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Waterorg
Waterorg reported $31.3 million in revenue and $37.1 million in expenses for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2025. Of every $100 it spent, $79.70 went to program services, $9.00 to management and general costs and $11.30 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was contributions and grants: 94.5% of the total. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $570,645 (BOARD MEMBER, CEO & CO-FOUNDER). 44 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue rose 64% 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 $37MFor 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 $31MThe 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | FY2025 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 79.7% | 86.1% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 9.0% | 8.0% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 11.3% | 2.6% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.14 | $0.03 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 94.5% | 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 | $570,645 | $341,362 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 1.54% | 1.06% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 44 | 10 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 13.1 | 7.5 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 15 of 16 | 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 expenseWater programs:water.org works to catalyze new sources of capital to power water and sanitation solutions, drive down the philanthropic costs to provide water, and continually increase the number of people with access to safe water and sanitation. Water.org works in 15 countries in asia, africa and latin america. Together with our 200 partners around the world, we've catalyzed more than $7.7 billion in capital to support small loans that bring access to safe water and sanitation to millions of people in need. 88 million people now have access to safe water or sanitation
Outreach:water.org raises awareness of the global water crisis and its effort to break down the financial barriers between people living in poverty and access to safe water and sanitation. Water.org communicates through a variety of channels, including the water.org website, social media, email, direct mail, digital media and media relations. Water.org also works with governments, sector institutions and other partners at a systems-level to promote changes that increase the flow of capital for household water and sanitation solutions
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BOARD MEMBER, CEO & CO-FOUNDER Director/trustee, officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $528,014 | $0 | $42,631 | $570,645 |
| PRESIDENT/COO Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $340,202 | $0 | $36,085 | $376,287 |
| CRO Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $301,605 | $0 | $34,258 | $335,863 |
| CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $287,152 | $0 | $16,585 | $303,737 |
| CHIEF PROGRAMS OFFICER Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $246,999 | $0 | $41,185 | $288,184 |
| CHIEF GLOBAL IMPACT OFFICER Key employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $257,057 | $0 | $10,134 | $267,191 |
| DIR, BRAND MKTING & COMMUNICATIONS Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $225,783 | $0 | $26,960 | $252,743 |
| CHIEF OF STAFF OFFICER Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $193,258 | $0 | $30,639 | $223,897 |
44 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from Waterorg (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $1.6M (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–1b16 · 15 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 2No
- 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 4Yes
- 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 583
Largest outside contractors
FY2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section B · businesses only| VELOCITY GLOBAL LLC Professional employer organization servi | $447,548 |
| YOUR PART-TIME CONTROLLER LLC Finance/accounting | $340,695 |
| BRICKWALL SECURITY Tech/cyber security | $225,000 |
| LEBEC CONSULTING Advertising/fundraising | $116,724 |
| RSM US LLP Finance/accounting | $113,255 |
Individuals listed as contractors are left out. 7 contractors were paid more than $100,000 in all.
Private foundation grants it received
65 private foundations reported grants to Waterorg totaling $1.1M 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 Waterorg's own Form 990. If one doesn't match the filing, that's our error and we'll fix it. If you work for Waterorg, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
Share or embed this breakdown
Of every $100 Waterorg spent in FY2025, $79.70 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
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All international, foreign affairs & national security charities · Largest charities in Missouri
Questions people ask
How much of Waterorg's spending goes to programs?
In the fiscal year ending September 30, 2025, Waterorg reported that 79.7% of its $37.1 million in expenses went to program services, 9.0% to management and general and 11.3% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does Waterorg pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation Waterorg reported for one person in the fiscal year ending September 30, 2025 was $570,645, for the role of BOARD MEMBER, CEO & CO-FOUNDER (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does Waterorg get its money?
Of $31.3 million in revenue in the fiscal year ending September 30, 2025, 94.5% came from contributions and grants and 0.0% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is Waterorg a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 58-2060131 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 202612049349301461 · read the filing · XML
- FY2024: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2024, object 202511189349301876 · read the filing
- FY2023: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2023, object 202401209349302055 · read the filing
- FY2022: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2022, object 202300979349300840 · read the filing
- FY2021: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2021, object 202221019349301237 · read the filing
- FY2020: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2020, object 202132289349302163 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 58-2060131: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.