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charity: water

CharityWatch report issued
February 2022

Top-Rated Charity
B+
CharityWatch Grade
Our independent grade based
on a number of factors.
 
74%
Program Percentage
Amount spent on programs
relative to overhead.
 
$12
Cost to Raise $100
Amount spent to raise
$100 of contributions.

Contact Information

charity: water
40 Worth Street
Suite 829
New York, NY 10013

Other Names

Charity Global

Tax Status

501(c)3

Stated Mission

To bring clean and safe drinking water to people in developing countries.

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Data based on Fiscal Year Ended 12/31/2020

Program Percentage: 74%

The percentage of charity: water's cash budget it spends on programs relative to overhead (fundraising, management, and general expenses).

$62,000,000

Calculated Total Expenses

(rounded)

 

Cost to Raise $100: $12

How many dollars charity: water spends on fundraising to raise each $100 of contributions.

$88,000,000

Calculated Total Contributions

(rounded)

Government Funding

0% to 24%

Percentage of cash revenue
coming from government sources

 

Financial Documents

Entity Document Type Tax ID
Charity Global IRS Form 990 22-3936753
Charity Global Audited Consolidated Financial Statements multiple
Entity: Charity Global
Document Type: IRS Form 990
Tax ID: 22-3936753
Entity: Charity Global
Document Type: Audited Consolidated Financial Statements
Tax ID: multiple

Governance & Transparency

CharityWatch evaluates certain criteria related to a charity's Governance and Transparency. Donors may want to consider a charity's willingness to be open and transparent with CharityWatch to be a good litmus test for determining its commitment to public accountability.
This charity is Top-Rated
What does it mean to be Top-Rated?
 
charity: water
meets governance benchmarks.
 
charity: water
meets transparency benchmarks.
Transparency
Provides Financial Information
Audit Accessibility
Governance: Policies
Reports regularly & consistently monitoring & enforcing compliance with a written Conflict of Interest Policy
Reports required, annual disclosure by officers, directors, and key staff of interests that could give rise to conflicts
Reports having a written Whistleblower Policy
Reports having a written Document Retention and Destruction Policy
Governance: Financials
Reports providing copy of tax form to all board members prior to filing it with IRS
Reports that financial statements were audited by an independent accountant
Governance: Board of Directors
Reports at least 5 voting board members
51% or more of voting board members reported as independent
Reports documenting minutes of board and board committee meetings
Privacy Policy
Privacy Policy No Sharing  

  Name Title Compensation
1 Scott Harrison CEO $382,233
2 Lauren Letta COO $255,600
3 Christoph Gorder Chief Global Water Officer $255,319
1
Name: Scott Harrison
Title: CEO
Compensation: $382,233
2
Name: Lauren Letta
Title: COO
Compensation: $255,600
3
Name: Christoph Gorder
Title: Chief Global Water Officer
Compensation: $255,319

CharityWatch Analysts perform an in-depth analysis of charities' audited financial statements and IRS tax filings, and often review other documents such as state filings, annual reports, and fundraising contracts during their evaluations. Below are select notes that CharityWatch believes may be of interest to donors.

According to the Charity Global (charity: water) consolidated audit of December 31, 2020 (Note 8, Contributed Goods and Services), charity: water received in-kind contributed goods and services in 2020 on which it placed a total value of $916,229.

[Note: CharityWatch generally excludes the value of in-kind (non-cash) donations of goods and services from its calculations of Program % and Cost to Raise $100. More information on how grades are calculated and the treatment of in-kind donations can be found on the Our Process page.]

According to the Charity Global (charity: water) consolidated audit of December 31, 2020 (Note 12, Payroll Protection Program Loan Payable):

"charity: water applied for and received a Payroll Protection Program Loan in April 2020 in the amount of $1,619,750. charity: water applied for forgiveness in November 2020 in accordance with the provisions for loan forgiveness. During December 2020, the application for forgiveness was approved with the exception of $16,487. As of December 31, 2020, the balance is recorded in the [audited] consolidated statement of financial position in Payroll Protection Program loan payable. charity: water made a one-time payment to pay off the remaining balance during February 2021."

According to the Charity Global (charity: water) consolidated audit of December 31, 2020 (Note 13, COVID-19 Impact):

"In March 2020, the World Health Organization recognized the novel strain of coronavirus, COVID-19, as a pandemic. The spread of the coronavirus around the world during 2020 has caused significant volatility in the U.S. and international markets. There is significant uncertainty around the breadth and duration of business disruptions related to COVID-19, as well as its impact on the U.S. and international economies and, as such, charity: water is unable to determine if it will have a material impact on future operations."

According to the Charity Global (charity: water) consolidated audit of December 31, 2020 (Note 14, Subsequent Events):

"Beginning in late 2020 political tensions between the Tigray regional government and federal government of Ethiopia have resulted in armed clashes between Tigrayan and government forces. The situation is complicated and fluid. charity: water is monitoring the situation closely and has paused fundraising and disbursements to one Partner in this region that was impacted most closely by these events. As of December 31, 2020, charity: water has more than $3M of committed Water funds with the Partner in the form of outstanding grants which will be continuously monitored as the conflict unfolds."

According to the Charity Global (charity: water) 2020 tax filing, charity: water reports re: Compensation, Supplemental Information (IRS Form 990, Schedule J, Part III):

Regarding nonfixed payments to officers, directors, trustees, key employees and highest compensated employees (Schedule J, Part I, Line 7):

"Amounts reported in column (B)(ii) ['Bonus & incentive compensation'] represent discretionary bonus payments."


charity: water reports "Bonus & incentive compensation" payments to five individuals in 2020, with amounts ranging from $7,203 to $3,740. The reported total compensation in 2020 for the five individuals ranged from $255,600 to $163,863 (IRS Form 990, Schedule J, Part II).