Water.org: Providing Safe Water and Sanitation Solutions Worldwide

What Water.org Is All About

Water.org is a global nonprofit organization on a mission to bring safe water and sanitation to millions around the world. It’s all about breaking down barriers—especially financial ones—that keep people living in poverty from accessing these basic necessities. With smart, market-driven solutions like small, affordable loans, Water.org empowers communities to turn on a tap or safely use a toilet in their own homes. The organization’s approach is proven and powerful, working through a network of partners worldwide to close the financing gap and make safe water a reality for everyone.

The Main Benefit: Changing Lives Through Access

Here’s the big picture—Water.org’s impact is huge, and the numbers tell the story:

• More than 81 million people empowered with access to safe water or sanitation
• Over $7.1 billion mobilized in capital to support small loans
• 197 partners collaborating globally to reach those in need
• Operating across 4 continents, expanding reach and impact
• Highest rating from Charity Navigator for over 10 years, showing transparency and accountability

Why Safe Water Matters

Safe water isn’t just about quenching thirst—it’s a game changer. It improves health, empowers women, opens doors to education, boosts family income, and transforms entire communities. Yet, 2.2 billion people still lack access to safe water, and 3.5 billion don’t have a safe toilet. This water crisis affects more than a third of the global population, holding back progress and potential. Water.org exists to flip that script, turning poverty into possibility by unlocking opportunities through safe water access.

The Founders Behind the Mission

Matt Damon and Gary White are the dynamic duo behind Water.org. Fifteen years ago, they came together with a shared passion to pioneer smart solutions to the water crisis. Combining Gary’s expertise in water and sanitation with Matt’s star power and commitment, they’ve grown Water.org into a leader in the sector. Their vision and drive have been key to scaling impact and innovating ways to reach more people faster.

Partnering for a Global Solution

Water.org doesn’t work alone. It’s all about collaboration—with corporations, financial institutions, foundations, and local partners who share the same passion and vision. Together, they’re changing lives by bringing safe water and sanitation to communities across four continents. This partnership model accelerates progress and ensures resources flow efficiently to where they’re needed most.

Water.org’s Impact and the Sustainable Development Goals

• SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being
• SDG 4: Quality Education
• SDG 5: Gender Equality
• SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation
• SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
• SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities
• SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

Committed to Transparency and Growth

Water.org takes financial transparency seriously. With a consistent 4-star rating from Charity Navigator, the organization shows a strong commitment to accountability. Annual reports detail exactly how donations are used, ensuring supporters know their contributions make a real difference. And the work continues to grow—reaching more people, faster, and unlocking the flow of financing needed to end the water crisis once and for all.

What Water.org actually does

Water.org is a global nonprofit, co-founded by Gary White and Matt Damon, that removes the financing barrier between families living in poverty and safe water or a toilet at home. Its core program, the WaterCredit Initiative, was the first to put microfinance tools to work in the water and sanitation sector: Water.org selects local financial institutions, gives them technical assistance and resources to add water and sanitation loans to their portfolios, and those partners lend directly to households. Families use the small loans to install a tap or toilet, and every repaid loan can be lent to another family.

Around WaterCredit, Water.org has built a wider set of “smart solutions”: WaterEquity (established 2017) uses impact investing to fund the water and sanitation loan portfolios of lending partners, and WaterConnect (launched 2024) helps develop infrastructure projects to reach more people. The organization works with 163 partners in 13 countries across Africa, Asia and Latin America.

“The generosity of our funding partners makes our work possible, bringing us closer to achieving our vision of safe water and sanitation for all.”

Lina Bonova, Chief Revenue Officer, Water.org

Where Water.org shows up

• Low-income households: families living on less than $8.30 a day get affordable loans (average $416) to put a tap or toilet in their own home instead of paying high daily prices for water.
• Local financial institutions: microfinance lenders and water service providers in countries such as Kenya, India, Indonesia, Brazil and Peru gain a new, high-repayment loan product plus technical assistance to launch it.
• Corporate and foundation funders: brands and foundations fund programs in specific regions, from coffee-growing communities in Brazil to water-stressed areas of Mexico and Peru.
• Development finance and governments: global engagement partners work with Water.org to shift policy and unlock more capital for water and sanitation at system level.

Proof, not just claims

Water.org reports 21.1 million water and sanitation loans disbursed and $8.6 billion in capital mobilized through its partners, with 9.9 million people reached in the past year alone. It publishes an annual report and holds a 4-star Charity Navigator rating.

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Why this belongs on a sustainability directory

The mechanism maps directly onto SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation): each loan pays for a household tap or toilet, and repaid capital recycles into the next family’s connection. Safe water and sanitation at home cut exposure to water-related disease, which the organization links to around 1 million deaths a year, supporting SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being). Because 90% of borrowers are women, the people most burdened by hours of daily water collection, the program frees time for school and paid work and advances SDG 5 (Gender Equality).