Lifewater Canada is a 5-star charity with High Demonstrated Impact. It has above average disclosure with an A+ results reporting grade. It holds reserves within Ci’s reasonable range. For every dollar donated to the charity, 91 cents are available to go to the cause.

A Charity Intelligence 2025 Top Impact Charity.

A Charity Intelligence 2025 Top 100 Rated Charity.

Founded in 1997, Lifewater Canada (Lifewater) is an international charity delivering water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) programs in Haiti, Liberia, Nigeria, and Kenya. Lifewater works through locally led partner organizations, training and equipping teams to drill wells, rehabilitate broken-down wells, repair hand pumps, and build community washrooms. It also delivers health and hygiene education and distributes reusable sanitary pads (dignity kits). In the fiscal year ending June 2025 (F2025), Lifewater completed 6,988 projects reaching 1,677,758 beneficiaries. The charity spent $3.4m on its programs in F2025.

Nearly 1 in 4 people globally lack safe drinking water, and 2 in 5 lack safe sanitation. A child dies from a water-related disease every 35 seconds. Without safe water, disease spreads, children miss school, and families cannot escape poverty. Women and girls bear a disproportionate burden. They are typically responsible for family water collection, and without menstrual hygiene products, girls miss school every month.

Lifewater runs two main programs: Water Infrastructure; and Health, Sanitation and Training

The Water Infrastructure program accounted for $2.8m, or 80% of program spending in F2025. Lifewater drills new wells, repairs broken wells, and repairs hand pumps. Lifewater aims for each well to serve 200-400 people, provide year-round water access, and be located within one kilometre of 90% of the community. On average, a new well costs $5,500, a pump repair costs $125, and a well rehabilitation costs $1,500. In F2025, Lifewater repaired 4,513 hand pumps that reached 1,167,466 people; rehabilitated 249 broken wells that reached 112,480 people; and built 363 new water wells that reached 189,614 people.

The Health, Sanitation and Training program accounted for $671k, or 20% of program spending in F2025. Lifewater builds community washrooms and handwashing stations, runs hygiene workshops, and distributes dignity kits (reusable menstrual products). On average, a washroom costs $3,500, a health and hygiene workshop costs $100, and a dignity kit costs $5. In F2025, Lifewater built 24 new community washrooms benefiting 4,792 people, ran 1,839 health and hygiene workshops reaching 203,406 people, and distributed approximately 13,500 dignity kits.

Across its four countries of operation, LifeWater Canada works with eight field teams: one in Haiti, three in Liberia, one in Nigeria, and three in Kenya. In May 2026, it ended its relationship with one Kenya partner, retaining ties with two: Lifewater Kenya and Lifewater R.E.S.C.U.E. Kenya.

Lifewater’s audited financial statements use activity-based costing. This is a best practice.

In F2025, Lifewater earned $5.0m in revenue. It received $4.8m in Canadian donations (95% of total revenue) and $170k in international donations (3% of total revenue).

Administrative costs are 8% of revenues (less investment income). Fundraising costs are 1% of donations. Total overhead is 9%. For every dollar donated to the charity, 91 cents are available to go to the cause. This is within Ci's reasonable range.

Lifewater spent $3.4m on programs in F2025. Well construction was its largest expense, at $1.5m or 45% of program costs.

In F2025, the charity had an operating surplus of $1.1m, increasing its reserve funds (cash and investments) to $1.6m. These reserve funds cover 46% or just under 6 months of its annual program spending. This is within Ci’s reasonable range.

This charity update has been sent to Lifewater Canada for review. Changes and edits may be forthcoming. Updated by Nick Reszetnik on June 11, 2026.

Email: info@lifewater.ca