The Water Project, INC. Unlocks human potential by building and connecting global networks of local leaders, communities of generous supporters, and an informed public to provide sustainable Water and sanitation programs to needlessly suffering communities in developing countries. Donations are linked to specific Water projects through online reporting, allowing donors to see how specific Water programs impact communities and view the ongoing functionality of those projects.

501(c)(3) charity; gifts are tax-deductible.
71¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
Run by 58 volunteers and 19 employees.
Mission: Form 990 Part I, line 1 · Status: IRS Pub. 78 · Programs: Part IX · People: Part I, lines 5–6

Before you give

FY2025 · Form 990Independent: from IRS data, not the org
Download 990
IRS status
501(c)(3)
not on the IRS revocation list
Looks good: listed by the IRS and not on the revocation list.
IRS BMF · Auto-Revocation List
Tax-deductible gifts
Yes
Donations are tax-deductible
Looks good: the IRS lists gifts to it as deductible.
IRS Pub. 78 · IRS BMF
Latest return
FY2025
latest Form 990
Looks good: the latest return is for FY2025, 1 tax year back; within 2 tax years.
IRS e-file · Filing history
Surplus or deficit
5 of 6
filings with a surplus
Average surplus $1.1M a year · 18% of revenue · last 6 filings
Fine: a surplus in 5 of the last 6 filings.
Pt I · Ln 19 · 6 filings
Spent on programs
71%
of spending
Fine: 71% of spending went to programs; 65% to 75%.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Pay to officers and key staff
$998K
to officers and key staff · 17% of spending
Fine: pay to officers and key staff is 17% of spending; 15% to 20%.
Pt VII · Sec A
4 mo
of spending, in cash
Plus $7.0M in investments, Pt X · Ln 11–13
Looks good: 4.1 months of spending in cash; 3 or more.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Named funders
4
named funders · $28K
Looks good: 4 funders name it on their filings; 3 or more.
Funders’ Sch. I, 990-PF
Liabilities
$107K
1% of total assets
Looks good: liabilities are 1% of assets; 50% or less.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
6
of 8 voting members
Looks good: 6 of 8 voting members are independent, a majority.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Looks goodFineWorth a lookConcernNo data yetTap a box for the reason.
Revenue
$6.4M
+1% vs prior year
Spent
$6.0M
To programs
71%
Net assets
$10.4M
By yearFY2020–FY2025
Revenue
$6.4M
FY2025▲ +1%
Tap a bar for its year
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2020$5.4M
FY2021$7.2M
FY2022$7.2M
FY2023$5.6M
FY2024$6.4M
FY2025$6.4M
Expenses
$6.0M
FY2025▲ +5%
Tap a bar for its year
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2020$2.9M
FY2021$4.6M
FY2022$6.6M
FY2023$5.7M
FY2024$5.7M
FY2025$6.0M
Net assets
$10.4M
FY2025▼ -0.7%
Tap a bar for its year
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2020$5.8M
FY2021$8.5M
FY2022$8.8M
FY2023$9.2M
FY2024$10.5M
FY2025$10.4M

From the FY2025 Form 990 · figures checked against the IRS filing · see the original

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Is it real?

Yes. Never revoked by the IRS. Latest filing on record: FY2025. IRS ruling in May 2008.

IRS Pub. 78 · IRS Auto-Revocation List · IRS Business Master File

Where the money goes

71 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 71% · $4.3M Management & general 8% · $490K Fundraising 21% · $1.2M

Form 990 Part IX, line 25, columns B–D. Every line is in By the numbers.

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Who runs it and what they're paid

13 people listed on the 990; $998K paid to officers and key staff.

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation
President &
$209,786Pt VII · Sec A
Founder & Ci
$189,238Pt VII · Sec A
Dir of Finan
$137,130Pt VII · Sec A
Dir of Phila
$133,774Pt VII · Sec A
$121,264Pt VII · Sec A
Dir of Progr
$104,196Pt VII · Sec A
Major Gifts
$102,910Pt VII · Sec A
Director
$0Pt VII · Sec A

Stan Patyrak’s $210K as President & is at the 78th percentile of top reported officer pay among 1168 $1–10M international nonprofits. Peer set: organizations in the same NTEE major field of work and revenue-size band, compared on each org’s own highest-paid officer/key-employee, from Form 990 Part VII / 990-PF Part VIII. Descriptive placement, not a verdict on whether the pay is appropriate.

Compensation history total reportable pay by year · 8 named individuals · Part VII

NameFY2025FY2024FY2023FY2022FY2021FY2020
Stan Patyrak$209,786$188,923$200,868$164,333$148,604$138,236
R Peter Chasse$189,238$187,688$180,361$166,001$152,873$141,800
Daniel Kim$137,130$136,562$131,732$113,107——
Decruz Pulikottil$133,774—————
Christopher Carvache$121,264$117,760$116,054$105,254——
Theresa Crick—$117,539$119,982$114,260$103,355—
Spencer Bogle$104,196—————
Carrie West$102,910$103,048————

Total reportable compensation (Form 990 Part VII column D / Schedule J column E) by filing year, matched by name within this organization. The Schedule J base / bonus / deferred breakdown is not parsed into this dataset.

