Our partner Water For People dropped by the office to talk program expansion with Becky, our water projects director, and give the rest of the staff a peek at what they’re planning for the future.
Here’s their background: In the early 90s, the North American water and wastewater community was struck by the vastness of the world water crisis. How could such a tragedy persist when the water industry in developed nations was more than equipped to help? They realized that it was the social responsibility of the water industry to do something big to change it.
Their ideas — to bring water and sanitation to people in the developing world while instilling community responsibility for each project — were contagious, and leaders from the American Water Works Association and other orgs joined in. By 1991, they’d formed a new org called Water For People. Water For People now partners on water project construction and sanitation programs in 11 nations around the world. Their most extensive work is in Bolivia, Guatemala, Honduras, India and Malawi; we’ve been working with them in Malawi now for more than two years.
Water For People is one of the most innovative orgs in the water sector. Like many, they hope to scale their water programs. But we noticed there are three main areas that set them apart: (1) achieving fullwater coverage in targeted districts (“solving the water crisis in chunks at a time”); (2) using ecological water technologies appropriate for the particular area; and (3) making themselves eventually unneeded in every community they work.
Ned, Water for People’s CEO, summed up their mission for us:
“We don’t think the problem is just that people don’t have access to water or toilets; another enormous part is that there’s a huge waste in the existing effort. We don’t get overwhelmed by how many don’t have things, but instead want to show solvable solutions.”
And they do — we saw their eco-latrines in Rwanda just last month ourselves (video to come).
Their programs in Honduras and Bolivia prove how narrowing in on a concentrated area pays off. The significantly lower disease rates and improved living conditions of communities with Water For People-supported projects has led to near full water coverage for two municipalities here. This has prompted mayors of other cities nearby to say, “We want to do this, too” — and the government is willing to pay for 50% of the projects in Bolivia. In a district of India, Water For People has succeeded in government investments of 75%.
Ned mentioned a statistic you may have heard before: there are more cell phones in India than there are toilets. Most people are shocked when they hear this for the first time. But are we really surprised by that? To Ned, this isn’t really that staggering — and it actually offers hope, it’s actually something we can use:
“We’ve been trying to figure out, what do cell phones teach us about sanitation?”
In other words, what if we thought of sanitation as an ongoing service? What if the toilet was simply a means to achieve a business end, much like a cell phone is simply a means for years of cell phone service to a person?
Right now, Water For People is trying a new program called “Sanitation as a Business.” They create a “network” of toilets; the user pays for the construction, then pays a fee to have someone clean it out. The clean-out service is monthly — like cell phone service — and it draws the private sector, which is always actively looking for customers, into a community’s sanitation. Even better, the person collecting the waste uses it or sells it to local farmers to use as composted fertilizer.
Water For People never funds 100% of water project costs. Rather, each project is co-financed by the community and the government, building community ownership and also leveraging government funds. We saw this while we were in Rwanda, where Water For People teams up with the government water services, RWASCO, to pipe water to rural villages.
Here’s what the 10-year plan looks like for those receiving a Water For People project:
The community helps pay for construction and starts paying dues in case the project needs repairs or extensions.
The community has enough money collected to replace most expensive part. They’ve demonstrated any problems can be fixed with basic operation and maintenance by the local community.
The community can replace the entire well, if needed, with the dues they’ve pooled and with finance from the local government. They don’t need help or oversight from NGO’s.
“To us, it’s a success if they don’t really need us anymore,” explained Ned. “In Bolivia, we invested in this community years ago, where the government paid 50% of the project, we paid 30%, and the community paid 20%. By now, they’ve bought their own water meters for everyone. They’ve extended new water services to additional families on their own and don’t need financial support from us. They’ve collected enough money to replace their electric pump after only three years.”
Water For People is right beside us on proving and tracking each project using GPS coordinates. They follow up annually on each of their water technologies and sanitation networks. Collecting data to study what’s working (and what’s not) is crucial, says Ned. It’s also interesting and… fun? Yes. “We like this stuff. We’re nerds, really.”
That’s the number of people who have gained access to clean and safe water thanks to our brand partners. We are incredibly grateful for this community of like-minded brands and their ability to raise awareness for the water crisis in powerful and creative ways.
To celebrate their work and inspire new collaborations, we hosted our third annual Brand Partnership X Summit at Canoe Studios in NYC! This year, we were joined by over 65 brands for a day of insightful conversations. We focused on innovation and what it means for our work at charity: water, in partnerships, and in the world around us. From groundbreaking sensor technology and the launch of The Pool to jewelry crafted from meteorites and sprinkle-filled rainbow cakes, we left feeling inspired to keep creating and pushing the boundaries.
Check out the highlights from this year’s event:
We are so grateful to everyone who joined us. The Summit would not have been possible without our speakers who generously gave their time to help us see how purposeful innovation can drive change. A very special thank you to:
Professor, author, and entrepreneur Scott Galloway, for showing us the importance of having a meaningful career and helping us understand our life strategies, not just business strategies.
Kristin De Simone and Sylvia Hartley, Partners at Thrive Market, for sharing the story of how Thrive Market decided to partner with charity: water and for reimagining what giving means for their brand and customers.
Simon Sinek, optimist and bestselling author, for teaching us what it means to feel fulfilled and reminding us that we need to build the future together.
Artist and designer Monique Péan, for sharing her story and inspiring us with her incredible craft and unwavering commitment to sustainability and support of local communities.
Paull Young, Partner at Facebook, for showing us what being a true partner really means and encouraging the importance of working in tandem to create change.
Amirah Kassem, baker and entrepreneur, for urging us to be our true selves and demonstrating how working hard and inspiring joy can go hand-in-hand!
