Publisher Tom Bell has a wonderful editorial, Water professionals are obligated to support charitable water causes, on page 9 of the December 2008 issue of U.S. Water News. It's about donating to charities that bring safe water to villages.
Bell points out that the world annually spends $300B on agricultural subsidies, $50B on bottled water, yet only about $3B on foreign aid specifically devoted to water and sanitation projects. About $10B - $20B per year would be enough to provide clean water to the entire world.
Bell provides some water charities to which you can donate. Here are some more that will make excellent use of your contributions. These are all small organizations that put 'boots on the ground' and most emphasize helping those in need help themselves. In my view this latter aspect is key to success and sustainability.
Shameless plug: my own nonprofit, the Ann Campana Judge Foundation, welcomes tax-deductible contributions as well.
If you have some others, please list them in the comments.
"Our failure to help those in the developing world gain access to clean water must surely rank as one of the greatest development failures of the last century." -- Peter Gleick
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