Role of the One Drop Foundation in the funding ecosystem
The One Drop Foundation is a philanthropic organization dedicated to ensuring sustainable access to safe water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) services for underserved populations worldwide. Based in Canada and created by Cirque du Soleil founder Guy Laliberté, One Drop works as both a funder and technical partner, mobilizing private donors, institutions and corporate foundations to co-finance large-scale WASH projects implemented with local organizations.
Its portfolio spans Latin America, Africa, Asia and Indigenous and northern communities in Canada. Projects typically run over several years, target tens of thousands of beneficiaries and are backed by multi ‑million‑dollar budgets. One Drop’s approach, known as A·B·C for Sustainability, combines investments in infrastructure (Access), social art and behaviour change campaigns (Behaviour change) and support for income‑generating activities and financial mechanisms (Capital) that help sustain services over the long term.
Funding approach and types of support
One Drop deploys its resources mainly through partnerships and project-based funding. It co‑finances initiatives with bilateral agencies, multilateral banks and private foundations, as shown in projects such as Lazos de Agua in Ecuador, Project Rajasthan 2 in India, the Telomiova project in Madagascar and the SCOFI project in Mali. In these cases, One Drop provides funding and technical assistance, while local NGOs or specialized firms act as executing partners, and public authorities are involved in governance and scaling.
The Foundation sometimes launches calls for proposals: for example, the Telomiova project in Madagascar was selected following such a process, after being submitted by nonprofit Helvetas. This confirms One Drop’s role as a grantmaker, channeling auction proceeds and philanthropic capital into competitive project selection and long‑term implementation. Its contributions can support infrastructure, social behaviour change activities, governance strengthening, women’s entrepreneurship and market‑based WASH solutions.
Target audiences and impact
One Drop targets communities facing structural barriers to safe water, including rural populations, Indigenous peoples, women and girls, and regions highly exposed to climate and environmental risks. The Foundation’s projects often focus on schools and health facilities, as in the SCOFI project in Mali, which improves menstrual hygiene management and WASH conditions to support girls’ education, or in health‑oriented initiatives in Haiti and other countries.
Through its programs, One Drop reports reaching hundreds of thousands of people with improved access to safe water and WASH services and engaging large numbers in Social Art for Behaviour Change activities. By working in close partnership with governments, multilateral donors and local civil society, the Foundation positions itself as a key player in achieving Sustainable Development Goals 4 and 6 related to education and water and sanitation.
Partnerships, governance and events
The organization relies on a broad network of institutional partners such as Global Affairs Canada, the Inter‑American Development Bank, Tata Trusts, the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation and others. It also raises funds through high‑profile philanthropic events like One Night for One Drop, the One Drop Gala and charity auctions, with proceeds reinvested into its WASH portfolio.
Overall, the One Drop Foundation functions as a specialized global funder and catalyst in the WASH sector, blending financial support, technical expertise and creative behaviour-change tools to help communities secure safe water access for the long term.