Waterorg
Waterorg is a public charity based in Kansas City, Missouri. It is a global nonprofit working to expand access to safe water and sanitation, using market-driven solutions and financing to help people living in poverty.
Waterorg at a glance
In short: Waterorg reported $5.1M in grants paid in 2025 (a total; its filing lists no individual grants). Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Grants paid (2025)
- $5,139,247 — reported as a total on the IRS filing, without an itemized list
- +221.2% vs 2024
- Total assets
- $49,815,703
- -8.6% vs 2024
- Revenue (2025)
- $31,261,309
- +4.8% vs 2024
- Net investment income (2025)
- $1,660,817
- -21.0% vs 2024
- Expenses (2025)
- $37,137,567
- +0.6% vs 2024
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated October 2026.
How to apply to Waterorg
- Contact
Mailing address: 117 W 20Th St Ste 203, Kansas City, MO 64108
Phone: (816) 877-8400
Website: https://water.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Waterorg funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Grant Size Distribution
4 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was in the $1–5M range: 3 grants of 4 (75%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Waterorg’s 2024 filing and website describe work in 15 countries across Asia, Africa, and Latin America.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
How Waterorg gives
- Giving grew 113% from 2021 to 2024. Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990 filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $750K (2021) to $5.1M (2025). In 2025 it reported $5.1M in grants paid, as a total without an itemized list.
Hatched bars: grants paid as reported on the IRS filing, which lists no individual grants for that year.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Waterequity Inc Kansas City, MO | Funding of operation costs to connect with social impact investors to help resolve the global water crisis. | $1,600,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $49,815,703 | $31,261,309 | $37,137,567 | $5,139,247 | Total only | $1,660,817 |
| 2024 | $54,500,623 | $29,837,780 | $36,899,681 | $1,600,000 | 1 | $2,101,131 |
| 2023 | $61,397,491 | $51,488,759 | $35,841,135 | $2,000,000 | 1 | $1,246,860 |
| 2022 | $46,200,649 | $39,073,510 | $28,843,163 | $2,060,204 | 1 | $148,251 |
| 2021 | $38,720,379 | $37,538,098 | $23,734,229 | $750,000 | 1 | $449,046 |
| 2020 | $22,420,171 | $19,027,906 | $25,468,857 | $4,727,396 | Total only | $155,635 |
| 2019 | $24,021,871 | $24,555,988 | $28,118,078 | $2,000,000 | 1 | $456,055 |
"Total only": grants paid as reported on the IRS filing, which lists no individual grants for that year.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
Waterorg states that its goal is to bring safe water and sanitation to the world through market-driven solutions. Its programs aim to catalyze capital for water and sanitation solutions, reduce the philanthropic cost of providing water, and increase access. The organization also says it raises awareness of the global water crisis and works with governments, sector institutions, and other partners to promote changes that increase financing for household water and sanitation solutions.
The organization’s website describes partnerships with corporations, foundations, individuals, financial institutions, water service providers, development finance institutions, agencies, and governments. Its 2024 filing reports that it worked with 200 partners and had catalyzed more than $7.7 billion in capital to support small loans.
Grantmaking
IRS filing data reports one grant totaling $2,000,000 in 2023 and one grant totaling $1,600,000 in 2024. The 2025 filing reports no grants. The 2024 recipient was WaterEquity Inc., which received $1,600,000. WaterEquity describes its mission as fostering an enduring investment capital market that accelerates universal access to safe water and sanitation in low- and middle-income countries.
Waterorg’s website describes partnership funding as including multi-year grants and says corporations, foundations, and individuals provide funding for its work. It invites prospective partners to discuss a partnership; it does not specify an application process or materials.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Gary White as board member, CEO, and co-founder; Terry Trayvick as board member and board chair; Hilary Schneider as former immediate past chair; Julie Flynn as board member and secretary; Chris Torto as board member and treasurer; Anil Arora, Guru Gowrappan, Kara Hurst, and Jack Leslie as board members; and Anne Finucane as a former board member.
