Lifewater International 
The information on this page was last updated 1/4/2023. If you see errors or omissions, please email: [email protected]
Summary
Every 60 seconds, a child dies from a preventable waterborne disease. More than 844 million people live without access to safe water. Lifewater does more than build wells. By addressing water access, sanitation and hygiene practices (WASH) in homes and schools, waterborne diseases are virtually eliminated.
Our in-country teams are comprised of 100% local Christian staff to best serve villages. By working with local residents, systems, and structures, programs are more effective and sustainable.
Communities know the pride of ownership. Each village contributes 10-20% of the cost of the water project through labor, materials and/or capital. Lifewater sources only local materials for all clean water projects.
Lifewater uses real-time data and analytics from the field to provide the best service and most sustainable solutions. Our repair and maintenance program monitors all clean water sources to ensure they last for generations to come.
Contact information
Mailing address:
Lifewater International
PO Box 2868
Bentonville, AR 72712
Website: lifewater.org
Phone: 479-360-5030
Email: [email protected]
Organization details
EIN: 953987142
CEO/President: Dave LeVan, MBA
Chairman: John Drechny
Board size: 12
Founder: William A. Ashe
Ruling year: 1986
Tax deductible: Yes
Fiscal year end: 12/31
Member of ECFA: Yes
Member of ECFA since: 1988
Purpose
Affirming the vision of our founder, William A. Ashe-Lifewater believes every child and family deserves access to safe water and seeks to be the hands and feet of Jesus in the world's most marginalized communities. We are compelled by the great commission (Matthew 28) to serve the least, the lost, and the last.
We believe in serving the vulnerable in word and deed. That's why, alongside our water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) work, we partner with local ministries to start bible studies, plant churches, distribute bibles, and more. Lifewater serves all people regardless of religion, listening first and walking alongside community members as neighbors.
Mission statement
We are Christians providing access to safe water, and improved sanitation and hygiene, one village at a time.
Statement of faith
Lifewater has adopted the Lausanne Covenant as its statement of faith.
Donor confidence score
Transparency grade
A
To understand our transparency grade, click here.
Financial efficiency ratings
Sector: Relief and Development
| Category | Rating | Overall rank | Sector rank |
| Overall efficiency rating | | 826 of 1091 | 63 of 86 |
| Fund acquisition rating | | 1007 of 1094 | 78 of 86 |
| Resource allocation rating | | 835 of 1094 | 66 of 86 |
| Asset utilization rating | | 314 of 1091 | 27 of 86 |
Financial ratios
| Funding ratios | Sector median | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 |
Return on fundraising efforts Return on fundraising efforts = Fundraising expense / Total contributions | 5% | 14% | 12% | 10% | 9% | 10% |
Fundraising cost ratio Fundraising cost ratio = Fundraising expense / Total revenue | 5% | 14% | 12% | 10% | 9% | 10% |
Contributions reliance Contributions reliance = Total contributions / Total revenue | 99% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% |
Fundraising expense ratio Fundraising expense ratio = Fundraising expense / Total expenses | 6% | 16% | 12% | 10% | 12% | 10% |
Other revenue reliance Other revenue reliance = Total other revenue / Total revenue | 1% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| Operating ratios | Sector median | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 |
Program expense ratio Program expense ratio = Program services / Total expenses | 86% | 80% | 78% | 83% | 75% | 73% |
Spending ratio Spending ratio = Total expenses / Total revenue | 93% | 89% | 99% | 95% | 71% | 96% |
Program output ratio Program output ratio = Program services / Total revenue | 79% | 71% | 78% | 79% | 54% | 70% |
Savings ratio Savings ratio = Surplus (deficit) / Total revenue | 7% | 11% | 1% | 5% | 29% | 4% |
Reserve accumulation rate Reserve accumulation rate = Surplus (deficit) / Net assets | 16% | 26% | 1% | 13% | 66% | 16% |
General and admin ratio General and admin ratio = Management and general expense / Total expenses | 6% | 4% | 10% | 7% | 12% | 17% |
| Investing ratios | Sector median | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 |
Total asset turnover Total asset turnover = Total expenses / Total assets | 1.34 | 1.87 | 2.23 | 2.37 | 1.47 | 3.15 |
Degree of long-term investment Degree of long-term investment = Total assets / Total current assets | 1.23 | 1.25 | 1.45 | 1.38 | 1.07 | 1.06 |
Current asset turnover Current asset turnover = Total expenses / Total current assets | 1.88 | 2.34 | 3.23 | 3.27 | 1.58 | 3.36 |
| Liquidity ratios | Sector median | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 |
Current ratio Current ratio = Total current assets / Total current liabilities | 18.60 | 6.39 | 6.30 | 8.01 | 9.19 | 4.33 |
Current liabilities ratio Current liabilities ratio = Total current liabilities / Total current assets | 0.05 | 0.16 | 0.16 | 0.12 | 0.11 | 0.23 |
Liquid reserve level Liquid reserve level = (Total current assets - Total current liabilities) / (Total expenses / 12) | 5.82 | 4.32 | 3.13 | 3.21 | 6.79 | 2.75 |
| Solvency ratios | Sector median | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 |
Liabilities ratio Liabilities ratio = Total liabilities / Total assets | 7% | 13% | 11% | 9% | 10% | 22% |
Debt ratio Debt ratio = Debt / Total assets | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% |
Reserve coverage ratio Reserve coverage ratio = Net assets / Total expenses | 60% | 47% | 40% | 38% | 61% | 25% |
Financials
