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Water First International

EIN 20-2601035 · Seattle, WA

Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak24 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

WATER 1ST'S MISSION IS TO ENABLE THE WORLD'S POOREST PEOPLE TO IMPLEMENT AND SUSTAIN COMMUNITY-MANAGED PROJECTS INTEGRATING CLEAN WATER SUPPLY, SANITATION AND HYGIENE EDUCATION. WATER 1ST UNITES PEOPLE TO FIGHT THE GLOBAL WATER AND SANITATION CRISIS . WE BELIEVE THIS WORLDWIDE, SILENT CATASTROPHE WILL BE SOLVED WHEN WE BUILD A COMMUNITY OF CONCERNED INDIVIDUALS, AND MOBILIZE THEM TO TAKE SIMPLE, EFFECTIVE ACTIONS.

Income
$2.0 million
Spending
$4.0 million
Spent on programs
93%
Reserves
0.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 97%
Employees
7
Volunteers
60
Highest pay
$128,099, director of international programs

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Weak: 24 out of 100. Higher than 1% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    4 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 0.8 months of spending.

  • Debt

    5 of 20

    It owes 52% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 96% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 44% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    93% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 10 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 65% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    8 of 8 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    7 of 7

    Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Impact evidence

Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.

Programs described in its return (1)
  1. $3.7 million spent. WATER FIRST INTERNATIONAL (THE ORGANIZATION) IS A NONPROFIT CORPORATION FORMED IN 2005 TO PROVIDE GRANTS TO NONGOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS (NGOS) BASED IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES IN ORDER TO SUPPORT THE IMPLEMENTATION OF PROJECTS THAT INCLUDE PROVISION OF DRINKING WATER, HYGIENE EDUCATION, AND SANITARY LATRINES. THE ORGANIZATION WORKS WITH THE NGOS IN SOME OF THE POOREST COMMUNITIES IN THE WORLD TO SUPPORT SUSTAINABLE, COMMUNITY-MANAGED SOLUTIONS TO WATER SUPPLY AND SANITATION PROBLEMS. IN 2024, THE ORGANIZATION COMPLETED 334 PROJECTS SERVING 6,877 PEOPLE. EVERY PROJECT INCORPORATES ACCESS TO WATER AND TOILETS, HYGIENE EDUCATION, AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT. AS OF DECEMBER 2024, THE WATER FIRST COMMUNITY CONTRIBUTED OVER ($36 MILLION TO SUPPORT 5,153 PROJECTS SERVING 290,197 PEOPLE IN SIX COUNTRIES. WE ESTIMATE THAT OVER 160 MILLION CUMULATIVE HOURS OF WATER-COLLECTION LABOR HAVE BEEN SAVED AS A RESULT OF WATER1ST PROJECTS. IN BANGLADESH, THE ORGANIZATION INITIATED A NEW CONTRACT WITH ITS LOCAL IMPLEMENTING PARTNER, DEFINING NEW GEOGRAPHIC AREAS WITHIN THE LARGE URBAN CENTERS OF DHAKA, CHATTOGRAM, AND KHULNA TO FOCUS PROJECT INTERVENTIONS. 334 WATER SYSTEMS SERVING 6,877 PEOPLE IN INFORMAL URBAN SETTLEMENTS WERE COMPLETED. THE ORGANIZATION'S GOAL IS TO MAXIMIZE COST-EFFECTIVENESS BY LEVERAGING LOCAL RESOURCES. PROJECT PARTICIPANTS IN THE ORGANIZATION'S BANGLADESH PROGRAM PAY 100% OF THE CAPITAL COSTS OF THEIR PROJECTS THROUGH TWO-YEAR LOANS. THE LOANS ARE REPAID TO THE LOCAL NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATION, WHO IS THE RECIPIENT OF WATER FIRST'S GRANTS. REPAID LOAN FUNDS ARE REVOLVED AND USED FOR ADDITIONAL WATER AND SANITATION PROJECTS AND CREATE A SUSTAINABLE SOURCE OF FUNDS FOR WATER FIRST'S BANGLADESH PARTNER. IN HONDURAS, THE ORGANIZATION'S PROJECTS PROVIDE ACCESS TO PIPED WATER AND TOILETS AT EVERY HOUSEHOLD, COMMUNITY CENTER, SCHOOL AND CLINIC. THREE PROJECTS WERE COMPLETED IN 2024 SERVING 851 PEOPLE. FIVE NEW PROJECTS WERE INITIATED. AN ADDITIONAL 10 PROJECTS ARE UNDERWAY SERVING OVER 4,000 PEOPLE. IN HONDURAS, PROJECT USERS AND THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT CONTRIBUTE CASH, LABOR, AND LOCAL MATERIALS, WHICH ARE VALUED AT UP TO 50% OF THE TOTAL PROJECT COST. THE ORGANIZATION'S HONDURAS PARTNER HAS THE CAPACITY TO PROVIDE ASSISTANCE FOR WATER SYSTEM CONSTRUCTION, EXPANSION, AND REPAIR ON A LOAN BASIS, FURTHER LEVERAGING LOCAL RESOURCES. IN KENYA, THE ORGANIZATION CONTINUES TO WORK THROUGH TWO LOCAL IMPLEMENTING PARTNERS IN WESTERN KENYA. PHASE 1 OF THE EMUKOYE PROJECT WAS COMPLETED, SERVING 947 PEOPLE. WORK BEGAN ON A SECOND PHASE, WITH THE OBJECTIVE OF EXTENDING WATER AND SANITATION SERVICES TO AN ADDITIONAL 200 HOUSEHOLDS (ROUGHLY 1,500 PEOPLE) IN THE NEIGHBORING COMMUNITIES. COMPLETION OF PHASE 1 OF THE KOKELO PROJECT WAS DELAYED DUE TO CONSTRUCTION CHALLENGES. THAT IMPLEMENTING PARTNER INITIATED WORK ON A SECOND PROJECT TO SERVE THE NEIGHBORING NYATIGO AREA, WHICH IS SCHEDULED TO BE COMPLETED IN 2025 AND SERVE 1,000 PEOPLE.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Legitimacy checks

  1. Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.

    Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  2. Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.

    Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.

    Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  3. Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.

    On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.

    Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2024.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since June 2005.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  6. Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.

    Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.

    Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated October 21, 2026.

Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.