Another special thank you to Canoe Studios for the beautiful space and delicious catering; Taylor Creative for the comfortable and stylish furnishings; Badger Mountain Vineyard and Sunday Beer Co for providing the wine and beer for cocktail hour; Thrive Market and Scott Galloway for helping us fill our swag bags; C2 Imaging for printing and installing the stunning branding elements; Dear Bayard for the beautiful greenery; The Spaniard for hosting our pre-event cocktail party; and all of the volunteers who worked tirelessly and joyfully to ensure the day went off without a hitch.
Meet our incredible Spring 2019 interns! As you’ll soon see, they’re a pretty fun group. We’ll miss having them around the office everyday, but thanks to their hard work and dedication, the impact they’ve had will continue to be felt long after their internships end.
MEET THE TEAM:
Erin Taylor
Water Programs Intern From: Westerville, Ohio School: The Fashion Institute of Technology Studying: Entrepreneurship
What do you like the most about your internship at charity: water and our culture? I like the freedom to move about the office and work wherever! I also really like that it’s encouraged to get to know people outside of your department.
What’s the biggest thing you’ve learned while interning at charity: water? I learned a lot about grant implementation and the importance of clean data.
Zach Fembleaux
Rev Ops Intern From: Kinnelon, New Jersey School: Northeastern University Studying: Global Health and Development with a concentration in Sub-Saharan Africa
What do you like the most about your internship at charity: water and our culture? The thing I like the most about the internship is the fact that we are truly treated as team members. The best part of charity: water culture is transparency. It is what sets us apart from most charities.
What do you like most about the internship program? I love the amount of opportunities to learn through brown bags, meetings, town halls, and 1:1 meetings with team members.
Nihar Bhagat
Water Programs Intern From: Mumbai, India School: Pace University Studying: Information Systems
What do you like most about the internship program? Freedom to learn anything you have the curiosity for.
Lily Kim
Graphic Design Intern From: China School: Pratt Institute Studying: Graphic Design
Ellie Tillotson
Key Relationships WPS Intern From: Seattle, Washington School: San Diego State University Studying: Health Communication
What do you like the most about your internship at charity: water and our culture? This is my third internship. charity: water is something special. I look forward to coming into the office not only because the work I’m doing matters, but because the people surrounding me lift me up everyday. No question is dumb; everyone is continually learning and growing—professionally and personally—together.
What’s the biggest thing you’ve learned while interning at charity: water? You should never settle. This workplace makes me realize that there is an environment where you can have it all. A place where I can ask my questions, share my ideas, and continually grow while building relationships that matter and working towards the shared, attainable goal of clean water for everyone. The charity: water environment is unlike any other. It’s hard to find the words for how empowered you feel entering this space every day.
Jonathan Lesser
Water Programs Intern From: East Hampton, New York School: Columbia University Studying: Environmental Science and Policy
What do you like the most about your internship at charity: water and our culture? I love the feeling of coming into the office. The whole place exudes a sense of steady purpose. Everyone here accepts charity: water’s mission as their own, so even when people are not trying to share their values and inspirations, they wind up inspiring me.
What’s the biggest thing you’ve learned while interning at charity: water? The BIGGEST thing is probably the scale of the water crisis, and the most amazing thing is probably its solvability, despite the scale. On an organizational level, it has been an eye opening experience to try to wrap my head around all the moving parts at charity: water, and I am grateful for the insight this internship has given me into how an innovative and successful charity can operate.
Marisol Santana
Accounting Intern
From: Altadena, California School: The King’s College Studying: Finance
What do you like the most about your internship at charity: water and our culture? I like that I’ve been able to apply everything I learned in the classroom to my tasks at charity: water. I also enjoyed getting out of my comfort zone and learning from kind professionals in finance and accounting. I appreciate how willing and open everyone is to have conversations, give me advice, and answer my questions.
Ann Marie Carlson
Brand Partnerships Intern From Greensboro, North Carolina School: The King’s College Studying: Finance
Madeline Marona
Key Relationships Intern From: Los Angeles, California School: The King’s College Studying: Politics, Philosophy, and Economics with minors in International Affairs and Theology
What do you like the most about your internship at charity: water and our culture? I loved the atmosphere at charity: water. Everyone is on the same page when it comes to positivity and hard work. But kindness and generosity are still weaved into everyone’s interactions so I never felt any pressure to be perfect.
What do you like most about the internship program? The flexibility, and the ability to learn from everyone in the office. I never felt limited to just Key Relationships and helped out a lot in other departments.
Rachel Bass
The Well Intern From: Raleigh, North Carolina School: The King’s College Studying: Politics, Philosophy, and Economics
What do you like the most about your internship at charity: water and our culture? I love charity: water’s focus on transparency and collaboration!
What do you like most about the internship program? I enjoy having a range of assigned projects. Whether I am sending out birthday gifts or updating spreadsheets, I love doing meaningful work for the organization that helps solve the water crisis!
Jennifer Chan
Donor Research Intern From: Westchester, New York School: New York University Studying: Finance, Computing, and Data Science with a minor in Psychology
What do you like the most about your internship at charity: water and our culture? The welcoming and positive atmosphere. Everyone is willing to take effort and time to get to know you as a person and offer help and support. I loved learning practical life lessons from so many different awesome people at charity: water.
What’s the biggest thing you’ve learned while interning at charity: water? It is essential to cultivate meaningful relationships, both personally and professionally. Awesome to learn how charity: water can bring people together from all over the world across so many different industries under the same mission.
Lydia Van Der Swaagh
Key Relationships Intern From: Manhattan, NY School: Columbia University Studying: Art History and Classics
Jimmy Cheung
Creative Intern From: Hong Kong, China School: School of Visual Arts Studying: Photo and Video
What do you like the most about your internship at charity: water and our culture? I like how everyone shares the same headspace and works toward the same goal. It’s something that’s not easily observed from my previous experiences.
