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Impact Water Foundation

EIN 93-3787225 · San Francisco, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak44 out of 100GovernanceStrong93 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • Raising each dollar of donations cost 608 cents.

These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.

What it says it does

TO MAKE SAFE DRINKING WATER AVAILABLE TO AS MANY STUDENTS AS POSSIBLE THROUGH SCALABLE AND LASTING SOLUTIONS, ENSURING EVERY STUDENT CAN LEARN AND THRIVE WITH SAFE WATER. SEE SCHEDULE O.

Income
$8.2 million
Spending
$7.5 million
Spent on programs
87%
Reserves
0.9 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 99%
Employees
6
Highest pay
$261,630, ceo & board

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

Weak: 44 out of 100. Higher than 12% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    4 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 0.9 months of spending.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 48% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 9% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 8133% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    0 of 15

    87% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 608 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: 93 out of 100. Higher than 55% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    18 of 25

    3 of 3 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

    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, 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)
  1. $3.4 million spent. IMPACT WATER NIGERIA OPERATES THE LARGEST COUNTRY PROGRAM, SERVING 14.7 MILLION STUDENTS ACROSS 38,855 SCHOOLS IN 27 STATES THROUGH CHLORINE TABLET SYSTEMS AND INLINE CHLORINATION. OUR NIGERIA PROGRAM DEMONSTRATED REMARKABLE EXPANSION IN 2024, INSTALLING WATER TREATMENT SYSTEMS IN 21,065 SCHOOLS ACROSS 12 NEW STATES WHILE UPGRADING NEARLY 7,000 EXISTING SCHOOLS TO IMPROVED INLINE CHLORINATORS. THE PROGRAM MAINTAINED CONSISTENT FIELD OPERATIONS ACROSS ALL STATES DESPITE SIGNIFICANT SECURITY CHALLENGES IN NORTHERN REGIONS INCLUDING KATSINA, KADUNA, GOMBE, AND NIGER STATES, WHERE FEW INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS OPERATE. OUR ABILITY TO SUSTAIN SERVICES ACROSS 27 STATES DEMONSTRATES COMMITMENT TO REACHING LAST-MILE COMMUNITIES WHERE THE NEED FOR SAFE WATER INTERVENTIONS IS GREATEST.
  2. $2.5 million spent. IMPACT WATER KENYA PROGRAM SERVES 7.7 MILLION STUDENTS IN 19,019 SCHOOLS WITH CHLORINE TABLET SYSTEMS. THIS IS NEARLY 80% OF THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS IN KENYA. FOLLOWING EXPANSION TO NEARLY 10,000 SCHOOLS IN 2023, KENYA OPERATIONS FOCUSED ON PROGRAM CONSOLIDATION AND QUALITY IMPROVEMENT IN 2024. WE IMPLEMENTED TWO CRITICAL INITIATIVES: ENHANCING FIELD AGENT EDUCATION VISITS AND ENGAGING LOCAL EDUCATION OFFICIALS IN BEHAVIOR CHANGE CAMPAIGNS. ADDITIONALLY, WE CONDUCTED PILOT EVALUATIONS COMPARING THE IMPACT OF VISIT FREQUENCIES ON USAGE AND DETERMINED THAT TWO ANNUAL VISITS WITH CONSISTENT LONG-TERM ENGAGEMENT PRODUCES OPTIMAL RESULTS
  3. $672,856 spent. IMPACT WATER UGANDA SERVES 2.2 MILLION STUDENTS ACROSS 2,937 SCHOOLS IN 111 DISTRICTS, PRIMARILY USING MULTI-STAGE ULTRAVIOLET PURIFICATION SYSTEMS SUITED FOR SCHOOLS WITH RELIABLE ELECTRICITY AND DEVELOPED INFRASTRUCTURE. UGANDA OPERATIONS INSTALLED UV SYSTEMS IN 992 ADDITIONAL PUBLIC SCHOOLS IN 2024 WHILE CONDUCTING 2,500 REGULAR MAINTENANCE VISITS TO ENSURE OPTIMAL SYSTEM PERFORMANCE. WE ALSO CONDUCTED RESUPPLY VISITS TO 242 CHLORINE TABLET SCHOOLS.

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 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 2024.

    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 July 2024.

    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.