Philanthropy

Unrestricted, flexible funds underpin our mission.

This collective investment from donors allows us to direct funds where they are needed most, respond quickly to change, and fund pioneering activities that move our programmes forward. With this commitment, we can deliver what we promise, seize opportunities, and plan for the future.

Flexible funding: Your support changing lives (PDF)

Pond sand filters like those at Priota’s village provide a reliable source of clean water in climate-affected countries such as Bangladesh.

Image: WaterAid/ DRIK/ Habibul Haque

If you want to commit funding of £10k+ to a certain country, we have a range of projects already underway that offer the opportunity to transform lives for good.

Funded by multiple major donors, corporate partners and institutional donors, you’ll join a powerful movement of supporters making change possible together. We currently have opportunities in: 

• Ethiopia
• Malawi
• Mozambique
• Pakistan
• Rwanda

Learn more about investing in these priority projectsOr contact our Philanthropy team to discuss how we might be able to design a bespoke project to match your gift (£100k+ per year over three years).

Email [email protected] or call +44 (0) 207 793 5085.

Helme sits with her daughter Amaru at the new tap installed at their house in Amhara, Ethiopia.

Image: WaterAid/ Frehiwot Gebrewold

Share ownership in the UK has an estimated value of £200 billion, so even just a small amount of these investments could help support our work.

Whether you have small bundles of shares that generate lots of paperwork for you, you have windfall shares as a result of privatisation or de-mutualisation, or you’d like to take advantage of the tax relief associated with share giving, all these options can help support our work and transform people’s lives for good.

Our Philanthropy team can help advise what’s possible for donations of over £1,000 – email [email protected] to find out more.

Find out more about share giving

Whether hosting a private dinner at your organisation or attending one of our bespoke events, our donors are a core part of helping raise awareness of the powerful impact of clean water, decent toilets and good hygiene.

We'd love to discuss opportunities with you to bring together like-minded people from within your network and explore how we can create interest, intrigue and impact together.

Email us on [email protected] to find out more.

WaterAid’s 1920s Hollywood Glamour Gala hosted in London, November 2019.

Image: WaterAid/ Laura Summerton

We offer three Zakat-applicable projects, with 100% of donations supporting communities in Bangladesh, Pakistan or Mali.

Read more about our Zakat programmes

We are delighted to be working with the EmeraldNetwork in 2022 and 2023 to host a special event during Ramadan.

Email [email protected] to discuss your donation or opportunities for future collaboration.

WaterAid’s first Iftar event at the Gherkin in April 2022, in partnership with the Emerald Network.

Image: WaterAid/ Lis Parham

We design exclusive events for supporters throughout the year – not only to say thank you, but to keep you informed and involved in our work.

Our calendar includes a series of virtual and in-person events covering wider sector issues and featuring an array of experts and leaders in their field, often linking up with our corporate partners.

If you’d like to find out more, please email [email protected] to speak to a member of our team.

We teamed up with Stylist Magazine for a special event to mark International Women’s Day, March 2022.

Image: WaterAid/Ron Timehin

Gift Aid is a scheme that allows charities to claim 25% of the tax already paid on all eligible donations. This means that your generous donation can have an even greater impact on those who need it most – at no extra cost to you.

If you are a UK taxpayer and we have your permission, you can do this through Gift Aid.

For higher rate taxpayers (40% and above), you may also be entitled to a tax rebate on your donation worth the difference between the basic and higher rate of tax.

"As a peer in the House of Lords, I co-chair an All-Party Parliamentary Group on Water, Sanitation and Hygiene – organised by WaterAid - which currently advocates for urgent action and investment in clean water, decent toilets and good hygiene (WASH) in healthcare facilities globally.

"I am lucky enough to come in to regular contact with really interesting people every day some of whom have the resources to make a transformational impact on the world. I believe that nothing can be achieved without water, sanitation and hygiene and so introduce everyone I can to WaterAid and champion the team’s work. I’m delighted that many new supporters have joined the WaterAid family as a result.

"I also ran my first half marathon for WaterAid in 2013 and have sought to fundraise in this way every year since. I enjoy working with the team – the philanthropy team for their advice and updates, and Chief Executive Tim Wainwright for his insight and inspiration."

Lord Howard Leigh of Hurley speaks at a Gala Dinner in London in support of Untapped, our winter appeal in 2018.

Image: Photo credit: WaterAid/ Oliver Dixon

"We have given unrestricted funds to WaterAid for several years. The team has always been transparent and open with us around how they run the organisation and how they best use the money to make the most impact.

"We give unrestricted funds because we want WaterAid to be able to be flexible in how they address the WASH crisis. We believe that helping WaterAid build a stronger organisation means building a stronger foundation to address long term water issues."

"We support WaterAid's in-country projects that bring clean water, decent toilets, and good hygiene to the people that need it most. The team keeps us up to date on the progress being made and the lives that are being transformed.

"With a background in engineering, we are particularly excited by WaterAid's work to build long-lasting infrastructure, empower local communities to maintain and develop these systems, and support local authorities to implement district-wide and national changes.

"We support WaterAid because they are experts and have the knowledge, resources, and influence to make real change happen."