What’s the biggest thing you’ve learned while interning at charity: water? So many things. Transparency, brand, content, storytelling, relationships with supporters/donors/corporations….
(P.S. Jimmy captured and created all of the videos in this post! Thanks, Jimmy!)
We’ve got an incredible lineup of interns this quarter, and we can’t wait to introduce you! Here are our leading ladies…
Victoria Bevill
Office Experience Intern Working under Joy Caroline: Office Coordinator
School: The King’s College Major: Religious and Theological Studies Graduating May 2019
What are you most proud of working on while at charity: water? Scott Harrison, the CEO of charity: water wrote a book that came out in October (https://www.charitywater.org/thirst). I was given the opportunity to assist the staff planning the book launch event. As well as aiding in prepping the food, decor, and flow of the night I was put in charge of creating the floral arrangements. For the first time in my years of internships I got to use a hobby of mine in the workplace! Overall the launch was a success and everyone LOVED the floral arrangements.
Izzy Paxton
Water Programs Intern Working under Hannah Matthews: Water Programs
School: University of California, Los Angeles Major: Global Studies Graduated June 2018
What are you most proud of working on while at charity: water? As a member of the water programs team, I am so proud that I get to be a part of the work that executes charity: water’s mission in the field. It’s incredibly fulfilling to be able to work with our grants and partners to further the vision of a world where everyone has clean water!
Ann Marie Carlson
Accounting Intern Working under Yohanny Vargas: Accounting
School: The King’s College Major: Business- Concentration in Finance Graduating May 2019
What is your favorite aspect of your charity: water internship? I have absolutely loved my internship at charity: water because of the people, culture, and how willing they are to teach you. Everyone here really wants to see you learn and grow. Pizza on Friday and bagels on Monday are also a plus!
Paris Welker-Widell
Productions and Events Intern Working under Christina Lutters: Productions Team
School: The King’s College Major: Business Management, minor in economics Graduating May 2020
What is your favorite aspect of your charity: water internship? After completing the Accounting Internship in the fall, I was eager to continue my time at charity: water working for a new team to see how the organization is run from a different department. As the Production and Events Intern, I help assist the production team with various projects concerning donor reporting, the Thirst book launch, and the charity: ball gala. After six months interning here, I greatly value charity: water’s unique office environment and great attention to detail - two key aspects of the organization that I know I will miss when my internship ends.
Carin Leong
Water Project Sponsor Donor Reporting and Revenue Operations Intern Working under Shirley: Key Relationships
School: New York University Major: Film and Business Graduating May 2020
What is the best thing you’ve done while interning for charity: water? As a WPS intern, I work with major donors before and after their donations come in. My job includes sending project updates to past donors, organizing large incoming donations into our system, and working on pitching projects to potential donors. At the intersection of working with our past, present and future supporters, updating both donation and beneficiary numbers, I get to see large-scale fundraising at work and watch that translate materially into the water projects and lives we impact all around the world.
Irene Kwon
Key Relationships - The Well Intern Working under Rachel Sapire: Key Relationships
School: University of Michigan Major: Public Policy Graduated April 2018
What is the best thing you’ve done while interning for charity: water? Hunting for the perfect birthday gifts for our awesome Well members :)
Viktoriia Chubikra
Key Relationships Intern Working under Brady Essmann: Key Relationships
School: Baruch College Major: Public Administration Graduating December 2018
What has surprised you the most about charity: water? Great office culture, the willingness of everyone to help. Coffee dates with staff and intern brown bags with senior staff.
Kitty Park
Brand Partnership Intern Working under Galila Gray: Brand Partnerships
School: New York University Major: Social and Political Philosophy Graduating May 2020
What has surprised you the most about charity: water? I am constantly surprised by how charity: water functions in a way that is so different from other nonprofits. It’s true when they say they operate more like a startup!
This summer, charity: water has 13 excited and dedicated interns working to support our staff in incredible ways. They help us run the office, work with our supporters, and so much more. Needless to say, they’re a crucial part of the charity: water team. Meet our phenomenal summer interns!
Jordan Goldberg
School: The University of Texas at Austin Team: People and Culture Hometown: Houston, Texas
Why did you want to intern at charity: water? I wanted to be immersed in an environment where I knew everyone was passionate about what they were doing and actually wanted to come to work every day. The first time I interviewed with charity: water, I could tell that it was filled with young, creative, and inspiring individuals and that I would be lucky to learn from them. charity: water’s mission keeps me aware of the water crisis and makes me hopeful that there is a solution to this problem. I know that the individuals at charity: water will be a huge part of the solution.
What is your favorite part of interning at charity: water? I love the strong culture at charity: water. Everyone genuinely wants to meet you and learn more about you. charity: water promotes respect, openness, and fun while also keeping you motivated to work hard. I see that everyday in the office.
Fun Fact: I love to travel. I just spent 2 weeks in India, visiting cities like Bangalore, Agra, Udaipur, and Jaipur. I hope to visit Switzerland or Iceland next!
Adrian Voysey
School: University of Miami Team: Key Relationships Hometown: Weehawken, NJ
Why did you want to intern at charity: water? When I started researching charity: water it became apparent that it operated with a significantly different business model than the typical non-profit. I couldn’t get it out of my mind and watched just about every single Youtube video on charity: water I could find. I was inspired not only by the work charity: water was doing but how they were doing it, and I knew I wanted to be a part of it.
What does a typical day in the office look like for you? I’m consistently updating donor data and organizing donor lists by whatever criteria our UK managing director wants to search for, but I can also be found doing anything from shipping gifts to researching the philanthropic culture in Germany.
Fun Fact: When I’m not at the office, I love shooting and editing videos.
