Water1st was started in 2005 by a group of professionals with solid experience in the water and sanitation sector. Our focus was simple: build an organization from the ground up with the ability to consistently implement high-quality water and sanitation projects that provide permanent solutions for the worlds most vulnerable communities. Our comprehensive, cost-effective approach impacts the health, economy, education, food security, and overall well-being of our project communities. Addressing the water and sanitation needs of the world’s poorest people is the one activity that, when done properly, generates benefits that can lift a community out of extreme poverty.

Why did the world need a new water and sanitation organization?

Because 35-50% of water projects fail in the first 5 years. This staggering statistic hasn’t changed for the past 30 years. Why? Because fundraising for new projects often takes priority over monitoring the old projects. This means that less than 10% of projects receive any monitoring once completed, and that organizations are not learning from past work to improve their outcomes. We knew it didn’t have to be that way – our experience proved that we had a method that could successfully provide a permanent solution.

Water1st was created to support water projects that would last.

Our vision was to support local, on-the-ground organizations (our partners/colleagues in this work) who would organize and train community members to participate in every step of the process. And we would commit to consistent project funding as well as monitoring and evaluation. In a world that entices us with new technologies, new inventions, and new gadgets, we have remained steadfast to our effective mission.We have 4,727 independently operated projects to demonstrate that our approach works.

Today, our Water1st community is comprised of more than 8,000 supporters across the country, including a network over 300 youth advocates. Collectively, our extraordinary community is making a huge difference in the lives of vulnerable families.

Join us! Together we can change the world, one water project, one community at a time.

Water1st International

Ending the walk for water

Mission

Our Team

Kate Vixie

Susan James

Marla Smith-Nilson

Kirk Anderson

Carrie Schonwald

Pat Swiper