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About Us

We operate more like a
startup than a charity.

We operate more like a startup than a charity.

Our approach is simple—local problems require local solutions. That’s why our work is entirely community-led, not dictated from afar.

Our staff, board, and many donors travel to the communities we serve, no matter how remote or difficult to reach, ensuring accountability and deep connection with people and the work on the ground.

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Our Story

Our Values

Our Team

This isn’t just an organization—it’s a movement dedicated to clean water in the toughest places on Earth.

The Story Behind the Name

In 2006, after 55 years of war, Water is Basic's founder, Steve Roese, was invited to lead a group of passionate local leaders in a week of dreaming about the nation's future. A lot of great initiatives came up: Healthcare. Education. Industry.

Then, an elder spoke up: “None of this is possible without clean water.”

At that time, in a country with barely passable roads, only two doctors for 13 million people, 90% illiteracy rate, and rampant hunger, they said water had to come first.

Since that fateful day in 2006, we’ve stood with those leaders to pursue one goal: clean water for all. Our mission hasn’t changed, but our methods have. And since 2021, the focus has been on one simple truth: women are the best solution.

Our milestones

Drilling Wells

Well Repair?

Women as Solution

What’s Next?

2006-2010

We started by drilling wells.

Water is Basic began by doing what most water organizations do: drilling wells. We drilled more than 800 wells that provided clean water for hundreds of thousands of people. But while we were drilling our own wells, we recognized that thousands of wells were broken all over the country – and no one was fixing them.

Our milestones

Drilling Wells

Well Repair?

Women as Solution

What’s Next?

2006-2010

We started by drilling wells.

Our milestones

Drilling Wells

Well Repair?

Women as Solution

What’s Next?

2006-2010

We started by drilling wells.

How Water Access Changes Daily Life

When water access improves, time once spent fetching water is freed up for other activities. This chart compares how communities reallocated their time before and after gaining reliable access to clean water.

Our Core Values

These values drive everything we do—from how we deploy funds to how we show up in the field.

Our Core Values

These values drive everything we do—from how we deploy funds to how we show up in the field.

We believe women are the solution.
We operate under the fundamental belief that supporting women is the key to lasting change.
We believe in local solutions.
Working in the most difficult places on Earth has taught us that local water problems are best solved by the people most impacted by them.
We follow a 100% model.
100% of donations go directly to the field. Overhead is funded by generous, long-time donors who are committed to the work.
We do whatever it takes.
Our work isn’t easy, but it’s important. Our founder has “whatever it takes” tattooed on his arm.
We prioritize sustainability.
We prioritize solutions that last and reject "band-aid" solutions that don't.
We believe women are the solution.
We operate under the fundamental belief that supporting women is the key to lasting change.
We believe in local solutions.
Working in the most difficult places on Earth has taught us that local water problems are best solved by the people most impacted by them.
We follow a 100% model.
100% of donations go directly to the field. Overhead is funded by generous, long-time donors who are committed to the work.
We do whatever it takes.
Our work isn’t easy, but it’s important. Our founder has “whatever it takes” tattooed on his arm.
We prioritize sustainability.
We prioritize solutions that last and reject "band-aid" solutions that don't.
We believe women are the solution.
We operate under the fundamental belief that supporting women is the key to lasting change.
We believe in local solutions.
Working in the most difficult places on Earth has taught us that local water problems are best solved by the people most impacted by them.
We follow a 100% model.
100% of donations go directly to the field. Overhead is funded by generous, long-time donors who are committed to the work.
We do whatever it takes.
Our work isn’t easy, but it’s important. Our founder has “whatever it takes” tattooed on his arm.
We prioritize sustainability.
We prioritize solutions that last and reject "band-aid" solutions that don't.
We believe women are the solution.
We operate under the fundamental belief that supporting women is the key to lasting change.
We believe in local solutions.
Working in the most difficult places on Earth has taught us that local water problems are best solved by the people most impacted by them.
We follow a 100% model.
100% of donations go directly to the field. Overhead is funded by generous, long-time donors who are committed to the work.
We do whatever it takes.
Our work isn’t easy, but it’s important. Our founder has “whatever it takes” tattooed on his arm.
We prioritize sustainability.
We prioritize solutions that last and reject "band-aid" solutions that don't.

