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

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Transparency grade

A

To understand our transparency grade, click here.


Financial efficiency ratings

Sector: Relief and Development

CategoryRatingOverall rankSector rank
Overall efficiency rating826 of 109163 of 86
Fund acquisition rating1007 of 109478 of 86
Resource allocation rating835 of 109466 of 86
Asset utilization rating314 of 109127 of 86

Financial ratios

Funding ratiosSector median20212020201920182017
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 ratiosSector median20212020201920182017
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 ratiosSector median20212020201920182017
Total asset turnover Total asset turnover =
Total expenses /
Total assets
1.341.872.232.371.473.15
Degree of long-term investment Degree of long-term investment =
Total assets /
Total current assets
1.231.251.451.381.071.06
Current asset turnover Current asset turnover =
Total expenses /
Total current assets
1.882.343.233.271.583.36
 
Liquidity ratiosSector median20212020201920182017
Current ratio Current ratio =
Total current assets /
Total current liabilities
18.606.396.308.019.194.33
Current liabilities ratio Current liabilities ratio =
Total current liabilities /
Total current assets
0.050.160.160.120.110.23
Liquid reserve level Liquid reserve level =
(Total current assets -
Total current liabilities) /
(Total expenses / 12)
5.824.323.133.216.792.75
 
Solvency ratiosSector median20212020201920182017
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
 
Assets20212020201920182017
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
 
Liabilities20212020201920182017
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 assets20212020201920182017
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
 
Revenue20212020201920182017
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
 
Expenses20212020201920182017
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 assets20212020201920182017
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

NameTitleCompensation
David LevanPresident/CEO$157,890
Timothy CulpTreasurer/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.
,br> 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.


Program accomplishments


Needs