Programs and results
What we aim to solve
Our programs
What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?
International WatSan
Living Water International is an implementer of participatory, community-based water solutions in developing nations. In its 29-year history, Living Water has completed over 20,000 community water projects in 27 countries—serving over 6 million people.
Where we work
External reviews

Videos
Our results
How does this organization measure their results? It's a hard question but an important one.
Evaluation documents
Download evaluation reportsNumber of water projects built
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Holding steady
Number of people with improved water access
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Number of people reached with the Gospel of Jesus Christ
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Number of people benefitting from sanitation and hygiene promotional activities
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Our Sustainable Development Goals
Learn more about Sustainable Development Goals.
Goals & Strategy
Reports and documents
Download strategic planLearn about the organization's key goals, strategies, capabilities, and progress.
Charting impact
Four powerful questions that require reflection about what really matters - results.
What is the organization aiming to accomplish?
Living Water International’s targets by 2021 are:
• 7,200 water points (with 90% functionality)
• 18,000 hygiene and sanitation promotion activities
• 3,400 mobilized churches (in the US and around the world)
• Impact 2 million people between 2017-2021
What are the organization's key strategies for making this happen?
Living Water International has a five-year strategic plan, spanning from 2017-2021, with 12 global strategic objectives with quantifiable measures and targets. Each quarter, a report is submitted to the Board of Director on each objective's progress. The strategic objectives are:
1. Achieve Core Outputs in Communities
2. Mobilize Churches and Communities for Transformational WASH
3. Equip & Unleash Champions
4. Improve Cost Efficiency
5. Multiply Philanthropic Revenue
6. Develop Programmatic Grants and Local Revenue
7. Increase Transparency & Accountability
8. Enhance Use of Data for Reporting & Decisions
9. Inspire, Cultivate, Solicit and Steward Investors
10. Optimize Operating Models, Staffing, and Structures
11. Cultivate a Healthy, Christ-Centered Organization
12. Support Staff Learning and Development
What are the organization's capabilities for doing this?
Living Waters' capabilities include: (a) an experienced, active Board of Directors; each Board member is on one or more Committees and attendance and participation at quarterly Board meetings is excellent, (b) there is an experienced, diversified Senior Team, (c) we have over 300 qualified international staff who understand the country context in which they are working, (d) the organization is a member of outside groups that shares knowledge and lessons learned, and (e) the organization has a stand-by line of credit that ensures that programs continue even when there is different timing on receipts of donations and payment of expenses.
What have they accomplished so far and what's next?
Living Water International recently conducted a mid-term assessment on the 2017-2021 Strategic Plan, interviewing staff and senior leadership. In assessing Living Water’s strategic performance since July 2016, there were several areas of success that survey participants and interviewees consistently brought up. The first of these is the general rise in professionalism within the organization—particularly enhanced program execution and dramatic improvements in financial systems and controls. During the period, Living Water has also built external credibility and is better positioned to respond to increased funding.
Quality of program implementation and reporting was a clear theme—particularly Living Water’s improved ability to achieve, measure, and report results. This is demonstrated through the maturing of the WASH Program Area (WPA) model (as seen in our Theory of Change:
livingwater.box.com/toc), the completion of the Flourish toolkit (http://flourish.guide), and positive momentum on integrating Living Water Trips more fully into Programs and Mission Advancement. Building on our success in tracking data, many interviewees celebrated the achievement of core outputs, such as being on pace to serve 2 million beneficiaries within five years, even though the organization is working with less funding than originally projected during the period.
Shifting to the management of the strategy, increased visibility was clearly identified as a success, versus the previous strategic period when there was more limited reporting against strategy or agreed measures for gauging strategic progress. Many people talked about success in
utilizing the strategic plan as a basis for team planning and performance management, for improved decision-making in various ways, and increasing the future-orientation of staff—moving them beyond doing activities for activities’ sake, to have a clearer vision of the future that
guides day-to-day priorities.
How we listen
Seeking feedback from people served makes programs more responsive and effective. Here’s how this organization is listening.
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How is your organization collecting feedback from the people you serve?
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How is your organization using feedback from the people you serve?
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With whom is the organization sharing feedback?
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Which of the following feedback practices does your organization routinely carry out?
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What challenges does the organization face when collecting feedback?
Financials
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Operations
The people, governance practices, and partners that make the organization tick.
Connect with nonprofit leaders
SubscribeBuild relationships with key people who manage and lead nonprofit organizations with GuideStar Pro. Try a low commitment monthly plan today.
- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights? Learn More about GuideStar Pro.
Connect with nonprofit leaders
SubscribeBuild relationships with key people who manage and lead nonprofit organizations with GuideStar Pro. Try a low commitment monthly plan today.
- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights? Learn More about GuideStar Pro.
Living Water International
Board of directorsas of 1/4/2022
Mr. Jim Reid
Retired Senior Vice President SEFA
Term: 2015 - 2021
Randi Belisomo
Co-Founder/President Life Matters Media
Hollis Bullard
Volunteer
Carrie Graves
Retired
Chad Dresser
CEO Buffalo Bayou Resources, LLC
Rick Allen
Retired
Marcus Holman Sr.
CEO, Bethel's Global Reach
Shannon Hayes
Director of Women's Ministry, Crossing Point Church
Mitch Peairson
Executive Pastor Grace Fellowship UMC
Trey Little
Pastor
KEn Adams
Chief Medical Offices for Medicare and Retirement, Texas UnitedHealthcare
Melissa Morris
Volunteer
Board leadership practices
GuideStar worked with BoardSource, the national leader in nonprofit board leadership and governance, to create this section.
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Board orientation and education
Does the board conduct a formal orientation for new board members and require all board members to sign a written agreement regarding their roles, responsibilities, and expectations? Yes -
CEO oversight
Has the board conducted a formal, written assessment of the chief executive within the past year ? Yes -
Ethics and transparency
Have the board and senior staff reviewed the conflict-of-interest policy and completed and signed disclosure statements in the past year? Yes -
Board composition
Does the board ensure an inclusive board member recruitment process that results in diversity of thought and leadership? Yes -
Board performance
Has the board conducted a formal, written self-assessment of its performance within the past three years? Yes
Organizational demographics
Who works and leads organizations that serve our diverse communities? GuideStar partnered on this section with CHANGE Philanthropy and Equity in the Center.
Leadership
The organization's leader identifies as:
Race & ethnicity
Gender identity
Sexual orientation
No data
Disability
No data
Equity strategies
Last updated: 03/08/2021GuideStar partnered with Equity in the Center - an organization that works to shift mindsets, practices, and systems to increase racial equity - to create this section. Learn more
- We disaggregate data to adjust programming goals to keep pace with changing needs of the communities we support.
- We employ non-traditional ways of gathering feedback on programs and trainings, which may include interviews, roundtables, and external reviews with/by community stakeholders.
- We have long-term strategic plans and measurable goals for creating a culture such that one’s race identity has no influence on how they fare within the organization.
- We seek individuals from various race backgrounds for board and executive director/CEO positions within our organization.
- We have community representation at the board level, either on the board itself or through a community advisory board.
- We help senior leadership understand how to be inclusive leaders with learning approaches that emphasize reflection, iteration, and adaptability.
- We measure and then disaggregate job satisfaction and retention data by race, function, level, and/or team.
- We engage everyone, from the board to staff levels of the organization, in race equity work and ensure that individuals understand their roles in creating culture such that one’s race identity has no influence on how they fare within the organization.