We believe women are the solution.
We operate under the fundamental belief that supporting women is the key to lasting change.
We believe in local solutions.
Working in the most difficult places on Earth has taught us that local water problems are best solved by the people most impacted by them.
We follow a 100% model.
100% of donations go directly to the field. Overhead is funded by generous, long-time donors who are committed to the work.
We do whatever it takes.
Our work isn’t easy, but it’s important. Our founder has “whatever it takes” tattooed on his arm.
We prioritize sustainability.
We prioritize solutions that last and reject "band-aid" solutions that don't.
We believe women are the solution.
We operate under the fundamental belief that supporting women is the key to lasting change.
We believe in local solutions.
Working in the most difficult places on Earth has taught us that local water problems are best solved by the people most impacted by them.
We follow a 100% model.
100% of donations go directly to the field. Overhead is funded by generous, long-time donors who are committed to the work.
We do whatever it takes.
Our work isn’t easy, but it’s important. Our founder has “whatever it takes” tattooed on his arm.
We prioritize sustainability.
We prioritize solutions that last and reject "band-aid" solutions that don't.
We believe women are the solution.
We operate under the fundamental belief that supporting women is the key to lasting change.
We believe in local solutions.
Working in the most difficult places on Earth has taught us that local water problems are best solved by the people most impacted by them.
We follow a 100% model.
100% of donations go directly to the field. Overhead is funded by generous, long-time donors who are committed to the work.
We do whatever it takes.
Our work isn’t easy, but it’s important. Our founder has “whatever it takes” tattooed on his arm.
We prioritize sustainability.
We prioritize solutions that last and reject "band-aid" solutions that don't.
We believe women are the solution.
We operate under the fundamental belief that supporting women is the key to lasting change.
We believe in local solutions.
Working in the most difficult places on Earth has taught us that local water problems are best solved by the people most impacted by them.
We follow a 100% model.
100% of donations go directly to the field. Overhead is funded by generous, long-time donors who are committed to the work.
We do whatever it takes.
Our work isn’t easy, but it’s important. Our founder has “whatever it takes” tattooed on his arm.
We prioritize sustainability.
We prioritize solutions that last and reject "band-aid" solutions that don't.

We believe women are the solution.
We operate under the fundamental belief that supporting women is the key to lasting change.
We believe in local solutions.
Working in the most difficult places on Earth has taught us that local water problems are best solved by the people most impacted by them.
We follow a 100% model.
100% of donations go directly to the field. Overhead is funded by generous, long-time donors who are committed to the work.
We do whatever it takes.
Our work isn’t easy, but it’s important. Our founder has “whatever it takes” tattooed on his arm.
We prioritize sustainability.
We prioritize solutions that last and reject "band-aid" solutions that don't.
We believe women are the solution.
We operate under the fundamental belief that supporting women is the key to lasting change.
We believe in local solutions.
Working in the most difficult places on Earth has taught us that local water problems are best solved by the people most impacted by them.
We follow a 100% model.
100% of donations go directly to the field. Overhead is funded by generous, long-time donors who are committed to the work.
We do whatever it takes.
Our work isn’t easy, but it’s important. Our founder has “whatever it takes” tattooed on his arm.
We prioritize sustainability.
We prioritize solutions that last and reject "band-aid" solutions that don't.
We believe women are the solution.
We operate under the fundamental belief that supporting women is the key to lasting change.
We believe in local solutions.
Working in the most difficult places on Earth has taught us that local water problems are best solved by the people most impacted by them.
We follow a 100% model.
100% of donations go directly to the field. Overhead is funded by generous, long-time donors who are committed to the work.
We do whatever it takes.
Our work isn’t easy, but it’s important. Our founder has “whatever it takes” tattooed on his arm.
We prioritize sustainability.
We prioritize solutions that last and reject "band-aid" solutions that don't.
We believe women are the solution.
We operate under the fundamental belief that supporting women is the key to lasting change.
We believe in local solutions.
Working in the most difficult places on Earth has taught us that local water problems are best solved by the people most impacted by them.
We follow a 100% model.
100% of donations go directly to the field. Overhead is funded by generous, long-time donors who are committed to the work.
We do whatever it takes.
Our work isn’t easy, but it’s important. Our founder has “whatever it takes” tattooed on his arm.
We prioritize sustainability.
We prioritize solutions that last and reject "band-aid" solutions that don't.