Water.org

Water.org is an international nonprofit organization that has changed millions of lives around the world with access to safe water and sanitation through affordable financing.  Founded by Matt Damon and Gary White, Water.org has been pioneering market-driven financial solutions to the global water crisis for more than 25 years. 

Water.org works in 13 countries in Africa, Asia and Latin America: Bangladesh, Brazil, Cambodia, Ethiopia, Ghana, India, Indonesia, Kenya, Mexico, Peru, Philippines, Tanzania and Uganda. 

History
In 1990, engineer Gary White founded Water Partners International to provide communities in developing countries with access to safe drinking water.  

After spending countless hours traveling and studying the global needs and economies of families living in poverty, Gary 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 or leaving jobs to stand in line to collect water.   Gary believed that people in need could be part of solving their own water crisis if given the opportunity.  They know what water or sanitation solutions they need at home, and they need financial help to access them. 

Gary had the idea to loan people the money upfront to install their own water tap or their own toilet.  They could use the money they were paying each week to a water vendor to re-pay their loan instead.  And when repaid, they would own their toilet and have long-term access to water. 

Gary shared his idea with financial institutions, connecting the forces he believed would help solve the water crisis—financing and the people in need of water and toilets.  In 2008, the first loans for water connections and toilets were dispersed in India.  

During this time, Gary attended the annual Clinton Global Initiative in New York.  There he met actor Matt Damon who, as a result of his passion to help communities in Africa get safe water, had founded his own water charity, H20 Africa.  Gary and Matt quickly determined they could have significantly more impact around the world if they worked together.  In 2009, they merged their organizations – Water Partners International and H20 Africa – to become Water.org.  

Their combined water and sanitation expertise and star-power have helped Water.org to become a leader in the water and sanitation sector. 

Approach
One of the major barriers to safe water and sanitation is affordable financing.  Water.org created the WaterCredit Initiative® to address this barrier head-on.  WaterCredit helps bring small loans to those who need access to affordable financing and expert resources to make household water and toilet solutions a reality.  

Water.org works with microfinance providers to extend affordable financing solutions for safe water and sanitation to the poor.  Water.org uses philanthropic dollars to offset startup costs and provide technical assistance to help microfinance institutions to build water and sanitation-based loan portfolios.  These microfinance institutions utilize financing from banks and capital markets so that they can disburse loans to their clients, who include both individuals and small communities.  Their clients then hire contractors and use retailers to improve their own water and sanitation.  

To date, Water.org has used $29 million in grants to help build a loan portfolio of roughly $1.7 billion—in other words, every dollar Water.org has granted has catalyzed $57 in loans toward water and sanitation. And since 99 percent of those loans are repaid, this capital is recycled, funding other loans—loans that measurably improve their recipients’ lives, most of whom are women. 

More than half of the people who benefit from these loans live on less than $2 a day.   Women are able to pay back the small loans because the hours previously spent collecting water can be spent on other work.  With clean water, families are healthier and children can stay in school longer. 

Water.org and Stella Artois Partnership 
Since 2015, Stella Artois has teamed up with Water.org to provide access to clean water to people in developing countries.  In February 2018, their commercial featuring Matt Damon premiered during Super Bowl LII, encouraging audiences to take part in this initiative by purchasing a limited-edition Stella Artois chalice.  Each purchase helps Water.org provide up to 5 years of clean water for 1 person in the developing world. 

Reviews
As of January 2020, Charity Navigator gives the organization 4 out of 4 stars, with an overall score of 95.75 out of 100.  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. 

References

External links

Category:International charities
Category:Development charities based in the United States
Category:Charities based in Missouri
Category:Organizations established in 1990
Category:Articles containing video clips
Category:Water-related charities
Category:Matt Damon