Keelin Moran
School: The College of New Jersey Team: Brand Partnerships Hometown: Montvale, New Jersey
Why did you want to intern at charity: water? I first learned about charity: water after a life-changing mission trip to Nicaragua where I witnessed the water crisis firsthand. I was in awe of the organization’s 100% model and its different approach to charity, so I decided to get involved and donate my 21st birthday to clean water. Since then, it has been a dream of mine to work at charity: water, and I am thrilled to be interning with the Brand Partnerships team this summer!
What is your favorite part of interning at charity: water? The best part of interning at charity: water is being surrounded by people that truly embody the mission and values of the organization. There is a palpable energy that you feel when you walk into the office, and you know that the work you are doing everyday is changing the lives of people around the world.
Fun Fact: Outside of work, I love anything related to interior design! I am a certified paint color specialist and am always looking for my next DIY home project.
Jenny Poon
School: Yale School of Management Team: Finance Hometown: New York City
Why did you want to intern at charity: water? To put it simply, I wanted to intern at charity: water because of its mission. I was drawn to not only charity: water’s amazing work around world to bring clean and safe drinking water to people in developing nations but also to its 100% model and its commitment to transparency. I thought that this was a great opportunity for me to learn more about the nonprofit sector.
What does a typical day in the office look like for you? I am working on two projects for the Finance team. This involves data crunching and research. I am also in meetings with different people to learn more about how charity: water functions and about resources I can use to solve questions I am given this summer.
Fun Fact: I won the Top Chef competition at my school with my team, and I made over 200 oolong tea-infused madeleine cookies.
Jed Starr
School: Tufts University Team: Key Relationships Hometown: New York, NY
Why did you want to intern at charity: water? I learned about charity: water through a program at my university, and I was taken by the idea of spending the summer working for the public good. I have also always been interested in our relationship with water as a species – it’s something we can’t live without, of course, but also a resource that we consistently abuse. Working to solve the water crisis satisfies this interest very well.
What is your favorite part of interning at charity: water? The donors! They’re the people who allow us bring clean water to so many communities around the globe, and their stories never cease to amaze me. The passion, creativity, and diversity of our supporters is incredible.
Fun Fact: I’m a certified SCUBA diver and an avid rock climber!
John Willis
School: Missouri State University Team: Water Programs Hometown: St. Louis, Missouri
Why did you want to intern at charity: water? I wanted to intern at charity: water because I’m sold on its mission and vision for both the nonprofit sector and the world at large. I’m amazed and inspired by the combination of creativity, hope, passion, and innovation that exists in charity: water’s everyday operations, and I wanted to be a part of a team that championed all of those values for an amazing cause.
What does a typical day in the office look like for you? I have a little bit of background in computer science, so I spend some of my time writing code that can help our team organize data in useful and efficient ways. I also spend time doing research on various aspects of our programs, projects, and partners in the field, and I help review photos from completed projects for charity: water’s website.
Fun Fact: I can do the splits, though I require adequate time for stretching if a demonstration is required.
Paris Welker-Widell
School: The King’s College, NYC Team: Finance Hometown: Vero Beach, Florida
Why did you want to intern at charity: water? Since watching Scott Harrison’s TED Talk in high school, I have had a passion for the water crisis and was excited to contribute to an organization that is dedicated to transparency and accurate reporting through the 100% model.
What is your favorite part of interning at charity: water? My favorite part about interning at charity: water is the people. I love the office environment and the fact that you can see how passionate every employee at charity: water is about taking steps to solve the water crisis. Even though the work I do on the finance team is tedious, the fact that it’s benefiting a charity I believe in is what makes this internship enjoyable.
Fun Fact: I’ve hiked almost 90 miles of the Appalachian Trail.
Lindsay Hoyle
School: Wake Forest University Team: Key Relationships Hometown: Durham, NC
Why did you want to intern at charity: water? Once I heard the story behind the founding of charity: water, I knew I wanted to be a part of the amazing work charity: water does everyday. I loved charity: water’s concept of reinventing charity. I have a passion for helping others and charity: water is an amazing place to learn from and work with others with the same passion.
What does a typical day in the office look like for you? No one day is the same at charity: water. I do various tasks such as donor outreach and prospecting, creating impact reports, sending gifts to donors, collecting and organizing data, writing thank you notes, and hopping in on phone calls with our amazing Water Project Sponsors.
Fun Fact: I have never had a cup of coffee!
Lauren Berman
School: Duke University Team: Key Relationships Hometown: Armonk, NY
Why did you want to intern at charity: water? I remember learning about charity: water in middle school and being amazed by the organization’s immense impact. After seeing the job posting and doing some research, that same sense of wonder came back. Watching videos and exploring the website showed me just how important and good charity: water is. I wanted to do my part in moving the mission forward.
What is your favorite part of interning at charity: water? I love learning about charity: water and sharing that information with people. Whenever anyone asks me about charity: water, I tell them all about the water crisis, water projects, transparency, and the 100% model. Most people are very impressed by charity: water, and I’m proud to be a part of such a great organization.
Fun Fact: I went to sleepaway camp for nine years.
Why did you want to intern at charity: water? I heard about charity: water a couple of years ago through friends who interned here. I was so impressed by the 100% model and the way they portray the people they’ve helped in such a beautiful, hopeful way. I’ve been interested in nonprofits that aid in economic development, fundraising, and donor relations. The Key Relationships internship was a perfect fit for the fundraising & donor relationship experience I was looking to gain!
What does a typical day in the office look like for you? I always head to grab a cup of coffee first to get the caffeine flowing. I check in with my manager and with my basecamp to-do lists for tasks for the day. My projects range from donor research, making updates in our donor database, helping organize and curate event invite lists, writing birthday cards to our donors, and really whatever my boss needs help with! I’ve gotten to help assist with some really awesome events outside the office as well with the rest of the KR team.
Fun Fact: Outside of work and school, I love going to concerts at any of the amazing venues in NYC– I’ve been to over 50 in the past couple years. (starting to lose count!)
