Donate

Community grant program launched by Zendaya, Global Water Challenge (GWC) and smartwater.

smart solutions: global water challenge is a community grant program launched by Global Water Challenge (GWC), Zendaya, and smartwater that supports leading nonprofit community-based organizations in their work on community water access, watershed health and economic empowerment. The program is powered by GWC’s women for water action platform that uplifts women and their communities through clean water access.

Clean water is a key ingredient for every community. Nearly 1 billion people globally lack access to clean water, approximately half of which are women and girls. In the U.S. alone, 2.2 million people have no water access at home at all and more than 44 million Americans are served by water systems with quality issues. When we mobilize clean, quality, affordable water access, we uplift communities, particulary women and girls.

Global Water Challenge established the women for water platform to mobilize collective action for clean water access for every woman and her community. Currently scaling impact in 26 countries across Africa, North and South America, the Middle East and Central Asia, women for water measurably contributes to economic empowerment outcomes while raising awareness for this important issue. 

Program Focus

The smart solutions: global water challenge will support programs and organizations aligned with any or all of the following objectives:

  1. Champion inclusive and practical community-based approaches to clean water access and watershed health and protection, including the empowerment of women through water-based activities;
  2. Enhance, restore and protect water quantity and quality in communities and the surrounding watershed, resulting in improved access to clean water for local communities;
  3. Improve watershed health and protection to contribute to healthy communities and enhanced community resilience; and,
  4. Advance community climate resilience.

How it Works

GWC is inviting select leading nonprofit community-based organizations to apply for funding. The first grant(s) will be provided to an organization(s) in Zendaya’s hometown of Oakland, California, followed by communities in India. GWC will select and award funding of up to $50,000 per organization. In 2022, $100,000 in grant funding is available.

Where

For 2022, the smart solutions: global water challenge will be active in Oakland, California and communities in India. First grants will be awarded in the summer of 2022. Additional funding will be available in 2023.

WHO CAN APPLY

Application is by invitation only. GWC is inviting leading non-profit community-based organizations in target communities to apply for the funding to further mobilize action on the program objectives outlined above.

ORGANIZERS

Global Water Challenge (GWC) will manage the program on behalf of smartwater and their hydration ambassador, Zendaya. The funding for the program – $200,000 over 2 years – is provided by smartwater.

For more information or to inquire about the smart solutions: global water challenge, please email here.