Water.org's goal is to bring safe Water and sanitation to the world through market-driven solutions.

501(c)(3) charity; gifts are tax-deductible.
61¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
$1.5M paid to officers and key staff.
Mission: Form 990 Part I, line 1 · Status: IRS Pub. 78 · Programs: Part IX · Pay: Part VII

Before you give

FY2021 · 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
3 of 6
filings with a surplus
Average surplus $3.4M a year · 10% of revenue · last 6 filings
Worth a look: a surplus in 3 of the last 6 filings.
Pt I · Ln 19 · 6 filings
Spent on programs
61%
of spending
Worth a look: 61% of spending went to programs; under 65%.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Pay to officers and key staff
$1.5M
to officers and key staff · 6% of spending
Looks good: pay to officers and key staff is 6% of spending; 15% or less.
Pt VII · Sec A
17 mo
of spending, in cash
Looks good: 17.0 months of spending in cash; 3 or more.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Named funders
4
named funders · $10K
Looks good: 4 funders name it on their filings; 3 or more.
Funders’ Sch. I, 990-PF
Liabilities
$10.8M
28% of total assets
Looks good: liabilities are 28% of assets; 50% or less.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
13
of 14 voting members
Looks good: 13 of 14 voting members are independent, a majority.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Looks goodFineWorth a lookConcernNo data yetTap a box for the reason.
Revenue
$37.5M
+97% vs prior year
Spent
$23.7M
To programs
61%
Net assets
$27.9M
By yearFY2020–FY2025
Revenue
$37.5M
FY2021▲ +97%
Tap a bar for its year
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2020$19.0M
FY2021$37.5M
FY2022$39.1M
FY2023$51.5M
FY2024$29.8M
FY2025$31.3M
Expenses
$23.7M
FY2021▼ -7%
Tap a bar for its year
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2020$25.5M
FY2021$23.7M
FY2022$28.8M
FY2023$35.8M
FY2024$36.9M
FY2025$37.1M
Net assets
$27.9M
FY2021▲ +97%
Tap a bar for its year
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2020$14.1M
FY2021$27.9M
FY2022$38.1M
FY2023$53.6M
FY2024$46.5M
FY2025$40.5M

From the FY2021 Form 990 (year ending September 2021) · figures checked against the IRS filing · see the original

Give Claim
You’re viewing the FY2021 filing — not the latest on file. See the latest (FY2025) →

Is it real?

Yes. Never revoked by the IRS. Latest filing on record: FY2025. IRS ruling in Jul 1993.

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

Where the money goes

61 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 61% · $14.5M Management & general 31% · $7.4M Fundraising 7% · $1.8M

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

Something off? Claim to add context

Who runs it and what they're paid

22 people listed on the 990; $1.5M paid to officers and key staff.

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation · most recent filed roster (FY2020); the FY2021 filing did not itemize Part VII
CEO and Co-Founder
$278,104Pt VII · Sec A
$229,500Pt VII · Sec A
Managing Director, India
$204,914Pt VII · Sec A
Chief Programs Officer
$173,833Pt VII · Sec A
Director of Stategic Alliance
$149,872Pt VII · Sec A
Director, Brand Marketing & Comunication
$147,136Pt VII · Sec A
Director of Technology
$144,943Pt VII · Sec A
Former CFO
$125,004Pt VII · Sec A

Gary White’s $528K as Board Member, CEO & Co-Founder is at the 92nd percentile of top reported officer pay among 345 $10–100M 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
Gary White$528,014$584,376$348,538$408,978$278,104$334,065
Vedika Bhandarkar$340,202$392,830$253,059$212,602$204,914$241,823
Tzvetelina Bonova$301,605$279,898$274,604$232,763——
Jennifer Schorsch——$223,372$243,072$229,500$294,200
Jason Schwartz$287,152$65,831————
Janet Tinsley$257,057$247,999$217,127$154,493——
Richard Thorsten$246,999$244,329$230,914$221,730$173,833$212,171
Fernando Alandia—$180,134$203,532$239,327$37,799—

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 Water Org INC executive salaries →

On this list? Claim this org

Something off? Claim to add context

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 safe water and sanitation to communities worldwide.

Questions for Water Org INC

Tap to ask. Water Org INC sees how many people are interested.

Your first name shows with your question. Water Org INC answers here, for everyone.

Provided by the organization

Know this org? Add your story

2 programs · $14.5M · in their own filed words · FY2020
01

Water Programs

WATER.ORG works to catalyze new sources of capital to power water and sanitation solutions, drive down the philanthropic costs to provide water, and continually increase the number of people with access to safe water and sanitation. WATER.ORG works in 13 countries in asia, africa and latin america.

$13.7Mprogram expense
02

Outreach

WATER.ORG raises awareness of the global water crisis and its effort to break down the financial barriers between people living in poverty and access to safe water and sanitation. WATER.ORG communicates through a variety of channels, including the WATER.ORG website, social media, email, direct mail, digital media and media relations.

