What The Water Project does
The Water Project is a nonprofit based in Concord, New Hampshire, that funds water and sanitation projects for rural communities in sub-Saharan Africa. Its work is concentrated in four program regions: western and southeastern Kenya, western Uganda, and the Port Loko district of Sierra Leone. Projects include wells, protected springs, rainwater catchment systems and sand dams, paired with hygiene and sanitation training.
What stands out for donors is the follow-up. The Water Project keeps monitoring the water points it has helped build and publishes their status online; its site currently reports 2,838 monitored water points serving about 924,350 people, with 93% of monitored sources flowing. Donors can sponsor a specific community's project and receive reports with maps, photos and stories about the people it serves, so a gift is tied to a place you can look up.
The Water Project has held IRS tax-exempt status since 2008 and has a four-star rating from Charity Navigator. Gifts can be one-time or monthly, and it also accepts cryptocurrency.
Key facts
- Currently monitoring 2,838 water points serving 924,350 people (The Water Project homepage)
- 93% of monitored water sources reported flowing (The Water Project homepage)
- Works in four program regions: western and southeastern Kenya, western Uganda, and Port Loko district, Sierra Leone (Where We Work page)
- IRS tax exemption since 2008 (ProPublica / Candid)
Before you give
- Donors can sponsor a specific water project (https://thewaterproject.org/sponsor-a-water-project) and receive updates.
- Accepts one-time and monthly gifts and cryptocurrency (https://thewaterproject.org/donate-crypto).
Common questions
Is The Water Project a legitimate charity?
Tax status: US 501(c)(3) — donations are tax-deductible for US taxpayers. It files with the IRS under EIN 26-1455510, and its annual returns are public on ProPublica's Nonprofit Explorer. Independent ratings — Charity Navigator: 4 of 4 stars. As with any charity, check its latest filings before a large gift.
Are donations to The Water Project tax-deductible?
US 501(c)(3) — donations are tax-deductible for US taxpayers.
Where does The Water Project work?
The Water Project works in Kenya, Sierra Leone, Uganda. It is based in Concord, NH.
How do I donate to The Water Project?
Use the Donate button on this page — it goes straight to The Water Project's own donation page on thewaterproject.org. randomcharity.com doesn't process payments, doesn't see your card details and takes no cut.
Sources
- thewaterproject.org/?form=give-clean-water
- thewaterproject.org/where-we-work
- charitynavigator.org/ein/261455510
- projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/261455510
- guidestar.org/profile/26-1455510
Profile researched and last reviewed September 2026. Ratings and figures change — the linked evaluator pages always show the current version.