Jake Weronski
School: The King’s College, NYC Team: Supporter Experience Hometown: Buffalo, NY
Why did you want to intern at charity: water? I’ve been a huge supporter of clean water charities since I was twelve. I have a friend who interned at charity: water a few years ago and she loved the experience, so I knew I had to intern here. I immediately fell in love with the amazing work each team devotes themselves to each day.
What is your favorite part of interning at charity: water? The people that work in this office are some of the most passionate, warm-hearted individuals I’ve ever met. They truly care about connecting with all the interns, about doing their job well, and they know how to have fun in between! I have so much respect for every person that works here, and I feel like I’ve already learned so much by being here. I also love hearing people’s stories, so talking on the phone with our supporters about their passion for charity: water is something I’ll never get tired of.
Fun Fact: I really really love dogs! (Okay, who doesn’t?) My family and I are puppy raisers for Guiding Eyes for the Blind. This means that we take a puppy in at around eight weeks old, train them for a little over a year, and then they are able to become fully-trained guide dogs. It’s a process that takes a lot of patience and care, but is so rewarding in the end! We also have dogs of our own, so in total, I’ve lived with 11 dogs in my lifetime!
Rachel Garofoli
School: Santa Clara University Team: Water Projects Hometown: Darien, CT
Why did you want to intern at charity: water? I wanted to intern at charity: water because I believe that every person on earth deserves the basic opportunities to progress in their lives, and access to clean water is the master key that opens doors to many. It brings a base of good health and time which allows for opportunities such as education, work, and family. In my mind, what charity: water does is extremely important to humanity and that’s why I wanted to be involved.
What is your favorite part of interning at charity: water? I have really loved my time at charity: water so far. However, my favorite part about interning at charity: water is that I feel like it is an environment that brings everyone that touches it joy. My coworkers are enthusiastic to work on projects, visitors seem happy, donors are ecstatic, and the people who receive our water projects are super elated. A lot of good vibes around here!
Fun Fact: I am a DJ on my university’s radio station. My name over the air is DJ Dori$ and I love to play all types of music (except for country and screamo).
Kitty Park
School: New York University Team: Key Relationships Hometown: Wayne, NJ
Why did you want to intern at charity: water? Like most people, I was initially drawn to charity: water because of the mission. I was also intrigued by the 100% model and wanted to learn more about how the organization operates in such a unique way.
What is your favorite part of interning at charity: water? It’s hard to say, but I think my favorite part about interning here is that the organization puts a lot of time and effort towards cultivating a great work culture and it shows. Everyone I’ve met so far is genuinely hardworking, passionate, and happy to be doing what they do.
Fun Fact: I have a very impressive high score on 2048.
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Want to be a part of the next class of interns at charity: water? You’re in luck, fall internships just went live! Apply here today.
We are so grateful to have an incredible brand partnership community at charity: water. Brands so committed to seeing an end to the water crisis that they’ve dedicated their time, talent, and creativity to finding unique and powerful ways to raise awareness through their businesses. To date, they’ve helped us raise $42 million to serve over 1.1 million people around the globe with clean and safe drinking water. It’s an testament to the power of connecting business and purpose.
In 2017, we had the crazy idea to gather our brand partners and friends of the organization at our headquarters in NYC for a day of inspiring presentations and thought-provoking panels. We were so moved by the stories they shared and the innovative ideas in the room that we decided to make it an annual event. This year, 56 brands attended our Brand Partnership X Summit at The Mezzanine in NYC to get an update on charity: water, hear from inspirational business leaders, learn about the power of collaboration, and make new friends.
We were most surprised by the candor and vulnerability in the room. We were encouraged to reflect not just on our business’s purpose but on our personal purpose as well.
This summit would not have been possible without our amazing speakers who generously took time out of their busy schedules to inspire us and teach us how to effectively weave purpose and generosity into our work. A special thanks to:
Brant Cryder, President of Saint Laurent, for sharing his personal connection to the organization, experience in the field, and how that fueled a partnership with charity: water.
Andrea Sullivan (VaynerMedia), Erin Grau (Away), and Karie Brown (Comic Relief US) for giving us fresh ideas on collaborating in the workplace.
Miguel McKelvey, Co-Founder and COO of WeWork, for teaching us how to build a company rooted in culture and community and for reminding us of the immense power of love.
Kyle Guerin from The Smile Generation. To date, this group of dentists has raised more than $4.5 million, and their current fundraising campaign, Together We Give, has raised a whopping $532,000 for clean water projects.
Beth Comstock, change maker and author, for inspiring the group to summon creativity and courage in the midst of change.
Stephen Bruner, Partner at Corkcicle, for sharing what prompted him to get his company involved. (Corkcicle donates 5% from all website sales to charity: water.)
Each season we have the opportunity to work with a group of passionate and diligent interns who support our staff in incredible ways. From developing new skills to building relationships, our interns are a crucial part of the charity: water team. Meet our amazing spring interns!
Julia Hammond
School: Fordham University Team: Key Relationships Hometown: Essex, CT
Why did you want to intern at charity: water? I learned about charity: water a few years ago through social media, and the organization’s mission as well as the hopeful, beautiful branding immediately caught my attention. It made me stop to think about the sheer number of people who spend hours every day hauling unclean, unhealthy water, and realize what clean water can mean for an individual, especially girls and women. Ever since then, I’ve wanted to be a part of charity: water and help people around the world get access to the lifeline and the opportunities that clean & safe drinking water provide.
What does a typical day in the office look like for you? I usually grab my computer and a cup of coffee and check my emails and calendar. Then, I usually spend my time collecting and organizing data to help our Key Relationships team keep in contact with our amazing donors! I also send a lot of thank you notes to donors that sponsor entire water projects.