| Balance sheet | |||||
| Assets | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 |
| Cash | $2,615,273 | $1,362,000 | $1,212,765 | $1,181,572 | $511,569 |
| Receivables, inventories, prepaids | $445,115 | $561,939 | $731,844 | $1,589,953 | $587,838 |
| Short-term investments | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Other current assets | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total current assets | $3,060,388 | $1,923,939 | $1,944,609 | $2,771,525 | $1,099,407 |
| Long-term investments | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Fixed assets | $766,237 | $856,546 | $740,153 | $198,199 | $66,437 |
| Other long-term assets | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $5,017 |
| Total long-term assets | $766,237 | $856,546 | $740,153 | $198,199 | $71,454 |
| Total assets | $3,826,625 | $2,780,485 | $2,684,762 | $2,969,724 | $1,170,861 |
| Liabilities | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 |
| Payables and accrued expenses | $479,032 | $305,392 | $242,831 | $292,043 | $253,614 |
| Other current liabilities | $0 | $0 | $0 | $9,550 | $0 |
| Total current liabilities | $479,032 | $305,392 | $242,831 | $301,593 | $253,614 |
| Debt | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Due to (from) affiliates | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Other long-term liabilities | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total long-term liabilities | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total liabilities | $479,032 | $305,392 | $242,831 | $301,593 | $253,614 |
| Net assets | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 |
| Without donor restrictions | $2,997,093 | $1,759,537 | $1,879,689 | $1,749,676 | $397,959 |
| With donor restrictions | $350,500 | $715,556 | $562,242 | $918,455 | $519,288 |
| Net assets | $3,347,593 | $2,475,093 | $2,441,931 | $2,668,131 | $917,247 |
| Revenues and expenses | |||||
| Revenue | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 |
| Total contributions | $8,012,399 | $6,230,016 | $6,702,430 | $6,119,394 | $3,832,722 |
| Program service revenue | $0 | $0 | $0 | $13,309 | $23,940 |
| Membership dues | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Investment income | $3,978 | $3,778 | $5,081 | $0 | $49 |
| Other revenue | $20,630 | $12,803 | ($33,545) | ($14,611) | ($22,135) |
| Total other revenue | $24,608 | $16,581 | ($28,464) | ($1,302) | $1,854 |
| Total revenue | $8,037,007 | $6,246,597 | $6,673,966 | $6,118,092 | $3,834,576 |
| Expenses | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 |
| Program services | $5,704,915 | $4,869,627 | $5,289,983 | $3,293,083 | $2,683,073 |
| Management and general | $308,119 | $615,513 | $417,436 | $531,750 | $635,702 |
| Fundraising | $1,151,473 | $728,295 | $649,033 | $542,375 | $371,315 |
| Total expenses | $7,164,507 | $6,213,435 | $6,356,452 | $4,367,208 | $3,690,090 |
| Change in net assets | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 |
| Surplus (deficit) | $872,500 | $33,162 | $317,514 | $1,750,884 | $144,486 |
| Other changes in net assets | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total change in net assets | $872,500 | $33,162 | $317,514 | $1,750,884 | $144,486 |
Compensation
| Name | Title | Compensation |
| David Levan | President/CEO | $157,890 |
| Timothy Culp | Treasurer/COO | $135,338 |
Compensation data as of: 12/31/2021
Response from ministry
No response has been provided by this ministry.
The information below was provided to MinistryWatch by the ministry itself. It was last updated 1/4/2023. To update the information below, please email: [email protected]
History
1962 - Lifewater Founder and water pump business owner, Bill Ashe, visits Mexico, where he fixes windmill hand pumps at an orphanage.
1968 - Bill began ministry with his family and friends in Baja California, Mexico, working obediently and humbly to alleviate suffering in poor communities.
1977 - "Lifewater" is born and the groundwork laid for many more to join Bill in bringing water to those who need it most.
1983 - Bill attends Billy Graham conference in Amsterdam and receives over 2,000 requests from pastors and evangelists for safe water from over 100 countries.
1984 - In response to the flurry of requests received in Amsterdam, Bill and associates formally register Lifewater, Inc (DBA Lifewater International) as a California Non-Profit Corporation.
1988 - Lifewater holds its first conference inviting volunteer professionals to become a part of the team. Lifewater continues to build an exceptional team of field trainers.
1999 - Field trainers teach hygiene and hand pump repair programs. These new areas of expertise help Lifewater train indigenous partners and increase impact and sustainability in communities.
2002 - Lifewater adopts Water Access, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) strategy focusing on community development and building the capacity of indigenous partners.
2003 - Lifewater helps found the Millennium Water Alliance (MWA) to share knowledge and work with other WASH organizations to advocate for the those experiencing extreme poverty.
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2006 - Lifewater develops a WASH curriculum that sets the standard for Christian WASH practitioners in the field.
2009 - Using momentum and local knowledge to maximize impact, Lifewater adopts a regional program strategy aimed to serve tens of thousands of people with safe water and improved sanitation and hygiene.
2015 - Lifewater launches its first field offices in Ethiopia and Uganda, using local staff with real-time data monitoring to help implement the Vision of a Healthy Village strategy.
2016 - Lifewater celebrates the first "Healthy Home" (in Ethiopia), the building blocks of long-term regional transformation that begins one family at a time.