About Water Foundation
The Water Foundation partners to protect and preserve water for people, for nature, and for our future.
Focus Areas
Drinking waterClean water / pollution preventionGroundwaterRivers & wetlandsStormwater / urban green infrastructureWastewaterWater affordability & financeClimate resiliencePolicy, advocacy, and implementationFunder coordination / pooled funds
Who They Fund
underserved communities (lacking water access)rural communitiesmunicipalities / local water systems
About Water Foundation
Water Foundation’s recent grantmaking is anchored by six-figure support for water access and conservation, with the largest listed award going to Community Alliance With Family Farmers for $1,048,904 in 2025. The pattern is broad but specific: they fund groups working on drinking water, groundwater, rivers and wetlands, climate resilience, and water financing, often through policy, implementation, and field-building efforts rather than one-off project support. Their recent grants show a mix of advocacy, technical assistance, and on-the-ground implementation. Policylink received $801,400 in 2023 for water access and conservation, and Trout Unlimited received $796,600 in 2023 for the same general area. The foundation also supported Anthropocene Alliance with $700,000 in 2023 and $581,675 in 2024, and gave $600,000 to American Flood Coalition in 2024. That combination points to sustained work across community, policy, and ecosystem-focused water strategies. Water Foundation also uses collaborative structures to move money through the field. Its programs include the Water Solutions Fund and Water Table, alongside grantmaking tied to drinking water, groundwater, rivers and wetlands, and climate resilience.
What Water Foundation Funds
In drinking water work, Water Foundation backs organizations serving communities that face access and affordability challenges. Community Water Center received $521,500 in 2024 and $375,000 in 2023, showing continued support for that area over multiple years. The foundation also funds infrastructure and financing work, including Water Finance Exchange’s $310,000 grant in 2025. Groundwater is another clear theme. Board of Regents Nevada System of Higher Education, on behalf of the University of Nevada, received $307,842 in 2024, aligning with the foundation’s groundwater management focus. The foundation also supports river, wetland, and watershed work. Trout Unlimited received $796,600 in 2023 and $560,000 in 2024, while the Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission received $400,000 in 2025. For climate and flood-related water work, American Flood Coalition received $600,000 in 2024.
How Water Foundation Gives
Water Foundation’s typical grant size sits at $30,000 at the 25th percentile, a median of $60,000, and $164,598 at the 75th percentile, indicating a core of moderate-sized awards with some larger strategic grants. The recent list also shows repeat recipients across years, including Anthropocene Alliance, Trout Unlimited, Community Water Center, and US Water Alliance, which suggests ongoing relationships rather than isolated gifts. The foundation is a regular funder, not a donor-advised fund, and it does not fund individuals. Its programs are administered directly and through collaborative structures, including a pooled fund and a national funder collaborative. Unsolicited applications are not accepted in the listed programs.
Financial Snapshot
Annual Giving
$9.3M
Total Assets
$39M
Total Revenue
$22.3M
Total Expenses
$18.3M
Typical Grant Size
Most grants fall between $30K and $165K, with a median of $60K.
25th Percentile
$30K
Median
$60K
75th Percentile
$165K
Geographic Reach
National29 states funded
Funding intensity
LowHigh
Headquarters
Leadership
ALLISON HARVEY TURNER
Accepts unsolicited proposals
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