Program areas at Water Foundation
Healthy communities and healthy watersheds: through grantmaking and advocacy, the healthy communities and healthy watersheds programs are securing safe, clean Water for people, restoring and sustaining freshwater ecosystems, and building climate resilience. Grants from the Water Foundation in 2022 supported sustainable, inclusive groundwater management and safe and affordable drinking Water in California; a coalition advancing equitable, nature-based infrastructure in los angeles county; a campaign to restore the snake river and uphold tribal justice in the pacific northwest; and efforts that secured outstanding waters protections on the rio grande in new mexico. The Foundation also invested in Water justice networks to build capacity for community based and frontline groups and support a stronger national movement.
The Water table is a collaborative of funders committed to a sustainable and equitable Water future in the us. Table members pool and align funding toward transformative Water solutions to achieve greater collective impact. Since its inception in 2016, the Water table has motivated and aligned over $500 million to shared Water priorities. Current priorities include ensuring clean, safe, affordable Water; advancing climate resilient and nature-based solutions for ecosystem and community health; supporting municipal "one Water" policies for integrated Water management; and promoting sustainable solutions for rural communities. The table also works to increase field and funder coordination, build community power, and invest in field partner, coalition, and community capacity to drive Water solutions.
The Water solutions fund responds to the significant public investments in infrastructure and climate change to ensure that Water policy and projects are durable, equitable, and climate resilient. The fund pools and aligns philanthropic investments toward three focus areas: 1) ensuring transparent and equitable implementation of water-related funding; 2) supporting the design and development of innovative Water infrastructure projects; and 3) strengthening the capacity and power of local and regional leaders, networks, and coalitions to grow the movement for Water. Since 2022, the Water solutions fund has supported $65 million in pooled and aligned investments to 128 organizations across the us.
Transitioning strategies: in 2022, Water Foundation grants also helped launch the California Water data consortium and establish an emerging federal policy program that builds the political will for public investments in clean drinking Water, Water infrastructure improvements, and essential watersheds restoration.