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Wells of Life
Formation2008; 16 years ago (2008)
FounderNick Jordan
Type501(c)(3) organization
Region
Uganda
ServicesWater wells
Websitehttps://www.wellsoflife.org/

"Wells of Life (WOL) is a 501(c)(3) [faith-based] non-profit organization whose aim is to provide rural Ugandans access to safe and clean water. Their primary methods include installing sustainable borehole water wells and educating local communities on sustainable hygiene and water supply practices. It was founded in 2008 and has funded over 1,300 wells,[1] primarily in the Mityana, Kassanda and Mubende regions of Uganda, all of which collectively serve more than 1,300,000 people. It is based in San Juan Capistrano, California and has built its headquarters in Mityana, Uganda. In 2018, Wells of Life founded its Irish counterpart, Wells of Life Ireland.

History

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Wells of Life was founded in 2008 by Nick Jordan, a real estate agent from Laguna Beach and a native of Ireland, who recognized the urgent need for clean water during his visit to Uganda. The organization constructed its first wells in February 2010 and was officially recognized as a 501(c)(3) non-profit by 2011.[2] The Internal Revenue Service granted it 501(c)(3) status in 2011.

In 2015, Wells of Life was recognized as Forge54's sponsored non-profit of the year,[3] receiving services valued at $574,725 from nearly 100 volunteers[4] during Forge54's third annual 54-hour weekend volunteering marathon.[5]

In August 2016, Wells of Life initiated a partnership with the Christian East Africa Economic Development Trust (CEED).[6]

On March 12, 2018, the Kingdom of Buganda signed a memorandum of understanding with Wells of Life, endorsing their shared objective of providing clean water to the Buluuli, Kooki, and Mawogola counties of Uganda, where the need for water is most critical.[7]

During the same month, Wells of Life purchased land in the Mubende region of Uganda to construct a 12,000-square-foot, $1 million headquarters.[8]

In May 2018, Wells of Life established its Irish counterpart, Wells of Life Ireland, based in Navan, County Meath.[9]

In 2019, Wells of Life launched Operation Restoration, a project aimed at rehabilitating non-functioning wells initially drilled by other organizations.[10]

In April 2020, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Wells of Life donated 10,000 bars of soap to local and national leaders in Uganda.[11]

In September 2020, Wells of Life founder Nick Jordan received the Pope John XXIII 2020 Humanitarian Award. The Italian Catholic Federation, which initiated the Pope Saint John XXIII Award in 1970, grants this honor as their highest recognition to a layperson of any denomination who demonstrates outstanding humanitarian service to society. Perry Shurko, the Italian Catholic Federation member who nominated Jordan, stated, “No human being should ever be deprived of these essentials, and I applaud Nick’s extraordinary efforts to save lives and provide greater opportunities for Uganda’s poorest communities.”[12]

In 2021 and 2022, Wells of Life hosted two of the top five galas in Orange County, as reported by the Orange County Business Journal, generating total net revenues of $1.81 million and $1.84 million, respectively.[13]

In August 2023, Wells of Life launched Project GreenWell to revolutionize water access and sustainability in rural Uganda. By becoming an Area Service Provider (ASP) for preventative maintenance of wells, they aim to address the significant challenges current water management systems face and ensure the long-term functionality of rural water sources. Adopting a Professional Management Arrangement (PMA) approach through the ASP model, this initiative seeks to overcome the dependency on external donors and promote continuous water access while maintaining community involvement and fiscal responsibility. The appointed ASP is responsible for regular preventive maintenance and monitoring of wells, with any anomalies or issues being addressed within 24 hours. This approach, developed in collaboration with the Ugandan government and other organizations, aims to break the cycle of external donor dependency and foster sustainable water access.[14]

Partnerships

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Wells of Life has a partnership with the Honorable Charles Peter Mayiga, the Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Buganda. During their March 2018 meeting, part of which aired on NTV Uganda,[15] Jordan and Mayiga discussed the consequences of inaccessible water in Uganda, as well as Jordan's goal of helping all of Uganda gain access to clean drinking water by 2038. Mayiga also sits on Wells of Life's Advisory Board, and in the summer of 2023 he visited their headquarters in San Juan Capistrano, CA to personally thank them for the contribution they have made by bringing water to the people of Buganda.

