Global Water First (GWF) is a Delaware Public Benefit Corporation founded in 2020, headquartered in Colorado Springs, Colorado, USA. GWF is headed by CEO and Co-Founder Jon Kaufman, Co-Founder Steve Patzkowski, and CFO Donald Brostrom. Leadership also includes Regional resident management, a General Counsel and an experienced Advisory Committee.

Purpose

The fundamental purpose of GWF is to unlock capital for the benefit of the underserved on Earth. Conscious Capital, rather than Philanthropy, is preferred to effect sustainable progress over the next several generations. Invested money, by definition, requires partnership for sustainability.

GWF, informed by 10 years of experience in Rotary International throughout the world, offers a higher impact by simultaneously solving water and power issues, establishing profitable businesses run by the poor, and elevating women in positions of leadership.

At the end of the day, each installation of a water business with state-of-art technology benefits 10,000+ with daily safe water provision, and employs between 10 to 12 in the village.

Jon Kaufman

CEO, Global Water First

Find out more

We believe it is vital to state clearly to the world the set of our beliefs about Inclusive Capitalism. As such, we start with our Statement of Guiding Principles for Inclusive Capitalism. Knowing that words alone are not enough, each of us is making a series of commitments about how we will operate our institutions so that they help achieve Inclusive Capitalism. These commitments are forward-looking statements based on current goals, expectations and assumptions, which are not guarantees of future performance. For more information, please refer to our Terms of Use

Filter by commitments

View all
People icon People
Planet icon Planet
Principles of Governance icon Principles of Governance
Prosperity icon Prosperity

Summary

GWF intends to design, develop and install purified water and smart power hubs in over 1000 villages and small towns in the developing world over the next five years.

Activities & Initiatives

Develop and mentor village-run water enterprises, employing 10 to 12 residents, elevating women to manage these businesses, and turning over full ownership to them after the first three years of successful operation.

Measures & Targets

Install over 1000 water purification facilities by end of 2026, each processing enough safe water to provide 10,000 people with two liters each day. These will be run as enterprises run by and for the poor, with over 50% to be managed and owned by women. The net revenue will be used to establish the enterprises and pay ongoing operating expensives, and will gainfully employ between 10-12 employees. Further, the revenue will be sufficient enough to also provide for much of the village’s essential social services such as classroom expansion, sanitation needs and even college scholarships. Finally, in those villages where reliable, robust power isn’t provided by a national or regional grid, the village can become a financial partner with GWF to install a smart power grid that can provide renewable electricity generation for the homes, schools and business incubators for the town. Expectations: Annual earned net revenue for each village based on water sales: $180,000 (USD). After satisfying all OpEx, including staff wages, the village has residual income to apply to essential social service needs each year.

Sign up your company

Recognizing it will take alignment of all our organizations to scale impact globally, we invite you to join the movement as a Steward of Inclusive Capitalism. Together, the collective action of Council members will contribute to a fairer, more inclusive and sustainable future for all people and our planet.