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Passes our checks

Living Waters for the World

EIN 82-2041626 · Spring Hill, TN

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood82 out of 100GovernanceGood85 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO TRAIN AND SUPPORT MISSION TEAMS TO PROVIDE SUSTAINABLE ACCESS TO CLEAN WATER THROUGH THE FOSTERING OF LONG-TERM, MUTUALLY BENEFICIAL RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN VOLUNTEERS AND COMMUNITIES IN NEED.

Income
$1.5 million
Spending
$1.5 million
Spent on programs
78%
Reserves
5.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 90%
Employees
7
Volunteers
2,300
Highest pay
$146,328, executive di

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: 82 out of 100. Higher than 60% of charities in its peer group (international, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 5.6 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 2% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    12 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 1% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 14% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    78% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 10 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

Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 40% of charities in its peer group (international, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    13 of 13 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    0 of 7

    Reports no 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, 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)
  1. $771,460 spent. FIELD OPERATIONS ENCOMPASSES ALL THE DAY TO DAY ACTIVITIES RELATED TO THE PLANNING OF, IMPLEMENTATION OF, AND SUSTAINING OF LWW WATER PROJECTS AROUND THE WORLD. FIELD OPERATIONS IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE CREATION OF AND MANAGEMENT OF LWW'S SUPPORT NETWORKS IN 10 COUNTRIES, INCLUDING CONTRACTOR STAFFING AND PROVISIONING OF IN-COUNTRY SUPPLY-CHAINS; REVIEWING AND APPROVING THE TECHNOLOGY LWW TEAMS USE TO TREAT CONTAMINATED WATER; AND OVERSIGHT OF THE FULFILLMENT CENTER WHICH EQUIPS MISSION TEAMS AS THEY ENGAGE IN WATER PROJECTS.
  2. $407,847 spent. CLEAN WATER U (CWU) IS A FIVE-DAY PROGRAM THAT PROVIDES AN INTENSIVE, HANDS-ON EXPERIENCE DESIGNED TO EQUIP MISSION TEAM LEADERS TO WORK WITH OUR PARTNER COMMUNITIES TO CREATE SUSTAINABLE SOLUTIONS. THREE SEPARATE WORKSHOPS ARE TAUGHT CONCURRENTLY, AND LWW WATER TEAMS MUST HAVE AT LEAST ONE MEMBER CERTIFIED IN EACH OF THE THREE: CWU 101 - WATER PROJECT MANAGEMENT AND PARTNERSHIP DEVELOPMENT; CWU 102 - HEALTH AND SPIRITUAL EDUCATION; CWU 103 - WATER TESTING, WATER SYSTEM INSTALLATION, OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE.

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

  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 November 6, 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 2025.

    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 October 2017.

    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 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.