Water.org

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title: "Water.org" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["international-charities", "development-charities-based-in-the-united-states", "charities-based-in-missouri", "organizations-established-in-1990", "articles-containing-video-clips", "water-related-charities", "matt-damon"] description: "US-based nonprofit organization" topic_path: "geography/united-states" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Water.org" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::summary US-based nonprofit organization ::

::data[format=table title="Infobox organization"]

Field	Value
name	Water.org
image	The Power of Water.webm
caption	A video by Water.org
logo	Water.org logo.png updated.png
formation	2009 (1990 as WaterPartners)
type	Developmental aid organization
tax_id	58-2060131
leader_title	Executive Director
leader_name	Gary White
key_people
website
::

| name = Water.org | image = The Power of Water.webm | caption = A video by Water.org | logo = Water.org logo.png updated.png | formation = 2009 (1990 as WaterPartners) | extinction = | type = Developmental aid organization | tax_id = 58-2060131 | headquarters = | location = | membership = | language = | leader_title = Executive Director | leader_name = Gary White | key_people = | num_staff = | budget = | website = Water.org is an international nonprofit organization that helps people living in poverty get access to safe water and improved sanitation through affordable financing. This organization was founded by Matt Damon and Gary White.

Water.org currently works in 11 countries in Africa, Asia and Latin America: Bangladesh, Brazil, Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Kenya, Mexico, Peru, Philippines, South Africa, Tanzania and Uganda.

Description

In 1990, Gary White founded WaterPartners International. White had observed that people were paying high prices for water, whether paying a local water vendor or paying with their time by walking to collect water. He had an idea to loan people the money upfront for them to finance the purchase and installation of a water tap or toilet. In 2008, the first loans for water connections and toilets were distributed in India.

Water.org utilizes microfinancing solutions to help people in need of loans for water and sanitation. Water.org partners with local financial institutions in the countries they work in to add water and sanitation loans to their portfolios.

Many families cannot pay to connect to local water networks. A loan for water allows families to connect to a water supply and even get a faucet inside their home. This saves families money from paying large portions of their income to a water vendor. It also results in women and children having more time to attend work and school that was previously spent walking to collect water.

Corporate partnerships

Water.org has partnered with corporate sponsors to promote awareness and raise funds. In this context, co-founder Matt Damon has been the face of advertising campaigns to promote Water.org in conjunction with products from major sponsors.

In October 2011, Water.org received an $8 million grant from the PepsiCo Foundation to scale up WaterCredit, tying in with the Aquafina and Ethos Water brands of bottled water owned by PepsiCo and Starbucks.

Stella Artois became a Water.org partner in 2015. In January 2018, their new commercial, which premiered during the NFL Super Bowl, encouraged viewers to contribute to the work of Water.org by purchasing a limited-edition Stella Artois "blue chalice", imprinted with an embellished blue version of the brand's logo. Each purchase would help Water.org provide up to five years of clean water for one person in the developing world.

In October 2021, a new partnership was announced with the cryptocurrency trading platform Crypto.com, whereby Water.org was to receive a $1 million donation. The announcement quoted Damon as saying, "Crypto.com gave us this great donation, which is amazing. The money that I make for the commercials to promote them, I give 100% of that to Water.org as well. So, it's millions of dollars coming in to us. The thing that we really are proud of with what we're doing and where it relates to Crypto.com is the self-determination piece, because it's about giving people more power. It's about just creating an environment where people can help themselves."

Janji works with water.org in Haiti.

Ratings

, Charity Navigator gave the organization 4 out of 4 stars, with an overall score of 95.75 out of 100. Water.org has received a 4 out of 4 star rating for 11 years. The organization is recognized as an accredited charity by the Better Business Bureau’s Wise Giving Alliance, and has a "Platinum Seal of Transparency" from Guidestar.

Awards

• 2019 Global Global Water Awards: Water Company of the Year
• 2020 CNN Heroes
• International Peace Award - Community of Christ - 2019
• Forbes 400 Lifetime Achievement Award for Social Entrepreneurship - 2017
• World Economic Forum’s Global Agenda Council on Water – 2014
• Crystal Award winner from the World Economic Forum – 2014
• Environmental Media Award from The Environmental Media Association – 2013
• Schwab Foundation Social Entrepreneur – 2012
• TIME 100 list of the world’s most influential people – 2011
• Skoll Foundation Social Entrepreneur – 2009
• Philanthropy World Hall of Fame – 2008

References

References

1. Sudekum Fisher, Maria. (July 15, 2009). "Damon joins K.C. organization to provide for developing communities".
2. Porgas, Seth. (January 26, 2017). "Water.org Cofounders Matt Damon & Gary White: Corporate Partnerships Are The Future Of Charity". [[Forbes]].
3. McGirt, Ellen. (2015). "Water.org Cofounders Matt Damon and Gary White are empowering the planet one tap at a time".
4. "World Water Day 2021: Water.org Is Fighting to End the Water Crisis".
5. (29 September 2009). "Matt Damon's Quest for Clean African Water". The New York Times.
6. "World Water Day 2021: Water.org Is Fighting to End the Water Crisis".
7. "Partners".
8. "PepsiCo Foundation expands commitment to Water.org with $8 million contribution to scale "WaterCredit" across India". Water.org.
9. Zmuda, Natalie. (October 18, 2013). "Pepsi partners with Starbucks water brand. Also teams with Matt Damon's group to push charitable message behind Ethos". AdAge.
10. "Why Matt Damon and Gary White of Water.org are friends of PepsiCo".
11. "Stella Artois Limited Edition Chalice at Water.org (Matt Damon)".
12. "Stella Artois And Water.org Team Up To Encourage Beer Lovers To 'Make Your Super Bowl Party Matter'".
13. "Stella Artois Chalices".
14. "Stella Artois: Give the gift of time (Matt Damon for Water.org)".
15. Conway, Jeff. "Matt Damon announces Water.org partnership with Crypto.com".
16. Bhasin, Kim. (October 28, 2021). "Matt Damon is the Face of Crypto.com". Bloomberg.
17. "Fortune Favours the Brave – Crypto.com".
18. "The making of Fortune Favours the Brave – Crypto.com".
19. "Charity Navigator: Water.org".
20. "Give.org: Water.org".
21. "Guidestar: Water.org".
22. (April 25, 2019). "GWI Announces Winners of the 2019 Global Water Awards".
23. (1 December 2020). "Angela Bassett, Orlando Bloom and Gal Gadot Among the Celebrity Presenters for the 14th Annual CNN Heroes: An All-Star Tribute".
24. "International Peace Award".
25. (19 September 2017). "Forbes Hosts Sixth Annual Forbes 400 Summit On Philanthropy In Honor Of Its 100th Anniversary".
26. "Water.org News, Press & Perspectives".
27. (21 January 2014). "Meet the 2014 Crystal Award winners".
28. "EMA Awards - Past Recipients and Honorees".
29. "Awards: Social Entrepreneur".
30. (21 April 2011). "Matt Damon and Gary White".
31. (26 March 2009 }}{{Dead link). "2009 SKOLL AWARDS FOR SOCIAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP".
32. "Water.org News, Press & Perspectives".

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