My Nonprofit Reviews

Hold on a minute, folks. This is way too shiny to be legit.

After watching its slick, tug-at-the-heartstrings promotional video, my suspicion was raised. This is based on my understanding of the challenges of implementing water & sanitation projects through 10+ years working in the humanitarian sector for reputable humanitarian agencies such as Oxfam, Red Cross and CARE.

"Nightclub-promoter-turned-benevolent-humanitarian" Scott Harrison has a compelling story, but dig a bit deeper into some of the analysis of how charity:water works - including the myth that 100% direct donations goes to projects - and the shine starts to come off this PR-company-come-charity's activities.

For a start, no charity can operate without overheads (professional salaries, keeping the lights on, fuel, vehicles etc). Most try to keep it to a realistic 10%, but varies depending on the context. I found some info saying that charity-water's overheads are 25-31%. That's very high! Whether "your" donation or a private organisation's donation is used, it's still charity: water's money.

I also searched for information on their website about their impact on the people of their 30,000+ 'projects' (by which I assume each individual well or pump counts as one project). This is at the hear of what humanitarian assistance should be about - how all this investment (of YOUR money) helps the people it's going to - and found nothing. Sure, their financial statements have been rubber-stamped by KPMG, but what really is your 100% direct (questionable) donation really doing to help provide water to thirsty people?

It's worth reading others' analysis of charity:water to balance your view.

https://theurgetohelp.com/articles/a-critical-investigation-of-charity-waters-effectiveness-as-a-clean-water-provider-in-sub-saharan-africa/

https://truthout.org/articles/the-problem-with-charity-water/

There are many others.

I don't buy it, and perhaps you might want to consider whether you want to either. Your money, though.