It’s always nice to be able to wrap a tangible gift for your loved ones, but there’s more than one way to give a gift. Making a donation to a water charity in someone’s name can be a great option for birthdays, anniversaries, and the holidays. Then both sides can feel good about making a difference!

There are plenty of causes to support so your gift can do double-duty. If you’re like us, you might consider backing an organization that’s focused on improving the lives of others at the most essential level. When you decide to give the gift of water, you can impact the wellbeing of an entire community, every single day.

charity: water

As of 2018, charity: water has funded nearly 30,000 water projects around the world. Their efforts benefit women, improve economies, help with children’s educations, and improve health—all by addressing water quality!

What They Do

The charity: water organization helps supply lasting water solutions by building relationships with local government and training mechanics for repairs. They work with partners the world over. Plus, they’re consistently recognized with the highest grades for transparency. Funders always know what’s going on with this water charity, and all of the projects are tracked with photos and maps.

How to Help

If you’d like to give something tangible to a friend, co-worker, or family member, you can get some fun gift ideas in their online store. You’ll find neat clothing items and other thoughtful items for anyone on your list. This is also a great organization to support with donations because their operating costs are covered by private donors. That means 100% of the money you give to charity: water will go directly to water projects in the field. To pledge your support, click here.

LifeStraw

LifeStraw makes water safe to drink no matter where you are. There are plenty of LifeStraw products to choose from, so whether you want an outdoor water filter for camping or backpacking, or a water bottle you can use on the go, they’ve got you covered. You can order one for yourself, then add on a few more to give as gifts!

What They Do

While making water filters that remove all types of contaminants, LifeStraw (with its parent company Vestergaard) is committed to producing solutions for disadvantaged people around the globe. As a big name water charity, their work helps make clean water accessible to everyone.

How to Help

LifeStraw is another organization that lets you give back through retail. Whenever you buy one of their water filter products, a portion that sale helps fund a LifeStraw Community purifier for schools that need safe water resources. These powerful filters can serve 100 people for 3 to 5 years, so they’re always making a big impact. You can also choose to make a financial pledge to one of their current fundraisers. They have ongoing programs related to water for schools in Kenya, general donations, and even safe water disaster relief. For donation details, click here.

Hoosier Environmental Council

If you want to focus on water quality for our local community, supporting the Hoosier Environmental Council is the way to go. For 35 years and counting, the HEC has been a true local leader. They help promote Indiana’s environmental policies and protecting our groundwater, lakes, and forests all across the state.

What They Do

Protecting our local water resources is at the heart of the HEC’s mission. So in that sense, they’re much more than a water charity. They address issues related to sediment runoff, phosphorus contamination, coal ash, and E. coli in order to help keep our water supply safe for future generations.

How to Help

The HEC Green Business program helps like-minded companies show their support for clean water, air, and energy for Indiana and provides important funding for the HEC’s year-round efforts. Volunteer and advocacy events are also available throughout the year. Individuals and families can get involved with donation options, too. Your financial support helps the HEC provide education and pursue research opportunities with a variety of partnerships. Be part of the solution to make our state vibrant and green-focused! For more information on how to give, click here.