Wateraid

Quick Stats

• Annual Income (2023-24): £90.86 million
• Grants to Institutions (2023-24): £7.90 million
• Geographic Focus: 30 countries in Africa, Asia, and Latin America
• Application Process: No public application - partnerships established through country programmes
• Founded: 1981
• Structure: Global federation with 7 member countries

Contact Details

Address: WaterAid, 6th Floor, 20 Canada Square, London, E14 5NN

Phone: 020 7793 4500 (Reception, during office hours)

Email: supportercare@wateraid.org

Website: www.wateraid.org

Charity Registration Numbers:

• England and Wales: 288701
• Scotland: SC039479
• Company Number: 01787329

Overview

WaterAid was established in 1981 as the UK water industry's charity, with a mission to make clean water, decent toilets and good hygiene normal for everyone, everywhere. In 2010, WaterAid became a global federation comprising seven member organisations (Australia, Canada, India, Japan, Sweden, UK, and US), with regional offices and country programmes in 30 countries across Africa, Asia, and Latin America.

With an annual income of £90.86 million (2023-24), WaterAid's primary method of operation is grant-making to local partner organizations. The charity works through civil society organizations, national and international NGOs, community-based organizations, and local religious groups in the countries where they operate. WaterAid's Global Strategy 2022-2032, led by Chief Executive Tim Wainwright, focuses on four key areas: prioritizing WASH across the health sector, creating sustainable water systems, strengthening climate resilience, and increasing quality funding for WASH. In 2023-24, WaterAid made £7.90 million in grants to institutions and spent £69.93 million on charitable activities.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

WaterAid does not operate traditional grant programmes open to UK organizations. Instead, they provide grants to local implementing partners in their 30 country programmes. The organization primarily works through:

• Local Partner Grants: Funding to civil society organizations, national and international NGOs, and community-based organizations in programme countries to deliver water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) projects
• Direct Implementation: In some countries (notably India since 2022 and Nepal), WaterAid has moved to direct programme delivery alongside partnership models

Priority Areas

Global Strategy 2022-2032 Focus Areas:

1. Health Sector Integration: Promoting health sector ownership of WASH, improving quality of care in healthcare facilities with inclusive and sustainable WASH, and working with national health departments on innovative hygiene behaviour change programmes

1. Sustainable Water Systems: Creating systems that are resilient, financially viable, and managed by communities with appropriate support from local authorities and service providers

1. Climate Resilience: Working with communities, institutions and providers to make WASH systems resilient to climate change through vulnerability assessments and appropriate design and delivery models

1. Increased WASH Funding: Catalyzing increased quality and quantity of funding for WASH, influencing investment in climate-resilient WASH finance

Geographic Focus: Bangladesh, Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, Ghana, India, Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mozambique, Nepal, Niger, Nigeria, Pakistan, Rwanda, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, and others across Africa, Asia and Latin America

What They Don't Fund

• UK-based organizations (except as fundraising partners)
• Organizations outside their country programme areas
• Projects not focused on water, sanitation, and hygiene
• General charitable activities unrelated to WASH

Ready to write a winning application for Wateraid?

Our AI helps you craft proposals that match their exact priorities. Save hours and increase your success rate.

Learn more >

Governance and Leadership

Senior Leadership

Tim Wainwright, Chief Executive - Joined WaterAid UK in 2017 from Action on Disability and Development (ADD), where he served as chief executive for six years. He has spearheaded the development of WaterAid's Global Strategy 2022-2032 and leads the Water and Climate Task Force for the Sustainable Markets Initiative, formed by His Majesty King Charles III.

Upon his appointment, Wainwright said: "After many years of admiring WaterAid's work, I feel privileged and incredibly excited to be taking up the role of chief executive."

On climate and water security, he stated: "In these uncertain times, we need global collaboration like this more than ever. WaterAid is committed to work with the UK and global governments, as well as multilateral organisations and private sector leaders, to ensure today's pledges are seen through."

Andy Green CBE, Chair - Joined the board in October 2020 and became Chair. Former President of the UK Space trade body.

Recent Trustee Appointments

• Ruth Jefferson - Chief Executive of Wessex Water (became Chief Executive in 2024)
• Richard Morris - Chief Executive UK and EMEA of IPG Mediabrands
• Osward - Over 30 years expertise in water and sanitation, former Director of Water Development and Sanitation at the African Development Bank
• Hind - Strategic executive leader with over 33 years experience in global health, worked at UNICEF, The Global Fund, UNAIDS and Gavi

Other Trustees

• Nina Jasinski - Spent 40 years in marketing and advertising agencies
• Ashvin - Leads The Rockefeller Foundation's Power & Climate programme
• Hilary - Chartered accountant, currently Treasurer at Medical Aid for Palestinians
• Simi - Geographer, water expert, founder of the Hisaar Foundation

How to Apply to Wateraid

How to Apply

WaterAid does not have a public application process for grant funding. This is not a funder that UK organizations or international NGOs can apply to for grants through an open application system.

