Water First International

Analysis

Water First International is a registered charity in United States, based in Seattle, WA. It received its IRS tax-exemption ruling in June 2005, 21 years ago. Its declared purposes cover philanthropy, voluntarism and grantmaking foundations, which this site groups under grant-making and general purposes. The IRS classifies it as a publicly supported organisation (donations from the general public) under section 501(c)(3), and contributions to it are listed as tax-deductible.

In the financial year ending December 2023, Water First International reported income of $3.6m and spending of $1.3m, leaving 65% of income unspent that year. Across the 5 years on record, from December 2019 to December 2023, income grew from $2.5m to $3.6m (+41%), an average of +9.0% a year. The sharpest change came in the year to December 2023, when income rose by 82%. Over the whole period it spent 79% of the income it received.

Among 19,413 United States charities whose main cause is grant-making and general purposes and that reported income, Water First International sits at the 91st percentile: it is larger than about 91% of them. Against every charity in United States with reported income it ranks in the 90th percentile, and in the 91st percentile within WA. Charities of a similar size with the same main cause include Starability Foundation Inc ($3.6m), Smith Entertainment Group Foundation ($3.6m) and Seattle International Foundation ($3.6m).

On its Form 990 for the period ending December 2023, revenue came from contributions and grants 101% and program service revenue 0.7% of the total. Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees was $106k (8.4% of expenses). Other salaries and wages came to $354k. At year end it held assets of $3.6m against liabilities of $277k, net assets of $3.4m. It reported 9 employees.