Home › International, foreign affairs & national security
Water Missions International
Also known as Water Mission
Water Missions International reported $42.1 million in revenue and $47.5 million in expenses for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2025. Of every $100 it spent, $87.94 went to program services, $5.38 to management and general costs and $6.68 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was contributions and grants: 99.3% of the total. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $257,666 (CEO & PRESIDENT). 26 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue rose 33% between FY2020 and FY2025. Source: Form 990, FY2025.
Where $100 of spending went
The fiscal year ending September 30, 2025 · Form 990, Part IX, line 25 · total expenses $48MFor context, the median across 469 covered international, foreign affairs & national security charities: $89.04 programs, $8.28 management, $2.68 fundraising (medians computed separately, so they may not sum to $100).
Where $100 of revenue came from
The fiscal year ending September 30, 2025 · Form 990, Part VIII · total revenue $42MOther revenue was negative: −$67,599. The bar shows the positive sources only.
The 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | FY2025 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 87.9% | 86.1% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 5.4% | 8.0% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 6.7% | 2.6% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.08 | $0.03 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 99.3% | 96.6% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $257,666 | $341,362 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 0.54% | 1.06% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 26 | 10 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 3.5 | 7.5 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 10 of 12 | 100.0% |
A median is context, not a target: hospitals, universities, food banks and grantmakers spend in very different ways. What these measures can and can't tell you.
What the money paid for, in its own words
FY2025 · Form 990, Part III · the three largest programs by expenseSafe water for communities: water mission works closely with communities to design, build, and operate customized safe water solutions using innovative technology and tailored water treatment methods. Our safe water solutions include piped distribution to shared community tap stands; bottling stations with home delivery by vehicles; and direct private connections to households, clinics, and schools. We utilize a variety of service delivery approaches to provide long-term operations and maintenance (o&m) support to keep safe water flowing. Water mission also implements sanitation…
Disaster response: water mission implements immediate and long-term safe water solutions following natural disasters and during humanitarian crises. Working in partnership with local governments and other organizations, water mission's disaster assistance response team provides immediate aid and helps build long-term resiliency. Solutions are tailored to the specific needs of each community impacted by disaster and can include emergency safe water provision, water quality testing, infrastructure rehabilitation, new construction, hygiene supplies, and more. In fy2025, water mission responded…
Safe water for refugees: water mission provides sustainable access to safe water for men, women, and children who have been forced to leave their homes due to violence, persecution, food insecurity, or natural disasters. Access to safe water helps refugees experience healthier and more dignified living conditions. By constructing new safe water systems, rehabilitating existing systems, and providing ongoing o&m services, water mission keeps safe water flowing in refugee contexts. Water mission also provides safe water, sanitation, and hygiene (wash) services in host communities (existing…
Highest reported compensation
FY2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section A · roles as filed; names are in the filing, not here| Role | From this org | From related orgs | Other | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CEO & PRESIDENT Director/trustee, officer, 45.00 hrs/week | $230,577 | $0 | $27,089 | $257,666 |
| CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER Officer, 45.00 hrs/week | $192,995 | $0 | $37,416 | $230,411 |
| CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER Officer, 45.00 hrs/week | $180,978 | $0 | $31,605 | $212,583 |
| CHIEF INFORMATION OFFICER Highest compensated employee, 45.00 hrs/week | $153,820 | $0 | $33,229 | $187,049 |
| EVP PARTNERSHIPS & COMMUNICATIONS Highest compensated employee, 45.00 hrs/week | $179,593 | $0 | $6,909 | $186,502 |
| VP, INTERNATIONAL OPERATIONS Highest compensated employee, 45.00 hrs/week | $155,969 | $0 | $26,631 | $182,600 |
| VP, STANDARDS & EXCELLENCE Highest compensated employee, 45.00 hrs/week | $134,684 | $0 | $38,165 | $172,849 |
| SR DIR, INVESTOR PARTNERSHIPS Highest compensated employee, 45.00 hrs/week | $134,680 | $0 | $17,924 | $152,604 |
26 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from Water Missions International (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $614K (Part IX, line 5).
