Living Water International
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
Living Water International ("Living Water") exists to demonstrate the love of God by helping communities in 17 developing countries acquire desperately needed clean water and to experience "living water" - the gospel of Jesus Christ.
- Income
- $26.3 million
- Spending
- $26.3 million
- Spent on programs
- 81%
- Reserves
- -0.9 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 98%
- Employees
- 67
- Volunteers
- 645
- Highest pay
- $402,256, president & ceo
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Fair: 58 out of 100. Higher than 41% of charities in its peer group (human services, $10m to $100m).
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 26% of what it owns.
Living within its means
12 of 15Income exceeded spending by 0% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 1% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1581% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 12 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 35% of charities in its peer group (human services, $10m to $100m).
Independent board
25 of 2512 of 12 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 June 30, 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 (2)
- $20.8 million spent. WATER PROJECTS - WASH ACTIVITIES: Living Water trains and equips staff, organizations and volunteers to help developing communities gain access to safe drinking water through the construction of new bore holes, piped water systems, filtration systems, rainwater harvesting as well as the rehabilitation of existing systems that have fallen into disrepair. Living Water introduces health, hygiene, and sanitation education. The gospel is shared directly and through partnerships with local churches and other ministries using various methods including training in oral Bible story-telling. Living Water empowers local individuals and communities and seeks to use the most appropriate technology and socially responsible interventions. Living Water serves all people regardless of religion, race, ethnicity or gender.
- $561,424 spent. WATER ADVOCACY/ACTION: See Schedule O. Living Water aims to end the global water crisis affecting 703 million people by engaging donors and volunteers, immersing them in education and action to become champions for the cause. We do this by: 1 - Leading in advocacy by equipping individuals/donors and others with resources on the effect the global water crisis has on women, children, men, and communities worldwide. 2 - Leading in action by mobilizing hundreds of volunteers each year to assist in drilling wells, promoting hygiene and sanitation, and sharing the love of Jesus. Living Water trains volunteers, missionaries, and development professionals each year to drill wells, repair pumps, teach good hygiene practices, and use culturally appropriate story-telling techniques for Christian witness. Living Water uses training techniques that equip participants to train others so the knowledge and experience gained can be easily transferred.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 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 October 13, 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 June 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 September 1991.
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 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.