Co-founded by Matt Damon and Gary White, Water.org has become a leader in the WASH sector by collaborating with local partners to create sustainable change for

hundreds of communities in Africa, South Asia, and Latin America. Water,org’s initiative, The Giving Network, transforms the relationship between NGOs and donors by providing an online platform for the public to track projects village by village as they unfold, making donations to specific projects more transparent than ever before. The entire nonprofit community, not just the WASH sector, stands to benefit from Water.org’s innovative platform.

The Giving Network taps into popular social networking sites that the public already uses - such as Facebook and Twitter - to update donors on the implementer’s work. By integrating with social networking sites, Water.org offers a simple way not only to stay up to date but also to spread the word about progress being made in the villages that they support.

Water.org has initiated a trial version of the network for several water and sanitation projects in Ethiopia. Soon this resource will become an open source initiative, allowing any organization to use this technology as they see fit. Such flexibility will no doubt foster innovation among NGOs seeking to effectively market their causes and accurately report progress on initiatives to donors.

Thanks to The Giving Network, donors’ relationships with NGOs no longer end once the check is signed. The Giving Network increases the accountability of nonprofits and further ensures prospective supporters that their contribution will directly impact a worthy cause. While The Giving Network is only in its initial stage, this tool has the potential to revolutionize donor relations and the way in which nonprofits engage the public in their work.

To learn more, or try this platform out, visit http://our.water.org/