charity: water
Franklin, TN · EIN 223936753 · FY2022 is the latest filing on record · pre-cached
charity: water's latest deficit isn't a sign of trouble, it's a blip in a strong long-term trend.
charity: water saw a small deficit in its latest fiscal year, spending 5% more than it brought in. However, this follows a long history of healthy surpluses, with an average operating margin of 11% over 12 years. The organization maintains a solid operating reserve, capable of covering expenses for over 10 months.
Myth
A charity with a recent deficit is poorly managed and unsustainable.
Reality
While charity: water had one deficit year, its average operating margin over 12 years is a healthy 11%, showing strong financial management over time. A single year's deficit doesn't define long-term stability.
Myth
Effective charities spend very little on their staff.
Reality
charity: water spends 11% of its budget on compensation, which is a reasonable amount and places it near the middle of its peers (48th percentile). Investing in skilled people is crucial for impact, not a red flag.
Worth watching
- • The organization experienced a deficit in its latest fiscal year, spending 5% more than it took in.
Multi-year trend
Operating reserve months
Net assets ÷ monthly expenses — how long the org could run on savings alone.
Operating margin
(Revenue − expenses) ÷ revenue, per fiscal year.
How it compares to peers
Percentile rank among 73 Human Services organizations. Higher is framed as better on every bar here — including reserves and staff investment, which conventional overhead-ratio scoring would penalize.
Dashed line = peer median (50th percentile)
Ask about charity: water
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