About
Water.org is a global nonprofit organization headquartered in Kansas City, Missouri, working to bring water and sanitation to the world. Founded by Gary White and Matt Damon, it pioneers market-driven solutions to the global water crisis, helping remove the barriers between people living in poverty and the safe water and sanitation solutions they need. The organization reports it has changed more than 85 million lives with safe water or sanitation.
Mission
Water.org works to bring water and sanitation to the world by empowering people in need with life-changing resources. Its vision is a day when everyone, everywhere has access to safe water and sanitation. The organization notes that today 2.1 billion people — 1 in 4 — lack access to safe water and 3.4 billion people — 2 in 5 — lack access to a safe toilet.
What they do
Water.org offers a portfolio of market-driven "smart solutions" that work with and through partners to close the financing gap for universal access to safe water and sanitation:
- WaterCredit Initiative — created in 2003, making loans for water and sanitation accessible to families living in poverty around the world
- WaterEquity — established in 2017 to harness impact investing and provide more capital to fund the water and sanitation loan portfolios of its partners
- WaterConnect — launched in 2024 to help develop infrastructure projects that reach more people in need of safe water and sanitation solutions
History
- 1990 — Gary White created WaterPartners International to help Latin American communities impacted by the water crisis
- 2003 — The WaterCredit Initiative was created
- 2009 — After meeting at an international summit on global poverty, Gary White and Matt Damon combined their complementary approaches and Water.org was born
- 2017 — WaterEquity was established
- 2024 — WaterConnect was launched
- 2025 — The organization reports reaching more than 85 million people, including 10.4 million in the past year alone
Scale and impact
Water.org has helped empower more than 85 million people across 4 continents with access to safe water or sanitation. It works in Africa (Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda), Asia (Bangladesh, Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Philippines), and Latin America (Brazil, Mexico, Peru). The organization states that $5 gives one person in need lasting access to safe water.
Financials
According to ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer, for the fiscal year ending September 2025 Water.org (legal name Water Org Inc, EIN 58-2060131) reported total revenue of $31,261,309, total expenses of $37,137,567, total assets of $49,815,703, and net assets of $40,510,153. Water.org states it holds a 4-star Charity Navigator rating and publishes an annual report detailing how donations are used. It is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.
Governance
Gary White serves as CEO and co-founder, with reported compensation of $528,014 in the most recent filing year per ProPublica.