See The Water Project INC executive salaries →

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Questions the 990 asks

The form asks each of these directly. These are the filed answers.

  • Family or business ties among officersPt VI · Ln 2No
  • Top official's pay set by an independent reviewPt VI · Ln 15aYes

Programs and updates

Provides clean water and sanitation in developing countries, connecting leaders, supporters, and the public.

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Provided by the organization

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3 programs · $4.3M · in their own filed words · FY2025
01

Western Kenya Wash Program

In partnership with western water and sanitation forum, friends of timothy foundation, and the water project's regional service hub, the water project co-developed and strengthened regional water, hygiene, and sanitation (wash) programs in western kenya, resulting in the protection of springs, drilling of boreholes, and construction of…

$3.1Mprogram expense
02

Port Loko, Sierra Leone Wash Program

In partnership with mariatu's hope, the water project co-developed and strengthened regional water, hygiene, and sanitation (wash) programs in port loko sierra leone, resulting in the implementation of new drilled wells and rehabilitation of BROKEN/DRY wells in sierra leone. In 2025, 29 new projects were implemented.

$789Kprogram expense
03

Western Uganda Wash Program

In partnership with the water trust, the water project co-developed and strengthened regional water, hygiene, and sanitation (wash) programs resulting in the implementation of new wells in western uganda. In 2025, 10 new projects were implemented.

$431Kprogram expense

Funders

Who pays for it.

From grant filings on record. Receipts are incomplete: individual donors are never listed.

Grants

Schedule I · funders on record
Grants received · FY2025
G2 FoundationFY2025$5K
Total grants receivedfrom 4 funders$28K
See all 4 funders →

By the numbers

The FY2025 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$6.4M
Ln 12
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$5.5M
Investment incomeLn 3$953K
Money outPt IX
$6.0M
Ln 25
Programscol B$4.3M
Managementcol C$490K
Fundraisingcol D$1.2M
Owns and owesPt X
$10.4M
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$2.1M
Total assetsLn 16$10.5M
LiabilitiesLn 26$107K
PeoplePt VI, VII
13
listed · VII A
PaidVII A7
Voting boardVI 1a8
IndependentVI 1b6
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$5.5M
Noncash giftsLn 1g$367K
Investment incomeLn 3$953K
Gains on assetsLn 7$685K
Total revenueLn 12$6.4M
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$387K
SavingsLn 2$1.7M
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$2.1M
InvestmentsLn 11–13$7.0M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$1.0M
Total assetsLn 16$10.5M
LiabilitiesLn 26$107K
Net assetsLn 32$10.4M
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 519
VolunteersI 658
Fiscal year endsHeaderDecember
Conflict-of-interest policyVI 12aYes
Whistleblower policyVI 13Yes
Records policyVI 14Yes
3More from this return
Abroad and in kindSch F, M
Grants to other countriesSch F Pt II–III$2.1M
Noncash gifts receivedSch M Pt I$367K
EndowmentSch D · Pt V
LineFY25FY24FY23FY22FY21
End of yearLn 1g$3.0M$2.3M$2.0M$1.8M$2.0M
Given inLn 1b$425K
4Year over year
Balance sheet, start vs end of yearPt X · col A, B
LineStart FY25End FY25
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$2.6M$2.1M
InvestmentsLn 11–13$5.1M$7.0M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$1.1M$1.0M
Total assetsLn 16$10.5M$10.5M
LiabilitiesLn 26$71K$107K
Net assetsLn 32$10.5M$10.4M
5Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Grants and assistance to foreign recipientsLn 3$2.1M$2.1M
Pay of current officers, directors and key staffLn 5$405K$243K$81K$81K
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$1.6M$983K$117K$517K
Pension plan contributionsLn 8$91K$54K$9K$27K
Other employee benefitsLn 9$426K$256K$42K$128K
Payroll taxesLn 10$165K$100K$16K$49K
Legal feesLn 11b$30K$1K$29K
Accounting feesLn 11c$20K$1K$19K
Investment management feesLn 11f$20K$20K
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$108K$98K$2K$8K
Advertising and promotionLn 12$178K$150$22$178K
Office expensesLn 13$132K$81K$1K$51K
Information technologyLn 14$221K$106K$16K$99K
TravelLn 17$160K$91K$8K$61K
Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22$104K$77K$9K$19K
InsuranceLn 23$17K$6K$12K
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$206K$85K$102K$19K
All other expensesLn 24e$43K$25K$8K$10K
Total functional expensesLn 25$6.0M$4.3M$490K$1.2M

