Aquaya Institute
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
AQUAYA IS A NONPROFIT RESEARCH AND CONSULTING ORGANIZATION DEDICATED TO ADVANCING GLOBAL HEALTH THROUGH UNIVERSAL ACCESS TO SAFE WATER AND SANITATION. WE DELIVER CRITICAL INSIGHTS, DATA, AND TOOLS TO SUPPORT INFORMED POLICY, PROGRAM, AND FINANCING DECISIONS. THIS KNOWLEDGE HELPS TO SECURE SAFE WATER AND SANITATION FOR UNDESERVED POPULATIONS, IMPROVING HUMAN HEALTH AND WELL-BEING.
- Income
- $5.6 million
- Spending
- $4.6 million
- Spent on programs
- 83%
- Reserves
- 5.3 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 88%
- Employees
- 21
- Volunteers
- 16
- Highest pay
- $167,114, director of research & programs
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 64% of charities in its peer group (science, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
20 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 5.3 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 6% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 18% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 13% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1583% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 68% of charities in its peer group (science, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2510 of 11 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, 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 (4)
- $1.2 million spent. AFRICA WATER QUALITY TESTING FELLOWSHIP - THIS PROGRAM PARTNERS WITH UNIVERSITIES IN ETHIOPIA, GHANA, AND UGANDA TO ESTABLISH A STUDENT FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM AND BUILD STUDENTS' PRACTICAL SKILLS IN WATER QUALITY TESTING. THIS PROGRAM ALSO COLLECTS WATER QUALITY DATA FROM HOUSEHOLDS, SCHOOLS, AND HEALTHCARE FACILITIES TO INFORM STRATEGIES FOR WATER QUALITY IMPROVEMENT INTERVENTIONS.
- $839,139 spent. ASSURANCE FUND - THIS PROGRAM PARTNERS WITH URBAN LABORATORIES, RURAL WATER SYSTEMS, AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS IN GHANA, KENYA, AND TANZANIA TO FACILITATE REGULAR WATER QUALITY TESTING OF RURAL WATER SYSTEMS AND PROMOTE THE USE OF WATER QUALITY DATA FOR BETTER WATER SAFETY MANAGEMENT. THE PROGRAM ALSO PROVIDES CAPACITY STRENGTHENING, TECHNICAL GUIDANCE, AND COMMUNITY SENSITIZATION. RIGOROUS RESEARCH EVALUATIONS ARE BEING CONDUCTED IN KENYA AND GHANA TO EVALUATE THE IMPACT OF THE PROGRAM.
- $310,328 spent. REAL WATER - RURAL EVIDENCE AND LEARNING FOR WATER (REAL WATER) IS A FIVE-YEAR (2021-2026) COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE U.S. AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT (USAID) AND THE AQUAYA INSTITUTE (AQUAYA) TO DEVELOP AND EVALUATE STRATEGIES FOR EXPANDING ACCESS TO SAFE, EQUITABLE, AND SUSTAINABLE RURAL WATER SERVICES. REAL-WATER WILL SUPPORT POLICYMAKERS, DEVELOPMENT PARTNERS, AND SERVICE PROVIDERS TO MAKE STRATEGIC DECISIONS AND IMPLEMENT BEST PRACTICES FOR WATER MANAGEMENT THROUGH APPLIED RESEARCH.
- $1.5 million spent. OTHER PROGRAMS
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Legitimacy checks
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.
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 November 6, 2026.
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.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2025.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since August 2006.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
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 November 4, 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.