Waterorg is led by Gary White, Board Member, CEO & Co-Founder since 2024 (on filings since 2019); 9 of 25 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Gary White
Board Member, CEO & Co-Founder
CEO & Co-Founder → Board Member, CEO & Co-Founder, 2024
On filings since 2019
40 hrs/week
$396K (2019) → $528K (2025)
Vedika Bhandarkar
President & COO
COO & President → Chief Operating Officer, 2023
Chief Operating Officer → President & COO, 2024
On filings since 2019
40 hrs/week
$264K (2019) → $340K (2025)
Terry Trayvick
Board Member & Board Chair
Treasurer & Board Member → Treasurer, 2023
Treasurer → Board Member & Board Chair, 2024
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Melanie Mendrys
Director, Brand Mkting & Communications
Director of Marketing → Director, Brand Marketing & Comunication, 2021
Director, Brand Marketing & Comunication → Director, Brand Mkting & Communications, 2022
On filings since 2019
40 hrs/week
$172K (2019) → $226K (2025)
Rajash Sarin
Global Director & Business Development
New on the 2025 filing
40 hrs/week
$208K (2025)
Richard Thorsten
Chief Programs Officer
On filings since 2019
40 hrs/week
$205K (2019) → $247K (2025)
Janet Tinsley
Chief Global Impact Officer
On filings since 2022
40 hrs/week
$154K (2022) → $257K (2025)
Tzvetelina Bonova
Cro
On filings since 2022
40 hrs/week
$233K (2022) → $302K (2025)
Jason Schwartz
Chief Financial Officer
CFO → Chief Financial Officer, 2024
On filings since 2023
40 hrs/week
$66K (2024) → $287K (2025)
Gina Zanolli
Chief of Staff Officer
On filings since 2024
40 hrs/week
$227K (2024) → $193K (2025)
Adam Schechter
Board Member
Board Chair → Board Member, 2024
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Andy Sareyan
Board Member & At-Large Executive Committee Member
Board Member → Board Member & At-Large Executive Committee Member, 2025
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Anil Arora
Board Member
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Hilary Schneider
Former Immediate Past Chair
Vice Chair → Board Member & Immediate Former Chair, 2024
Board Member & Immediate Former Chair → Former Immediate Past Chair, 2025
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jack Leslie
Board Member
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Keith Quinn
Board Member & At-Large Executive Committee Member
Secretary → Board Member, 2024
Board Member → Board Member & At-Large Executive Committee Member, 2025
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Larry Tanz
Board Member
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Lynn Taliento
Board Member & Vice Chair
Immediate Past Chair → Immediate Former Chair, 2023
Immediate Former Chair → Board Member & Vice Chair, 2024
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Tony Stayner
Board Member
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Chris Torto
Board Member & Treasurer
Board Member → Board Member & Treasurer, 2024
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Guru Gowrappan
Board Member
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Julie Flynn
Board Member & Secretary
Board Member → Board Member & Secretary, 2024
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Anne Finucane
Former Board Member
Board Member → Former Board Member, 2025
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Sara Xi
Board Member
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Kara Hurst
Board Member
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (17)
- Former: Jodi Kahn (2019–2024) — Board Member
- Former: Fernando Alandia (2021–2024) — Chief Financial Officer
- Former: Matthew Morrison (2024) — Regional Director & Latin America
- Former: Cortney Erin (2019–2023) — Board Member
- Former: Jennifer Schorsch (2019–2023) — President
- Former: Michael Mayernik (2022–2023) — Head of Corp Partnerships
- Former: Nancy Eslinger (2023) — Controller
- Former: Paul O'Connell (2019–2022) — Treasurer
- Former: Matthew Austin (2022) — Blended Finance Partnership Advisor
- Former: David Friedman (2019–2021) — Former CFO
- Former: Josh Gunkel (2019–2021) — Director of Technology
- Former: Nicole Wickenhauser (2019–2021) — Director of Stategic Alliance
- Former: Julie Laguardia (2020) — Senior Strategist & Brand Partnerships
- Former: Beth Friedman (2019) — Board Member · Filing note: Thru April 2019
- Former: Cynthia Fisher (2019) — Board Member
- Former: Jill Nash (2019) — Board Member
- Former: Sandra Naftzger (2019) — Board Member
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $528K, to Gary White (Board Member, CEO & Co-Founder). 9 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Waterorg
How much does Waterorg give each year?
Waterorg reported $5.1M in grants paid in 2025 on its 2025 IRS Form 990, as a total without an itemized list of grants. In 2024 it gave $1.6M across 1 grant.
How large is Waterorg?
Waterorg reported $49.8M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $31.3M.
What does Waterorg fund?
Waterorg states that its goal is to bring safe water and sanitation to the world through market-driven solutions. Its programs aim to catalyze capital for water and sanitation solutions, reduce the philanthropic cost of providing water, and increase access. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Waterorg?
Waterorg has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Check water.org for current guidelines, or contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.
Where does Waterorg make grants?
Waterorg’s 2024 filing and website describe work in 15 countries across Asia, Africa, and Latin America.
What is Waterorg's EIN?
Waterorg's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 58-2060131. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Data update history
(8)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS April 11, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS April 7, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS April 29, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS April 28, 2025)
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS March 16, 2020)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS August 16, 2021)
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS July 23, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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