Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

The Samburu Project Inc

EIN 20-3541982 · Los Angeles, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair65 out of 100GovernanceStrong91 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO PROVIDE ACCESS TO CLEAN WATER AND TO CONTINUE TO SUPPORT WELL COMMUNITIES WITH INITIATIVES THAT PROMOTE HEALTH, EDUCATION, WOMEN'S EMPOWERMENT AND GENERAL WELL-BEING. WE COLLABORATE WITH COMMUNITIES IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES TO ENHANCE MEN, WOMEN, AND CHILDREN'S DAILY LIVES BY PROVIDING RESOURCES THAT ADDRESS IMMEDIATE NEEDS WHILE PROMOTING LONG TERM SUSTAINABILITY AND SELF-SUFFICIENCY ALONG WITH CULTURAL INTEGRITY. THE PROJECT IS A COMMUNITY-BASED, GRASSROOTS ORGANIZATION WORKING WITH THE PEOPLE OF THE SAMBURU TRIBE IN KENYA'S SAMBURU EAST DISTRICT, 425 KILOMETERS NORTH OF NAIROBI. THE PROJECT'S PRIMARY FOCUS IS TO PROVIDE CLEAN, SAFE DRINKING WATER TO COMMUNITIES AS A FOUNDATION FOR FURTHER DEVELOPMENT. SINCE ITS INCEPTION IN 2005, THE PROJECT HAS DRILLED 165 WELLS, BRINGING CLEAN, SAFE DRINKING WATER TO OVER 100,000 PEOPLE.

Income
$823,558
Spending
$633,812
Spent on programs
79%
Reserves
2.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 100%
Employees
4
Volunteers
24
Highest pay
$129,304, executive director

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

Fair: 65 out of 100. Higher than 30% of charities in its peer group (international, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 2.5 months of spending.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 31% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 23% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 37% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    79% 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: 91 out of 100. Higher than 79% of charities in its peer group (international, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    7 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

    6 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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 (4)
  1. $361,855 spent. WELL DRILLING - DRILLING OF NINE HANDPUMP WATER WELLS AND A SOLARIZATION OF ONE COMMUNITY BOREHOLE AND COMMUNITY KIOSK, IN ADDITION TO MAJOR REPAIRS MADE TO 51 WELLS AND MONITORING OF 165 EXISTING WELLS.
  2. $65,110 spent. MENSTRUAL HYGIENE PROGRAM THAT INCLUDES: INSTRUCTIONAL WORKSHOPS, DISTRIBUTION OF REUSABLE PRODUCTS, SOAP AND UNDERWEAR TO 2,056 GIRLS AND 171 WOMEN LIVING IN REMOTE VILLAGES.
  3. $59,692 spent. VARIETY OF EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS THAT PROVIDE SUPPORT TO SAMBURU CHILDREN, INCLUDING: SCHOOL FEES FOR FIVE SAMBURU ELEMENTARY SCHOOL STUDENTS, MENTORSHIP AND COMPUTER ASSISTANCE TO SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS SEEKING COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIPS.
  4. $14,044 spent. AN AGRICULTURAL PROGRAM FOR TSP WELL PARTNER SCHOOLS, INCLUDING CONSTRUCTION OF ONE SCHOOL GARDEN AND PLANNING OF 2 MORE.

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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 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 September 7, 2026.

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

    Recognized by the IRS since September 2006.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 7, 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.