6 years of filings
Form 990, Parts I, VII, IX and X · each row is that year's own filing, linkedGovernance answers, as filed
FY2025 · the organization's own yes/no answers; explanations, if any, are in Schedule O of the filing · what each means- Voting board members, and how many are independent Part VI, lines 1a–1b12 · 10 independent
- Audited financial statements Part XII 2bYes
- Conflict-of-interest policy Part VI 12aYes
- Whistleblower policy Part VI 13Yes
- Document retention policy Part VI 14Yes
- Independent process for top executive pay Part VI 15aYes
- Board given the 990 before filing Part VI 11aYes
- Family or business ties among insiders Part VI 2Yes
- Aware of a significant diversion of assets Part VI 5No
- Excess benefit transaction with an insider Part IV 25aNo
- Loans to or from insiders outstanding Part IV 26No
- Lobbying, or a 501(h) election in effect Part IV 4No
- Over $15,000 of professional fundraising services Part IV 18Yes
- Over $10,000 of activity outside the U.S. Part IV 14bYes
- Employees Part I, line 5147
- Volunteers Part I, line 6406
Largest outside contractors
FY2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section B · businesses only| TECHFINO LLC Erp support contractor | $379,529 |
| CANTEY TECHNOLOGY CONSULTING LLC It support contractor | $157,950 |
| SCOTT LINEBRINK Professional fundraiser | $118,852 |
| RENFROE OUTDOOR LLC Digital billboard contractor | $112,450 |
Individuals listed as contractors are left out. 6 contractors were paid more than $100,000 in all.
Private foundation grants it received
44 private foundations reported grants to Water Missions International totaling $1.9M on their tax year 2023 Form 990-PF returns. See which foundations, on WHOFUNDS.
Source: WHOFUNDS open grant graph, matched from Form 990-PF Part XV.
Correct a figure or respond
Every number above is copied from Water Missions International's own Form 990. If one doesn't match the filing, that's our error and we'll fix it. If you work for Water Missions International, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
Share or embed this breakdown
Of every $100 Water Missions International spent in FY2025, $87.94 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
Embed on your site
Similar-sized charities in this cause
- Grassroots InternationalBoston, MA · revenue $42M · programs 95.2% · FY2025
- American Friends of Yeshiva DmirBrooklyn, NY · revenue $42M · programs 87.9% · 2024
- Nova UkrainePalo Alto, CA · revenue $41M · programs 93.5% · 2024
- Finca InternationalWashington, DC · revenue $42M · programs 81.5% · 2024
- Hope InternationalLancaster, PA · revenue $41M · programs 78.6% · 2024
All international, foreign affairs & national security charities · Largest charities in South Carolina
Questions people ask
How much of Water Missions International's spending goes to programs?
In the fiscal year ending September 30, 2025, Water Missions International reported that 87.9% of its $47.5 million in expenses went to program services, 5.4% to management and general and 6.7% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does Water Missions International pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation Water Missions International reported for one person in the fiscal year ending September 30, 2025 was $257,666, for the role of CEO & PRESIDENT (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does Water Missions International get its money?
Of $42.1 million in revenue in the fiscal year ending September 30, 2025, 99.3% came from contributions and grants and 0.0% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is Water Missions International a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 57-1116978 as a 501(c)(3) organization (publicly supported organization (170(b)(1)(a)(vi))), and its records show contributions as tax-deductible. Form 990 filings on record here cover tax years 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024. A filing shows what the organization reported; it doesn't by itself show whether a program works.
Sources
- FY2025: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2025, object 202602259349302515 · read the filing
- FY2024: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2024, object 202512279349302106 · read the filing
- FY2023: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2023, object 202402259349300635 · read the filing
- FY2022: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2022, object 202321149349300727 · read the filing
- FY2021: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2021, object 202242279349304064 · read the filing
- FY2020: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2020 (amended), object 202143029349302204 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 57-1116978: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.