Digital influencers, spearheaded by MrBeast and Mark Rober, are actively fundraising for a $40 million initiative aimed at providing clean water access globally.
The digital world is uniting once again to tackle a pressing global issue. Online creators, including MrBeast and Mark Rober, have launched the #TeamWater campaign, a $40 million fundraiser to build sustainable water quality projects around the world.
The goal of this initiative is to provide clean water access to at least 2 million people for the next 20 years. The campaign will focus on building long-term water infrastructure, such as solar-powered wells, piped water systems, rainwater harvesting, and filtration systems, in partnership with local communities and nonprofits like WaterAid.
The campaign is not just about raising funds, but also about raising global awareness and inspiring lasting advocacy among new generations. It aims to address the global water crisis by targeting unsafe water sources through sustainable, community-driven solutions instead of temporary fixes.
Countries where funds will go include Colombia, Bangladesh, Ecuador, Malawi, and Kenya. WaterAid, an international nonprofit that builds community-tailored infrastructure, will primarily benefit from the funds. The campaign also partners with other organizations like GivePower and the Alok Foundation for implementation in rural areas of countries like Kenya and Brazil.
As of early August 2025, the campaign is actively fundraising and engaging creators and audiences worldwide. The funds are directly funneled to WaterAid and partners who have over 40 years of experience working in 30+ countries. Their approach involves long-term sustainable water solutions with local training to maintain systems, deploying technologies like mobile water-quality labs and solar pumps, across multiple continents.
Patricia Illingworth, a philanthropy expert, believes that ideally, philanthropy should address the root cause of problems, not just the symptoms. She sees the #TeamWater campaign as an example of this approach, as it aims to provide sustainable solutions rather than temporary fixes.
Matt Fitzgerald, a digital campaign strategist, hopes the campaigns serve as an entry point for deeper commitments. He emphasizes that real progress on environmental issues requires people to continue paying attention and staying involved.
The #TeamWater campaign follows the successful #TeamTrees and #TeamSeas campaigns, which helped plant millions of trees and remove millions of pounds of waste from bodies of water. The AP's coverage of philanthropy and nonprofits receives support through a collaboration with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc.
However, the campaigns have drawn criticism for promoting oversimplified solutions to complicated issues. WaterAid America CEO Kelly Parsons stated that WaterAid typically engages communities for up to a year in designing solutions. She stresses the importance of community involvement in ensuring the sustainability of the projects.
Despite the criticism, the #TeamWater campaign is a testament to the power of community and creativity in driving change. It seeks to center people while keeping the planet top of mind, inspiring a new generation to take action and make a difference in the global water crisis.
References:
- Team Water
- YouTube Blog: The Biggest YouTube Collaboration Ever
- #TeamWater: Online Creators Launch $40 Million Fundraiser for Clean Water Projects
- WaterAid
- United Nations: 2 Billion People Lack Access to Safely Managed Drinking Water
- The digital world is finding unity in the #TeamWater campaign, a $40 million initiative that aims to address the global water crisis by providing sustainable solutions.
- Online creators like MrBeast and Mark Rober, along with nonprofits such as WaterAid and GivePower, are partnering to build long-term water infrastructure in countries like Colombia, Bangladesh, Ecuador, Malawi, and Kenya.
- The campaign is about more than just raising funds; it also aims to raise global awareness and inspire lasting advocacy among new generations.
- Ideally, according to philanthropy expert Patricia Illingworth, philanthropy should address the root causes of problems, not just the symptoms, and the #TeamWater campaign is an example of this approach.
- The #TeamWater campaign is following in the footsteps of previous successful campaigns like #TeamTrees and #TeamSeas, which focused on planting trees and removing waste from bodies of water.
- Despite criticism for promoting oversimplified solutions, the #TeamWater campaign demonstrates the power of community and creativity in driving change and inspiring a new generation to tackle complex environmental issues.
