Clean Water Charity
When you want to donate to a clean water charity, it’s important to research the nonprofit so you can be confident that your money is contributing to effectively solving problems people face throughout the world.
Clean water organizations vary in terms of their philosophy, geographical reach and methods of support. No one organization can solve all of the world’s problems, but each nonprofit can make a huge difference in the lives of families, as well as entire villages.
Often, people simply give their money to organizations that solicit them, rather than actively researching and choosing water organizations or other charitable organizations. That often means that charities with the best marketing strategies—not necessarily the best programs—receive more money than others who are doing work just as good if not better.
How to Research a Clean Water Charity
One main question to ask: “What problem is the nonprofit trying to solve, and how is the organization addressing the situation?”
• Look into whether or not the organization offers effective solutions to issues like access to clean water. For instance, how do they ensure people in need obtain nearby, safe and clean water?
At GFA World, we dig deep Jesus Wells to ensure that villagers can obtain clean water even during droughts. We hire local contractors to keep costs low; for approximately $1,400, we can dig a well 300 meters deep—or double that—to ensure year-round water for up to 300 people for about 20 years. Other organizations’ well projects can cost several times that much.
• Make sure the charity is well organized and spends its money efficiently. One way to assess how efficiently an organization spends its money is to look at how many people it impacts a year: a clean water charity should have financial integrity.
Here at GFA World, we are transparent about our costs, such as the costs involved in well-drilling. Local churches maintain each well as part of their ministry. The church lubricates hand pumps, replaces parts and trims grass around the well.
Our BioSand water filters, which purify water and can last up to 20 years, allow an entire family, or small community, to enjoy clean water for just $30.
• Also, consider the charity’s track record, specifically, how it manages its money and how many people it has served throughout the years.
For more than 40 years, GFA World has been committed to solid stewardship of every donation it receives. We honor God, as well as our donors’ generosity, by investing in programs that benefit people’s physical and spiritual needs. We regularly review and update our internal procedures to ensure financial integrity, and we also undergo independent accounting audits. Additionally, we provide a copy of our most current audited financial statement whenever someone requests it in writing.
In the last 20 years, GFA World has drilled more than 30,000 wells[1], which have provided clean water for up to 9 million people.[2]
• Finally, you should never feel pressured to donate; instead, you should feel called to give with a cheerful heart.
We follow Scripture, particularly 2 Corinthians 8:5, in our fundraising efforts, with the belief that God will guide His followers to help others who are in need:
“They first gave themselves to the Lord, and then to us by the will of God.”
Clean Water is Essential for Life
Any reputable clean water charity works diligently to provide accessible, pure water to communities in need.
Clean water projects can entail more than just offering uncontaminated water in the form of deep wells or filters. An additional clean water solution can be building proper toilets for people to relieve themselves with dignity and safety, as well as teaching proper hygiene practices.
In 2020, 2 billion people didn’t have safely managed drinking water services, and reports show that COVID-19 has made it even more difficult to obtain drinking water.[3] Getting basic drinking water to everyone in the world would require four times the amount of progress that water organizations related to UNICEF and WHO (World Health Organization) have accomplished, and giving people access to safely managed drinking water would require 23 times the amount of progress that took place from 2015 to 2020.[4] Obviously, there’s much more work to be done.
More than one in five people worldwide— 1.7 billion— do not have a decent, private toilet.[5] Globally, open defecation has decreased from 16 percent of the world in 2015 to 13 percent in 2020, but to achieve worldwide access to safe sanitation will take four times the effort that has occurred in the last five years.[6]
If every person in the world could access clean water, deaths from diarrhea would diminish by one third.[7]
Get Involved
You can make a difference in the health and lives of families by donating to a nonprofit water organization like GFA World. Click here to learn more.
Learn more about water stress[1] “4,856 Jesus Wells Drilled in 2019 – Gospel for Asia Annual Report.” GFA World. https://gospelforasia.org/jesus-wells-drilled-in-2019. September 2, 2021.
[2] “Jesus Wells.” GFA World. https://www.gfa.org/jesus-wells/. June 7, 2022.
[3] “Clean water for life and livelihoods amid pandemic.“ International Labor Organization. https://www.ilo.org/asia/media-centre/articles/WCMS_754439/lang–en/index.htm. September 1, 2020.
[4] “Progress on Household Drinking Water, Sanitation and Hygiene.” WHO and UNICEF. https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240030848. September 13, 2021.
[5] Ibid.
[6] Ibid.
[7] “Facts and Statistics.” Water Aid. Accessed Dec. 30, 2021. https://www.wateraid.org/us/facts-and-statistics.