What is your favorite part of interning at charity: water? The people! I love coming into work and immediately feeling all the positive, creative, motivated energy that fills this space. The Key Relationships team is full of amazingly talented, smart, funny, and kind staff & interns that inspire me every day. I also really love learning about the way nonprofits are run, and learning about all the different people and departments that keep this place going!
What is your favorite NYC hangout? I’m a total foodie, so when I have the time, I’m usually running all over the city looking for delicious food & dessert – there’s too many awesome neighborhoods to pick just one! I’m also incredibly lucky to go to school right next to the New York Botanical Garden, which is another favorite of mine.
Fun Fact: My dream job is to be a photojournalist and work for National Geographic.
Ami Patel
School: University of Warwick Team: Key Relationships Hometown: England
Why did you want to intern at charity: water? I enjoyed reading about all the work charity: water had done and the different ways people had been supporting them. I was excited to be part of an organization that is passionate about making a difference, and one where my work would support those that are not getting the opportunities they deserve.
What does a typical day in the office look like for you? I like coming in and making myself a cup of coffee, and then checking my calendar for anything I need to attend that day. The main project I am currently working on is researching major donors. I also help my manager with other smaller tasks such as updating information on NetSuite and mailing gifts to donors.
What is your favourite part of interning at charity: water My favourite part is the people I get to work with. Everyone is very welcoming and willing to answer any questions. I am excited to get to know the people in the organization.
What is your favourite NYC hangout? My favourite NYC hangout is Astoria Park.
Fun Fact: I lived in England for 22 years before moving to New York City last July.
Elizabeth Logan
School: The King’s College Team: Production Hometown: Asheville, North Carolina
Why did you want to intern at charity: water? I have friends who interned at charity: water in the past and they all loved it. I didn’t want an internship where I ran to get coffee every day instead of actually working, so after hearing the reviews of this program I knew it was a perfect fit.
What does a typical day in the office look like for you? I typically come in and answer any emails I might have, then I start on any tasks that Laura and Johanna assigned to me. Sometimes I have to make itineraries for Scott or send merchandise to the UK office or go see a venue. Every day is a little different!
What is your favorite part of interning at charity: water? The people that work at charity: water are my favorite part of this internship. Everyone here has been very kind and open, which I’m very appreciative of.
What is your favorite NYC hangout? I love the Brooklyn Heights Promenade. I lived right next to it for my first two years in the city so it’s a like a little piece of home.
Fun Fact: My favorite movies are Good Will Hunting and Tangled.
Maxi Rodriguez
School: NYU Team: Marketing Hometown: San Diego, CA
Why did you want to intern at charity: water? I found out about charity: water recently when I moved to NYC. An Instagram influencer that I follow posted about charity: water and I decided to learn more about it. I quickly realized that charity: water was different and was drawn in by the commitment to transparency and honesty (something I wasn’t used to seeing a lot of in other nonprofits). I decided it would be a fantastic opportunity to learn more about the inner workings of a charitable organization and help guide me in choosing a possible career path.
What does a typical day in the office look like for you? I’m usually at the front desk, so my day begins by listening to the voicemails left on the Dialpad as well as reading through the call logs and either triaging them to other team members or taking care of it as best I can. If I’m not answering phone calls or greeting visitors while at the desk, I’m usually responding to inquiries that come through the Help Center or info@. Additionally, I’m assisting Annalise with any other tasks that come up (ie. shipping out supporter mail, communicating with students, or providing supporter to fundraisers)
What is your favorite part of interning at charity: water? I really enjoy hearing people’s stories. And I think charity: water supporters have some of the best stories to tell. Whether it’s why they decided to donate or what their giving experience has taught them, hearing our supporters express their joy and excitement for the cause is always so awesome!
What is your favorite NYC hangout? You can almost always find me eating at a Sweetgreen or at Pier 40 playing in a pick-up soccer game. NYC has so many cool places to explore, so I like putting on my sneakers and going on a run across town to really appreciate all it has to offer.
Fun Fact: I’m a huge Manchester United supporter and got to see them play when they went to California last year. Next thing to check off the bucket list: The World Cup!
Danielle Gleason
School: LIM Team: Key Relationships Hometown: Swiftwater, PA
Why did you want to intern at charity: water? In the spring semester of 2017, I took a nonprofit management and cause marketing course to learn more about nonprofits. For the final project in my nonprofit management course, we had to do a research project on an NYC nonprofit. After a quick search, I came across charity: water and immediately wanted to learn all I could. After completing my research project I was eager to learn even more about charity: water and knew I wanted to apply for an internship position.
What does a typical day in the office look like for you? When I come into the office the first thing I do is get myself a cup of hot water for tea. I do this first thing because the water is so hot that it takes at least 40 minutes to reach a drinkable temperature. My typical daily tasks consist of mailing out birthday gifts, mailing out packages, working on projects given to me by my manager, attending meetings, and helping out with intern requests when I can!
What is your favorite part of interning at charity: water? For me, doing a research project on charity: water and now being here as an intern a year later is very rewarding. I love how transparent, honest, and real everyone at charity: water is.
What is your favorite NYC hangout? Being a homebody, my favorite NYC hangout is my room. I really enjoy hanging out at home and escaping the busy city lifestyle. When I do venture out, I love to go to the movies!
Fun Fact: I do not like avocados or coffee.
Henry Thomas
School: The King’s College Team: Finance Hometown: Nashville, TN
Why did you want to intern at charity: water? As a student studying Finance, I jumped at the opportunity to take part in charity: water’s unique 100% Model. The Finance department is crucial to maintaining the organization’s core values, and I enjoy taking part in their meaningful work.
What does a typical day in the office look like for you? Imagine: excel spreadsheets, tax receipts, and a lot of one-on-one communications with donors. While that may not be most people’s’ idea of a fun day, I love it!
