serve an estimated 16,698 people. Charity: water funds one local partner in car, a landlocked country in central africa. An overwhelming 71.6% of the population lives on less than $3 a day. 73% of the rural population lacks access to basic water services, and 94% lacks access to basic sanitation services. Cte d'ivoire - in fiscal year 2025, charity: water funded 45 water projects in cte d'ivoire, which will serve an estimated 17,280 people. Charity: water funds one local partner in cte d'ivoire, a west african country on the coast. Cte d'ivoire is an economic powerhouse in west africa (the second largest), thanks to its status as the world's largest producer and exporter of cashews and cocoa beans. Still, about 36% of the rural population lacks access to basic water services, and 76% lacks access to basic sanitation services. India - in fiscal year 2025, charity: water funded 3,876 water projects in india, which will serve an estimated 22,521 people. Charity: water funds five local partners in india. Although the national government is committed to improving sanitation and water access, its ambitious goals require external partnerships to drive widespread change. Today, the government is working on an initiative to bring piped water to every household in india. While much of the population has access to basic water services, water contamination remains a significant issue nationwide. 5% of the rural population lacks access to basic water services, and 19% lacks access to basic sanitation services. Kenya - in fiscal year 2025, charity: water funded 115 water projects in kenya, which will serve an estimated 40,395 people. Charity: water works with four local partners in kenya. Overall, 45.5% of the population lives on less than $3 a day, and an estimated 1.3 million adults are living with HIV. In kenya, our partners face considerable challenges and

Financial Efficiency

• Mission deployment rate: 83.6%; rating input score 84
• Program expense ratio: 74.6%; rating input score 75
• Fundraising efficiency: $6.2 raised per $1 spent on fundraising; rating input score 27; 27th percentile among comparable filings

Transparency & Controls

• Consistency checks: 100%; rating input score 100; 68th percentile among comparable filings
• Pay-setting controls: 4 of 6 controls in place; rating input score 67
  • Compensation committee: Pass
  • Independent consultant: Missing
  • Other Form 990s reviewed: Pass
  • Written employment contract: Missing
  • Compensation survey or study: Pass
  • Board or committee approval: Pass
• Foreign activity oversight: 5 of 8 controls in place; rating input score 62
  • Claims monitoring procedures: Pass
  • Requires narrative reports: Pass
  • Conducts field audits: Pass
  • May suspend future funding: Fail
  • Requires financial reports: Pass
  • Conducts site visits: Fail
  • Requires grant agreements: Pass
  • May require repayment: Fail
• Grant itemization coverage: 100%; rating input score 100; 77th percentile among comparable filings
• Major donor itemization: Yes; rating input score 100
• Related-party transparency: Limited

Accountability

• Independent voting board: 91.7%; rating input score 92; 40th percentile among comparable filings
• Governance controls: 9 of 9 controls in place; rating input score 100
  • Conflict-of-interest policy: Pass
  • Whistleblower policy: Pass
  • Document-retention policy: Pass
  • CEO compensation review process: Pass
  • Other executive compensation review process: Pass
  • Form 990 shared with the board: Pass
  • Board meeting minutes documented: Pass
  • Audit committee oversight: Pass
  • Independent financial-statement audit: Pass

Sustainability

• Operating margin: -7.8%; rating input score 10; 10th percentile among comparable filings
• Total-asset coverage ratio: 1.62; rating input score 56; 56th percentile among comparable filings
• Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.32; rating input score 54; 54th percentile among comparable filings
• Officer compensation ratio: 4.1%; rating input score 24; 24th percentile among comparable filings

Growth

• Program expense growth: 6.4% per year; rating input score 100; 52nd percentile among comparable filings
• Revenue growth: 8% per year; rating input score 100; 67th percentile among comparable filings
• Asset growth: 10.2% per year; rating input score 100; 71st percentile among comparable filings