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2025 Latest Viewing $6.4M$6.0M$421K$10.4M 990 PDF
FY2024Filed with the IRS Jul 21, 2025 $6.4M$5.7M$648K$10.5M 990 PDF
FY2023Filed with the IRS Jun 18, 2024 $5.6M$5.7M−$118K$9.2M 990 PDF
FY2022Filed with the IRS Jun 12, 2023 $7.2M$6.6M$626K$8.8M 990 PDF
FY2021Filed with the IRS Jul 21, 2022 $7.2M$4.6M$2.6M$8.5M 990 PDF
FY2020Filed with the IRS Jul 6, 2021 $5.4M$2.9M$2.6M$5.8M 990 PDF

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Schedules filed Part IV

III · Programs R · Related orgs G · Fundraising L · Interested persons I · Grants A · Public support F · Foreign M · Noncash J · Pay O · Explanations
See the full FY2025 990 (6 parts)
Part I · Summary $6,435,127 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $6,011,926$5,481,872
I-9 Program service revenue$0
I-10 Investment incomePrior year $348,485$953,255
I-11 Other revenue$0
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $6,360,411$6,435,127
I-13 Grants and similar amounts paidPrior year $2,022,921$2,069,939
I-14 Benefits paid to members$0
I-15 Salaries and benefitsPrior year $2,475,790$2,703,856
I-16a Professional fundraising fees$0
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $1,213,987$1,239,842
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $5,712,698$6,013,637
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year $647,713$421,490
Part VI · Governance 6 of 8 board members independent, no flags
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body8
VI-1b Independent voting members6
VI-2 Family or business relationship among officers or directorsNo
VI-12a Written conflict of interest policyYes
VI-13 Written whistleblower policyYes
VI-14 Document retention and destruction policyYes
VI-15a Process for setting top official's payYes
Part VIII · Statement of revenue $6,435,127 across 6 lines filed
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$5,481,872
VIII-1g Noncash contributions (included above)$366,571
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$5,481,872
VIII-3 Investment incomeExcluded from tax $267,801$267,801
VIII-7 Net gain or loss on sales of assetsRelated to mission $685,454$685,454
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $685,454 · Excluded from tax $267,801$6,435,127
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $6,013,637 across 18 lines filed
IX-3 Grants and assistance to foreign recipientsPrograms $2,069,939$2,069,939
IX-5 Pay of current officers, directors and key staffPrograms $243,060 · Management $81,020 · Fundraising $81,020$405,100
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $982,844 · Management $117,001 · Fundraising $516,897$1,616,742
IX-8 Pension plan contributionsPrograms $54,406 · Management $8,928 · Fundraising $27,337$90,671
IX-9 Other employee benefitsPrograms $255,601 · Management $41,939 · Fundraising $128,427$425,967
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $100,285 · Management $16,203 · Fundraising $48,888$165,376
IX-11b Legal feesPrograms $1,450 · Management $28,975$30,425
IX-11c Accounting feesPrograms $1,439 · Management $18,769$20,208
IX-11f Investment management feesManagement $20,135$20,135
IX-11g Other fees for servicesPrograms $98,346 · Management $2,096 · Fundraising $7,515$107,957
IX-12 Advertising and promotionPrograms $150 · Management $22 · Fundraising $177,741$177,913
IX-13 Office expensesPrograms $80,539 · Management $1,110 · Fundraising $50,595$132,244
IX-14 Information technologyPrograms $106,144 · Management $15,768 · Fundraising $99,167$221,079
IX-17 TravelPrograms $90,917 · Management $7,802 · Fundraising $61,146$159,865
IX-22 Depreciation, depletion and amortizationPrograms $77,406 · Management $8,548 · Fundraising $18,520$104,474
IX-23 InsurancePrograms $5,510 · Management $11,661$17,171
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $84,644 · Management $102,218 · Fundraising $18,878$205,740
IX-24e All other expensesPrograms $24,888 · Management $7,985 · Fundraising $9,758$42,631
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $4,277,568 · Management $490,180 · Fundraising $1,245,889$6,013,637
Part X · Balance sheet $10,484,661 assets, 13 lines filed
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $319,056$387,329
X-2 Savings and temporary cash investmentsStart of year $2,329,827$1,669,848
X-3 Pledges and grants receivableStart of year $640,244$406,737
X-9 Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesStart of year $33,591$30,896
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, netStart of year $1,139,251$1,034,777
X-11 Publicly traded securitiesStart of year $5,102,199$6,955,074
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $10,526,567$10,484,661
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $71,473$107,059
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $71,473$107,059
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $9,772,894$9,957,997
X-28 Net assets with donor restrictionsStart of year $682,200$419,605
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $10,455,094$10,377,602
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $10,526,567$10,484,661
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $10,377,602 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$6,435,127
XI-2 Total expenses$6,013,637
XI-3 Revenue less expenses$421,490
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$10,455,094
XI-5 Net unrealized gains (losses) on investments−$498,982
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$10,377,602

Form 990 e-file (XML) FY2025 from the IRS · Classification, formation year and address from the IRS Business Master File

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