What is your favorite part of interning at charity: water? The people - I can honestly say the accountants at charity: water are some of the coolest and funniest people I’ve ever met.
What is your favorite NYC hangout? Brooklyn Promenade
Fun Fact: When I’m not crunching numbers, I’m shooting pictures. I especially love photographing “urban ruins.” I’ve found and explored abandoned schools, hospitals, prisons, and even a nuclear power plant!
Julia Biango
School: Columbia University Team: Water Programs Hometown: Myrtle Beach, SC
Why did you want to intern at charity: water? I intern for charity: water in order to learn the ins and outs of development programming and to gain this knowledge at an organization whose values align with mine.
What does a typical day in the office look like for you? A typical day for me involves scouring through grants to make greater sense out of the data we have collected throughout our extensive program portfolio.
What is your favorite part of interning at charity: water? The exposure and incredible learning opportunity—I feel grateful for having been given the responsibilities and the access to learn so thoroughly about what we do and how we do it. Also, the snacks rock.
What is your favorite NYC hangout? If I have free time, you can most likely catch me at one of the many music venues throughout Brooklyn.
School: Evangel University Team: People and Culture Hometown: Jamaica, NY
Why did you want to intern at charity: water? I wanted to intern charity: water because from the moment I learned about the organization I could not get it out of my mind. I learned about charity: water while looking for a job and the internship was posted. I had never heard much about the organization before then. I decided to do research about the organization and completely believed in the heart and mission. After watching countless videos and reading various stories I knew I wanted to be a part of this in anyway possible.
What does a typical day in the office look like for you? Honestly, a typical day at the office is almost nonexistent. I could be helping with an internal event, running around with a ladder or just assisting Joy Caroline. It all depends on what is the priority at that time.
What is your favorite part of interning at charity: water? My favorite part of interning at charity:water is the people/culture. I have had the opportunity to learn from so many people through conversations and simply watching them work diligently. They are incredibly passionate about their work!
What is your favorite NYC hangout? I love experiencing new things. Having grown up in NYC it sometimes feels like I have seen most of New York, however I have recently discovered New York looks a lot different than it did when I was a teenager. I often try to spend the weekend doing something new. Right now the highline is one of my favorites.
Fun Fact: I used to compete in spoken word competitions.
Katherine Mills
School: Fordham University Team: Brand Partnerships Hometown: Nashville, TN
Why did you want to intern at charity: water? I wanted to intern at charity: water because I have always been a fan of the organization since I originally was introduced to it. I think it is amazing how simple the mission seems, to bring clean and safe drinking water to all people, yet that one cause can affect and touch so many other aspects of the lives that are affected. I specifically feel passionate about the way that women and young girls are impacted by our water projects. They are getting back the time that used to be spent trekking to get water and being able to invest that time into education and even starting small businesses.
What does a typical day in the office look like for you? My typical day is always changing! I assist the Brand Partnerships team doing a variety of tasks. It could be anything from responding to emails from prospective corporate partners, to designing one-pagers, to helping compile and construct donor impact reports.
What is your favorite part of interning at charity: water? My favorite part so far has been the people I get to work with. Everyone is genuinely so nice and ready to help or give advice. Everyone is uplifting and the whole office has a great and overall positive vibe to it. Also, the sparkling water machine in the kitchen is a definite perk.
What is your favorite NYC hangout? My favorite thing to do in NYC is to try new things! Whether it be trying new restaurants, cuisines, art museums, or music venues, I like to try and switch it up every weekend. Anything that has a great view, rooftop, or is by the water, are also automatic favorites of mine. I love to be outdoors.
Fun Fact: I am going to be spending my summer in Granada, Spain studying and living with a Spanish family! I don’t speak any Spanish.
Picture this: a world where everyone on Earth has access to clean and safe drinking water; now that’s something to smile about.
At charity: water, we’ve always believed in photography as a powerful vehicle for storytelling. Since day one, we’ve used beautiful images of the places we work and people we serve to tell stories about transformation, hope, and the impact of clean water. So when Aura frames approached us about creating a limited-edition frame that would give clean water to people in need, we were thrilled.
Aura launched the the limited-edition Crystal Blue frame in early 2017. By donating $60 for each frame sold, they generously provided clean and safe drinking water for 600 people in Tigray, Ethiopia. Now they’re ready to help even more.
This year, we’re honored to celebrate Aura re-releasing this beautiful charity: water limited-edition digital picture frame. This time at a lower price, but the same $60 donation to bring clean water to two people for each one sold. They created 750 Crystal Blue frames with the potential to give clean water to 1,500 people.
The sleek and sophisticated Crystal Blue frame was specially designed to make a difference. The color was inspired by the transparency of our 100% model and our shared belief in the impact of clean water. Each limited-edition frame is engraved with the charity: water logo and edition number. Aura will even make sure you never forget the impact of your purchase; every few months, Aura will push a charity: water photo with a corresponding story to your frame to inspire you and help keep you connected to the cause. Download the free app to sort your photos into albums and add an unlimited amount to your wifi-powered frame. Unlike other frames, this one is run 100% from your phone and will automatically add new photos from your camera roll to your frame for a surprise and delight. It’s never been easier to display all of your favorite memories at once.
Aura is reimagining the digital picture frame with innovative technology that will give you something to smile about, and we hope framing your contribution will inspire you to keep fighting for a world where everyone has access to clean water. You can purchase your Crystal Blue frame at auraframes.com/charitywater.
World Water Day is one of our favorite days of the year. It always inspires us to see the way our community floods the Internet with the hope of clean water.
This World Water Day, we introduced people to Nora, a six-year-old who mailed charity: water $8.15 from her piggy bank because she “wanted people to stop dying.” We were so moved by her compassion and generosity that we centered our World Water Day campaign around growing her impact.
