Freshwater Project International Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
TO PROVIDE WATER AND SANITATION TO THE PEOPLE OF MALAWI.
- Income
- $517,874
- Spending
- $589,805
- Spent on programs
- 87%
- Reserves
- 0.6 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 99%
- Employees
- 0
- Volunteers
- 15
- Highest pay
- $25,900, board chair/
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: 58 out of 100. Higher than 26% of charities in its peer group (human services, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
4 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 0.6 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 0% of what it owns.
Living within its means
4 of 15Spending exceeded income by 14% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 17% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1587% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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
Good: 72 out of 100. Higher than 50% of charities in its peer group (human services, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
18 of 253 of 4 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
0 of 7Reports no 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
0 of 5Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.
Independent check of accounts
6 of 15Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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, 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 (3)
- $26,476 spent. WASH IN COMMUNITIES: MOST OF THE ORGANIZATION'S PROJECTS ARE CONCENTRATED IN THE RURAL AREAS OF MALAWI, IN COMMUNITIES WHERE ACCESS TO CLEAR WATER, SAFE SANITATION, AND HYGIENE INFORMATION IS A MAJOR CHALLENGE. THIS YEAR, BECAUSE OF TROPICAL CYCLONE FREDDY IN EARLY MARCH, WE FOCUSED ON DISASTER RESPONSE EFFORTS TO COMMUNITIES. THIS INCLUDED THE DISTRIBUTION OF WATER AND HYGIENE SUPPLIES SUCH AS: WATER FILTERS, WATER STORAGE BUCKETS, BUCKETS WITH TAPS, PLASTIC HAND WASHING BASINS, AQUATABS, CHLORINE, AND MULTI-PURPOSE SOAP TABLETS. ADDITIONALLY, THEY INSTALLED ONE WELL AT MAGOMBO VILLAGE IN MBETA.
- $105,904 spent. WASH IN SCHOOLS: MANY SCHOOLS IN MALAWI LACK ACCESS TO CLEAN WATER AND SAFE SANITATION. STUDENTS AND TEACHERS MUST FETCH WATER FROM UNPROTECTED SOURCES THAT ARE OFTEN CONTAMINATED AND OFTEN ARE FORCED TO RELIEVE THEMSELVES IN THE BUSH. THIS EXPOSES THEM TO UNHYGIENIC PRACTICES AND OFTEN RESULTS IN WATER-RELATED DISEASE THAT IMPACTS THEIR SCHOOL ATTENDANCE. ADDITIONALLY, WHEN GIRLS REACH THE AGE OF PUBERTY, THEY OFTEN DROP OUT OF SCHOOL FOR LACK OF PRIVACY IN MENSTRUAL HYGIENE MANAGEMENT. THIS YEAR, THE ORGANIZATION UPGRADED WASH SYSTEMS AT FIVE SCHOOLS IN MALAWI.
- $380,728 spent. WASH IN HEALTH CENTERS: WHEN A HEALTH CENTER LACKS ACCESS TO CLEAN WATER, IT IS NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE FOR MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS TO PROVIDE HYGIENIC, SAFE CARE TO THEIR PATIENTS, MUCH TIME IS WASTED, AND SERVICES ARE OFTEN DELAYED. IN ZOMBA DISTRICT, THE ORGANIZATION AND PARTNERS UPGRADED WASH SYSTEMS AT 100% OF THE GOVERNMENT HEALTH CENTERS.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since November 2011.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 October 7, 2026.
Could it be confused with another charity? Worth knowing.
A much larger organization has a similar name: Heifer Project International (Little Rock, AR), EIN 35-1019477. If that is the one you meant, check the EIN before giving.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 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.