History & Overview
Hygiene-related illnesses are among the top two causes of childhood mortality worldwide. Approximately 3,600 children under the age of five die every day due to respiratory infections and diarrheal diseases that are preventable.
With access to clean water, proper sanitation, and adequate hygiene, morbidity rates can be reduced by 50% or more. In fact, studies show that hand washing with soap and water is the single most effective way to prevent hygiene-related deaths.
The WASH Foundation (formerly Clean the World Foundation, renamed in October 2023) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to improving health and transforming lives through increased access to safe water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH). Founded in 2009 with a focus on handwashing and hygiene, the organization has expanded its impact globally by partnering with governments, nonprofits, and communities to create sustainable WASH solutions.
To maximize both social impact and operational effectiveness, The WASH Foundation (TWF) operates in a unique hybrid structure alongside Clean the World Global, LLC. While The WASH Foundation remains mission-focused, governed by an independent Board of Directors, and measures success through social impact and progress toward the UN Sustainable Development Goals, Clean the World Global provides to TWF executive leadership, sales, marketing, finance, legal, and operational functions under a contract structured to comply with IRS safe harbor requirements (IRC § 4958), which is verified annually by independent auditors.
Our nonprofit status enables us to pursue private grants, nonprofit-exclusive government contracts, and in-kind donations, while remaining governed by an independent board and measuring success through social impact and UN SDG outcomes.
The WASH Foundation is a programmatic nonprofit organization focused on delivering direct impact through our initiatives. While we deeply value collaboration, we do not provide grants or financial funding to individuals or other organizations. Our work is dedicated to implementing sustainable WASH (Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene) programs that transform lives.
Today, we’re working toward universal access to water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH), and we focus on outcome-based programs to improve the quality of life for vulnerable populations around the world.
Our programs emphasize a local needs-based approach, focusing on education, local ownership and accountability, and community engagement, along with rigorous monitoring and evaluation to gauge progress. Our ultimate goal is to have the programmatic impact sustained locally, without dependence on ongoing aid.
We’re also proud to play an active leadership role in global WASH issues, and we’re honored to be one of just a few dozen organizations named to the United Nations Global WASH Cluster.
Thanks to our supporters and partners, since 2009 our programs and partnerships have served over 17 million people.
THE WASH FOUNDATION HAS SERVED OVER
Individuals in need.