The response was awesome. Over 3,600 people joined her in giving and raised enough money to bring clean water to more than 2,500 people in need.
It wasn’t just one-time donations that made this day successful, but also our community of corporate supporters that found unique ways to make a difference. This year, we were thrilled to see the community use their brands to raise awareness and funds for clean water.
Here’s what they did to change lives…
Corkcicle created a limited edition charity: water bottle and donated $8.15 for each one sold. They also surprised every charity: water staff and intern with their own!
1,000 folks made their dentist (and us!) proud by purchasing Quip’slimited edition yellow metallic toothbrush featuring our beloved Jerry Can. They committed to donating $8.15 for each one sold, and even matched that for a total of $16.30 per brush. The best part? They sold out!
InStitchu has a range of (8) suits with custom charity: water lining donating $150 of the proceeds and one navy suit, The Tetbury, where they will be donating $30 of proceeds.
Getty Images and FCB Chicago launched Watermarks for Water, a collection of images that highlight the global water crisis. Getty Images will donate 10% of every licensing fee from the collection of images to charity: water. They also celebrated the launch of this campaign by showcasing some of these photos in a NYC gallery on World Water Day.
Aura launched another limited edition digital picture frame: the Crystal Blue Frame. Aura created 750 of them and will donate $60 for each one sold. They’re engraved with the charity: water logo, and Aura will keep you connected to your impact by sending photos and stories of our work straight to your frame.
Quirky launched a Water Changes Everything invention challenge to inspire people to invent an everyday product that promotes responsible water use. Once the invention is produced and on the market, they’ve committed to donating a portion of the profit to charity: water.
Nautica encouraged their customers to “Give Change to Make Change” for charity: water and generously matched the first $5,000 raised.
Gundry MD used their popular newsletter to share Nora’s story with their fans and directed them to our World Water Day site. The email alone generated 627 donations totaling more than $10,000 and 25 new Spring members.
Clothing company Warp and Weft gave it their all on World Water Day by donating 100% of their proceeds that day to charity: water.
Finally, a special shoutout to our friends that showed us some love on social media to lift this cause a little higher:
Endless thanks to each and every brand that cares about this cause and uses their platform to help more people receive access to clean and safe drinking water!
If you’re interested in partnering with us, please email corporategiving@charitywater.org
November 28th, 2017 marks the sixth annual #GivingTuesday, and this year stands to be the biggest yet.
What started back in 2012 with a handful of nonprofits has quickly grown into a global giving movement that has reached 98 countries around the world and raised $177 million in online donations.
Whether you see it as a day to help others or a chance to atone for a particularly, shall we say, ambitious Black Friday, #GivingTuesday has become an incredible force for good and a beautiful day of impact around the world.
This year, we have two really exciting things happening that we’d love to share with you.
1. Facebook and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation are matching $2 million for U.S. nonprofits on Facebook!
Starting at 8:00am (EST) on November 28th, donations made through Facebook’s charitable giving tool will be matched up to $50,000 per nonprofit. Facebook is also waiving all fees, so 100% of what you give on the platform will help bring clean water to people in need.
Even outside of the match, the ability to support your favorite charities from within the social networking platform is an amazing gift, and we can’t wait to see the impact. As a reminder, you can find us on Facebook here.
2. Our monthly giving community, The Spring, is working toward a major milestone in Rwanda!
In 2010, we took on a challenge to provide complete coverage to Rwanda’s Rulindo District. That means clean and safe drinking water in every community. Every school. Every clinic.
After seven years, we’ve managed to get 95% of the way there, and this month, The Spring community is working to finally reach full coverage.
On #GivingTuesday, you can join The Spring and help us achieve this incredible milestone. In addition to providing clean water to people in need, you’ll also receive stories about your impact every single month.
That’s it! Two awesome ways to get involved. No matter how you choose to participate, it’s going to be a #GivingTuesday for the books. Thank you in advance for choosing clean water.
Coffee and clean water are the ultimate power couple. Together, they keep the world running. After all, coffee is 98% water!
Our coffee partners know this, which is why they not only believe in crafting delicious brews, but also believe in a world where everyone has access to clean and safe drinking water. A world where more kids can attend school and build a better future.
For National Coffee Day, we’re celebrating a few of our partners that use their passion for coffee to do just that.
Like Joyride Coffee in New York City. Because of them, our office is stocked with delicious, cafe-quality coffee every week at a sweet discount. They even donated all of our coffee equipment so that we can grind and brew it all in house. They keep our team of 75 working at our highest capacity every day.
And Keurig Green Mountain who committed to the partnership campaign #BrewingABetterWorld with charity: water in 2014. The campaign unlocked $1 for each view and retweet of this video – which culminated in $506,543 sent to Rwanda for clean water projects! Since then, Keurig has continued to generously support our work as part of the company’s Brewing a Better World® initiative, helping to bring clean water to over 80,000 people in Ethiopia and Rwanda.
And who can forget our friends at The New York Coffee Festival? They know that great things happen when you combine your passion with your favorite cause, and they are dedicated to making access to clean water a reality in coffee-growing communities around the world. They’ve already helped bring clean water to 5,278 people since 2014, and you can help them serve another 2,000 people in Rwanda by grabbing tickets to this October’s event.
Then, there are the coffee companies that selflessly give up their birthdays so that communities can receive clean water. Yes, even companies can donate their birthdays for clean water! Nylon Coffee, a Singapore-based specialty micro-roaster, has generously given up theirs for the past five years, raising over $24,225 for clean water. This year, they handed out coffee and homemade baked goods in exchange for donations!
But they’re not alone. Right now, Blue Bottle Coffee is celebrating their 15th birthday with a throwback blend and limited-edition anniversary pins where 100% of proceeds will benefit charity: water.
To our coffee partners around the world, thank you for making clean water possible for so many people. Today, we lift our mugs to you!
