Water First
STAR RATINGCi's Star Rating is calculated based on the following independent metrics: |
✔+
FINANCIAL TRANSPARENCY
Audited financial statements for current and previous years available on the charity’s website.
A
RESULTS REPORTING
Grade based on the charity's public reporting of the work it does and the results it achieves.
n/r
DEMONSTRATED IMPACT
The demonstrated impact per dollar Ci calculates from available program information.
NEED FOR FUNDING
Charity's cash and investments (funding reserves) relative to how much it spends on programs in most recent year.
79%
CENTS TO THE CAUSE
For a dollar donated, after overhead costs of fundraising and admin/management (excluding surplus) 79 cents are available for programs.
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OVERVIEW
About Water First :
Water First is a 5-star, financially transparent charity. It has an A Results Reporting grade, which is above average. For every dollar donated to the charity, 79 cents go to the cause.
Founded in 2009, Water First Education and Training Inc. (Water First, WF) works alongside Indigenous communities to address local water challenges. Currently, 13% of Indigenous communities in Canada and 25% of Indigenous communities in Ontario are affected by drinking water advisories. Water First's programs focus on education, training, and collaboration. Since its founding, Water First has worked with 96 Indigenous communities. Water First spent $4.0m on its programs in F2023. WF runs three programs: Drinking Water, Environmental Water, and Indigenous Schools.
A Charity Intelligence 2023 Top 100 Rated Charity
Water First spent $1.8m (45% of program spending) on Drinking Water in F2023. The Drinking Water Internship Program is a 15-month paid training program. It helps young Indigenous adults gain the skills, certifications, and confidence to pursue a career in water treatment. In F2023, there were 39 participants in the Drinking Water Internship program, of which, 14 graduated. The interns worked 24,185 hours in water plants in F2023. The charity reported an 88% graduation rate.
Water First spent $1.2m (31% of program spending) on Environmental Water in F2023. Water First designs training programs related to fish habitat restoration, water quality monitoring, data management, and climate monitoring. There were 58 participants in WF’s Environmental Water program in F2023. The charity provided 1,221 hours of field training. In F2023, Water First delivered 24 environmental water workshops across 19 Indigenous communities.
Water First spent $992k (24% of program spending) on Indigenous Schools in F2023. Water First delivers STEM-based water science programs to K-12 students in Indigenous communities. In F2023, Water First delivered 32 programs to 1,721 students across 35 Indigenous communities. The charity reported students earned 33 high school credits.
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Results and Impact
Water First reports that since 2017, 78% of graduates from its Drinking Water program are employed in water treatment or have gone back to school for further education.
Water First's Environmental Water program successfully resorted 1702 metres of walleye spawning habitat.
While Charity Intelligence highlights these key results, they may not be a complete representation of Water First’s results and impact.
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Finances
Water First received $3.7m in donations in F2023. WF spent $4.0m on its programs, which is 89% of revenues. Water First recorded a deficit of $361k in F2023, which means it drew on its reserves to run its operations.
Administrative costs are 9% of revenue and fundraising costs are 12% of donations. For every dollar donated to the charity, 79 cents are available to go to the cause, which is within Ci’s reasonable range.
Water First has $3.5m in reserve funds (cash and investments, less interest-bearing debt). Its reserves can cover 87%, or ten months of its annual program costs.
This charity report is an update that was sent for review to Water First Education Training Inc. Changes and edits may be forthcoming.
Updated on June 3, 2024 by Liam Chapleau.
Financial Review
Fiscal year ending August
|
2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Administrative costs as % of revenues | 9.4% | 5.4% | 5.5% |
| Fundraising costs as % of donations | 12.1% | 5.2% | 4.9% |
| Total overhead spending | 21.4% | 10.6% | 10.4% |
| Program cost coverage (%) | 87.0% | 135.0% | 185.1% |
Summary Financial StatementsAll figures in $s |
2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Donations | 3,696,148 | 4,937,135 | 2,542,866 |
| Government funding | 353,653 | 477,713 | 370,616 |
| Fees for service | 481,533 | 329,430 | 580,318 |
| Total revenues | 4,531,334 | 5,744,278 | 3,493,800 |
| Program costs | 4,021,679 | 3,031,354 | 1,346,990 |
| Administrative costs | 423,866 | 311,012 | 192,377 |
| Fundraising costs | 446,803 | 256,654 | 123,493 |
| Total spending | 4,892,349 | 3,599,020 | 1,662,860 |
| Cash flow from operations | (361,015) | 2,145,258 | 1,830,940 |
| Capital spending | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Funding reserves | 3,499,455 | 4,091,100 | 2,493,944 |
Note: 1.DEFERRED DONATIONS: Ci adjusted for deferred donations, affecting revenue by ($817k) in F2023, $769k in F2022, and $486k in F2021. 2.DEFERRED GOVERNMENT FUNDING: Ci adjusted for deferred government funding, affecting revenue by ($156k) in F2023, ($46k) in F2022, and $128k in F2021. 3.DEFERRED FEES FOR SERVICE: Ci adjusted for deferred fees for service, affecting revenue by ($nil) in F2023, ($278k) in F2022, and $97k in F2021. 4.AMORTIZATION: Ci removed amortization from program, administrative, and fundraising costs on a pro-rata basis.
Salary Information
$350k + |
0 |
$300k - $350k |
0 |
$250k - $300k |
0 |
$200k - $250k |
0 |
$160k - $200k |
1 |
$120k - $160k |
2 |
$80k - $120k |
7 |
$40k - $80k |
0 |
< $40k |
0 |
Information from most recent CRA Charities Directorate filings for F2023
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Comments & Contact
Comments added by the Charity:
This comment was provided on August 17, 2023:
The water crisis facing Indigenous communities is one of the most fundamental challenges in Canada today. Founded in 2009, Water First Education & Training Inc. partners with Indigenous communities to help resolve local water challenges through education, training, and meaningful collaboration. Water First offers training and education in three key program areas: drinking water training and certification internships, project-based environmental water technical training, and STEM-based water science workshops in schools.
Our approach to program design and delivery sets us apart. We listen and work alongside Indigenous partners to learn about long-term environmental water goals and local training needs. Each program is then adapted based on these local, community-identified needs. Our work is guided by meaningful relationships and engagement with Indigenous communities, and decisions are made alongside an Indigenous Advisory Council and community members.
At Water First, training and hiring locally is fundamental to our programs, and is how we create meaningful impact with the communities and people we serve. Programming takes place in the community, so participants don’t have to leave to access training opportunities. Participants can build technical skills while maintaining their connections to the community, the land, and the water.
We know our work alone won’t solve the water crisis. It’s a complex problem that needs collaborative, integrated solutions. And that work will take time. That’s why Water First strives to build enduring relationships for lasting results, with skills and benefits remaining within Indigenous communities so they can access clean drinking water–now and into the future.
Learn more:
Water First's F2023 Annual Report.
Charity Contact
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Tel: 1 (800) 970-8467