$861Kprogram expense

Funders

Who pays for it.

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

Grants

Schedule I · received and paid
Grants received · FY2025
Total grants receivedfrom 4 funders$10K
See all 4 funders →
Grants paid · 4 grants · $6.4M · 2020–2023
Waterequity INCMO · FY2023$1,600,000
Waterequity INCMO · FY2022$2,000,000
Waterequity INCMO · FY2021$2,060,204
Waterequity INCMO · FY2020$750,000

By the numbers

The FY2021 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$37.5M
Ln 12
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$36.9M
Investment incomeLn 3$449K
Other incomeLn 4–11$233K
Money outPt IX
$23.7M
Ln 25
Programscol B$14.5M
Managementcol C$7.4M
Fundraisingcol D$1.8M
Owns and owesPt X
$27.9M
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$33.6M
Total assetsLn 16$38.7M
LiabilitiesLn 26$10.8M
PeoplePt VI, VII
22
listed · VII A
PaidVII A9
Voting boardVI 1a14
IndependentVI 1b13
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$36.9M
Government grantsLn 1e$2.1M
Noncash giftsLn 1g$3.5M
Investment incomeLn 3$449K
Other incomeLn 4–11$233K
Gains on assetsLn 7$384K
Total revenueLn 12$37.5M
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$2K
SavingsLn 2$33.6M
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$33.6M
InvestmentsLn 11–13$2.7M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$171K
Total assetsLn 16$38.7M
LiabilitiesLn 26$10.8M
Net assetsLn 32$27.9M
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 583
VolunteersI 60
Fiscal year endsHeaderSeptember
Conflict-of-interest policyVI 12aYes
Whistleblower policyVI 13Yes
Records policyVI 14Yes
3Year over year
Balance sheet, start vs end of yearPt X · col A, B
LineStart FY21End FY21
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$17.8M$33.6M
InvestmentsLn 11–13$2.4M$2.7M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$321K$171K
Total assetsLn 16$22.4M$38.7M
LiabilitiesLn 26$8.3M$10.8M
Net assetsLn 32$14.1M$27.9M
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Grants to domestic organizationsLn 1$750K$750K
Grants and assistance to foreign recipientsLn 3$4.8M$4.8M
Pay of current officers, directors and key staffLn 5$840K$92K$735K$13K
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$10.3M$5.5M$3.9M$884K
Pension plan contributionsLn 8$243K$132K$92K$20K
Other employee benefitsLn 9$715K$298K$350K$68K
Payroll taxesLn 10$575K$254K$263K$58K
Legal feesLn 11b$84K$53K$28K$3K
Accounting feesLn 11c$95K$12K$80K$3K
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$3.3M$1.9M$1.1M$291K
Advertising and promotionLn 12$123K$44K$17K$62K
Office expensesLn 13$696K$156K$395K$145K
OccupancyLn 16$617K$308K$254K$55K
TravelLn 17$104K$27K$73K$3K
Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22$178K$88K$74K$17K
InsuranceLn 23$109K$50K$49K$10K
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$199K$9K$47K$143K
All other expensesLn 24e$9K$2K$6K$87
Total functional expensesLn 25$23.7M$14.5M$7.4M$1.8M

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2025 Latest $31.3M$37.1M−$5.9M$40.5M 990 PDF
FY2024 $29.8M$36.9M−$7.1M$46.5M 990 PDF
FY2023 $51.5M$35.8M$15.6M$53.6M 990 PDF
FY2022 $39.1M$28.8M$10.2M$38.1M 990 PDF
FY2021 Viewing $37.5M$23.7M$13.8M$27.9M 990 PDF
FY2020 $19.0M$25.5M−$6.4M$14.1M 990 PDF