WaterAid's grant-making is operational rather than philanthropic - they fund local implementing partners as part of their programme delivery model in the 30 countries where they work. Partnerships are established through WaterAid's country programme offices based on:

• Local knowledge and understanding of community issues
• Technical capacity to deliver WASH programmes
• Alignment with WaterAid's strategic objectives
• Ability to work with communities on sustainable, community-managed projects

For organizations in WaterAid's country programmes: Contact the relevant WaterAid country office directly (e.g., WaterAid Bangladesh, WaterAid Ghana, WaterAid Nigeria) to explore partnership opportunities.

For UK organizations: WaterAid primarily seeks fundraising partnerships, corporate partnerships, and institutional donors rather than grant applicants. Contact details for partnership discussions:

• Trusts and foundations (to support WaterAid): Minimum commitment of £300,000 over maximum three years
• Corporate partnerships: Contact through the main office

Partnership Approach

WaterAid has created three types of award agreement templates for engaging local partners, specifically for USAID-funded projects. Additional guidance is available in the 'Using and managing local subgrants manual' which can be obtained by contacting programmemanual@wateraid.org.

The organization works with partners who:

• Understand local contexts and issues
• Can provide skills and support to communities
• Help communities set up and manage practical, sustainable projects
• Meet communities' real needs

Examples of Local Partners:

• Bangladesh: The Village Education Resource Centre (VERC) - introduced community-led total sanitation (CLTS) model
• Uganda: Eastern Umbrella of Water and Sanitation (EUWS)
• South Africa: Tsogang in Vhembe district, Limpopo province
• India: Centre for Urban and Regional Excellence (CURE) and International Water Management Institute (IWMI)
• Ghana: Eight local NGOs working in partnership since 1985

Financial Information

2023-24 Financial Year:

• Total Income: £90.86 million
• Total Expenditure: £93.64 million
• Charitable Activities Expenditure: £69.93 million
• Grants to Institutions: £7.90 million
• Raising Funds: £23.71 million

Income Sources (2023-24):

• Donations and Legacies: £64.48 million
• Charitable Activities: £24.39 million
• Government Grants: £3.09 million (from 4 grants)
• Investment Income: £701,000
• Other Trading Activities: £1.01 million

Strategic Approach

WaterAid operates on the principle that universal, sustainable and safe WASH services are essential to prevent and control diseases and strengthen health systems. The organization recognizes that these services must be resilient to climate change.

The 2022-2032 Global Strategy emphasizes:

• Working with communities to take responsibility for constructing, maintaining and managing projects
• Providing specialist support and training through local partner agencies
• Influencing policy at national and international levels
• Catalyzing action that recognizes sustainable WASH as fundamental to climate resilience

Federation Structure: Each member organisation (Australia, Canada, India, Japan, Sweden, UK, US) mobilises support in its country, engaging individuals, companies and institutions to raise funds and influence policies to support the mission.

Key Takeaways for Organizations in Programme Countries

• No public application process: Partnerships are established through WaterAid country offices based on local relationships and strategic fit
• Local presence essential: WaterAid works with organizations that have deep understanding of local contexts and community needs
• Long-term partnership model: WaterAid seeks partners for ongoing collaboration rather than one-off projects
• Technical capacity required: Partners need demonstrated ability to deliver WASH programmes and work with communities on sustainable solutions
• Community-led approach: Priority given to organizations that support community ownership and management of projects
• Contact country offices directly: Organizations interested in partnership should reach out to WaterAid's office in their specific country
• Grant management systems: Partners must be able to work with WaterAid's financial monitoring and reporting systems

Similar Funders

These funders frequently fund the same charities:

• The Arts Council Of England
• Garfield Weston Foundation
• Kent Community Foundation
• Hedley Foundation Limited
• Cathedral Music Trust
• National Lottery Heritage Fund
• Awards For All
• Church House
• National Lottery
• Google

References

1. Charity Commission Register - WaterAid (288701): https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-search/-/charity-details/288701
2. WaterAid UK Official Website: https://www.wateraid.org/uk
3. WaterAid Global Strategy 2022-2032: https://washmatters.wateraid.org/global-strategy-2022-2032
4. Charity Commission Financial History for WaterAid: https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-search/-/charity-details/288701/financial-history
5. "Q&A: Meet WaterAid UK's new chief executive", Devex: https://www.devex.com/news/q-a-meet-wateraid-uk-s-new-chief-executive-90972
6. “WaterAid income rises by £10m according to most recent set of accounts”, Civil Society: https://www.civilsociety.co.uk/news/wateraid-income-rises-by--10m-according-to-most-recent-set-of-accounts.html
7. WaterAid Partnerships: https://washmatters.wateraid.org/partnerships
8. WaterAid - Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WaterAid
9. “WaterAid UK appoints four new trustees”, Water Magazine, November 2025: https://www.watermagazine.co.uk/2025/11/07/wateraid-uk-appoints-four-new-trustees/
10. WaterAid How We're Run: https://www.wateraid.org/uk/who-we-are/how-we-are-governed

Accessed: January 2025