More to add? Claim this org

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 FY2021 990 (6 parts)
Part I · Summary $37,538,098 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $18,740,107$36,855,609
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $0$0
I-10 Investment incomePrior year $155,635$449,046
I-11 Other revenuePrior year $132,164$233,443
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $19,027,906$37,538,098
I-13 Grants and similar amounts paidPrior year $4,727,396$5,590,100
I-14 Benefits paid to membersPrior year $0$0
I-15 Salaries and benefitsPrior year $11,787,212$12,649,162
I-16a Professional fundraising feesPrior year $0$0
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $8,954,249$5,494,967
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $25,468,857$23,734,229
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year −$6,440,951$13,803,869
Part VI · Governance 13 of 14 board members independent, no flags
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body14
VI-1b Independent voting members13
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 $37,538,098 across 10 lines filed
VIII-1a Federated campaigns$5,560
VIII-1e Government grants$2,060,199
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$34,789,850
VIII-1g Noncash contributions (included above)$3,455,158
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$36,855,609
VIII-3 Investment incomeExcluded from tax $64,629$64,629
VIII-5 RoyaltiesExcluded from tax $58,438$58,438
VIII-7 Net gain or loss on sales of assetsExcluded from tax $384,417$384,417
VIII-11a-d Other revenue, itemized rows (sum of 11a–11d as filed)Unrelated business $121,946 · Excluded from tax $53,059$175,005
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $0 · Unrelated business $121,946 · Excluded from tax $560,543$37,538,098
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $23,734,229 across 18 lines filed
IX-1 Grants to domestic organizationsPrograms $750,000$750,000
IX-3 Grants and assistance to foreign recipientsPrograms $4,840,100$4,840,100
IX-5 Pay of current officers, directors and key staffPrograms $91,629 · Management $734,920 · Fundraising $12,985$839,534
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $5,520,149 · Management $3,872,322 · Fundraising $883,546$10,276,017
IX-8 Pension plan contributionsPrograms $132,048 · Management $91,698 · Fundraising $19,568$243,314
IX-9 Other employee benefitsPrograms $297,798 · Management $350,027 · Fundraising $67,545$715,370
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $253,787 · Management $262,948 · Fundraising $58,192$574,927
IX-11b Legal feesPrograms $53,377 · Management $28,123 · Fundraising $2,967$84,467
IX-11c Accounting feesPrograms $12,127 · Management $80,155 · Fundraising $2,586$94,868
IX-11g Other fees for servicesPrograms $1,879,423 · Management $1,110,412 · Fundraising $291,326$3,281,161
IX-12 Advertising and promotionPrograms $44,000 · Management $17,075 · Fundraising $61,500$122,575
IX-13 Office expensesPrograms $156,155 · Management $394,889 · Fundraising $145,030$696,074
IX-16 OccupancyPrograms $307,766 · Management $254,202 · Fundraising $54,831$616,799
IX-17 TravelPrograms $27,429 · Management $73,396 · Fundraising $3,217$104,042
IX-22 Depreciation, depletion and amortizationPrograms $87,743 · Management $73,937 · Fundraising $16,634$178,314
IX-23 InsurancePrograms $50,312 · Management $49,132 · Fundraising $9,528$108,972
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $9,329 · Management $46,864 · Fundraising $142,626$198,819
IX-24e All other expensesPrograms $2,318 · Management $6,471 · Fundraising $87$8,876
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $14,515,490 · Management $7,446,571 · Fundraising $1,772,168$23,734,229
Part X · Balance sheet $38,720,379 assets, 17 lines filed
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $2,609$2,472
X-2 Savings and temporary cash investmentsStart of year $17,759,845$33,601,912
X-3 Pledges and grants receivableStart of year $1,500,001$1,871,065
X-4 Accounts receivableStart of year $57,629$43,297
X-9 Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesStart of year $330,475$341,282
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, netStart of year $320,979$171,292
X-11 Publicly traded securitiesStart of year $1,322,929$1,404,601
X-13 Program-related investmentsStart of year $1,125,704$1,284,458
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $22,420,171$38,720,379
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $1,970,999$3,318,496
X-18 Grants payableStart of year $4,901,076$6,095,534
X-24 Unsecured notes and loans payableStart of year $1,425,382$1,425,377
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $8,297,457$10,839,407
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $6,785,619$13,158,939
X-28 Net assets with donor restrictionsStart of year $7,337,095$14,722,033
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $14,122,714$27,880,972
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $22,420,171$38,720,379
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $27,880,972 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$37,538,098
XI-2 Total expenses$23,734,229
XI-3 Revenue less expenses$13,803,869
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$14,122,714
XI-5 Net unrealized gains (losses) on investments−$45,611
XI-9 Other changes in net assets$0
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$27,880,972

Form 990 e-file (XML) FY2021 from the IRS · Classification, formation year and address from the IRS Business Master File

Similar organizations you could support · Compare with another nonprofit

Names, privacy, and removal requests More

The names, titles, and compensation shown on this page are reproduced from IRS Form 990 filings, which are public records.

Philanthropy.org does not alter the content of those filings. All information appears exactly as reported by the filing organization for the tax year shown.

We publish only information contained in the public IRS filing — and less than the filing contains. Our profile pages do not display street addresses, telephone numbers, personal email addresses, or other personal contact information, even where the filing includes them.

Many people share the same name. A name shown on this page reflects only what one organization reported in one IRS filing for one tax year. It should not be interpreted as identifying any other individual with the same or a similar name.

If you are no longer affiliated with the organization, your name will generally stop appearing in future IRS filings once the organization no longer reports you. Pages for tax years in which you were reported remain published because those filings remain part of the public record.

Philanthropy.org does not alter or remove IRS filing records. Removing a page from this website would not remove the underlying IRS filing, which remains publicly available from the IRS and other publishers of the same information.

If you believe the IRS filing itself is inaccurate, corrections must be made by the filing organization or the IRS directly.

Your org? Add context

Made it to the end? Claim this org

All figures are derived from public IRS Form 990 filings and are presented without evaluation of any organization. philanthropy.org does not rate, score, or rank organizations, including the pay comparisons above.