Wells of Life partners with the Christian East Africa Economic Development Trust (CEED) to drill its wells. CEED is a US-based non-governmental organization that has employed local Ugandans to drill and repair wells for more than 20 years.[16] CEED is responsible for designing the sustainable well that Wells of Life places in villages.

In 2018, Austin Hedges, catcher for the San Diego Padres and a Wells of Life Ambassador,[17] teamed up with Adam Wainwright's Big League Impact to raise funds for Wells of Life.[18] Hedges asked donors to pledge an amount per Padres win in the 2018 season, and pledged to match their donations up to $12,000.

In 2020, Wells of Life partnered with She for She, a Ugandan-based social enterprise that provides sustainable menstrual kits to young women in rural areas. Wells of Life will provide a kit containing menstrual hygiene products. Along with providing the students with menstrual kits, Wells of Life will also host an education session with male students targeted at helping reduce menstruation related bullying.

Charity: water: In July 2023, Wells of Life and charity: water partnered to promote the sustainability of wells in Uganda's communities using water sensors. Wells of Life is in this partnership with Charity water to use their water sensors to improve well maintenance programs as well as the overall efficiency and effectiveness of each well. 50 sensors were donated by charity: water, so that Wells of Life can see the flow rate of each one of these wells, allowing them to quickly respond and fix problems as they arise.

Ugandan Water Project: In September 2023, the Ugandan Water Project and Wells of Life joined together to deploy "mWater" water point mapping as part of the Rural and Urban Management Information System (RUMIS) pilot in Kabale District, Uganda as well as two additional districts: one in the Eastern Region and one in the Karamoja Region.[19]

MrBeast: In November of 2023, MrBeast had a vision to build 100 clean water wells in several different countries in Africa. Of those 100 wells, 30 of them were drilled by Wells of Life. MrBeast posted this video which you can watch here (Youtube Watch)

Programs

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We Drill Wells

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As of September 2024, Wells of Life has funded the drilling of 908 new wells in Uganda, primarily in the Mityana, Kassanda and Mubende regions. New wells can be the difference between life and death. Safe access to clean water creates sustainable communities. When they give clean water, they give time, opportunity, education, and empowerment. When a community receives clean water, they are given the resources of health, hygiene, and time to create a more sustainable society. Each new well costs $8,000, which includes drilling, maintenance, and repair costs.

The wells are personalized with plaques containing information about the well's donor. Notable well donors include Pedego Electric Bikes[20] and Irish tenor Anthony Kearns.[21] Local Eagle Scouts,[22] as well as students from Mission Basilica School,[23] Mater Dei High School,[24] and Servite High School[25] have also donated wells. A well was donated to mark the engagement of actor Miles Teller and model Keleigh Sperry, who are both Wells of Life ambassadors.[26] Other wells have been dedicated to honor individuals posthumously: A 2018 well was dedicated to the late Reverend Billy Graham;[27] Kearns donated a well in 2015 in honor of victims of the September 11 attacks;[28] and a well in 2015 was dedicated to the six Irish students who died in a balcony collapse in Berkeley, California, that year.[29]

Operation Restoration

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As of September 2024, Wells of Life has funded the restoration of 445 wells. The only difference between a new well and a restored non-functional well is timing. Both communities suffer from lack of safe water. The receivers of a new well receive clean water for the first time. A repaired well has sometimes been non-functional for several years. Imagine once having access to clean water and then losing it because of a malfunctioning mechanical part. The result is the same: 1,000 people now have access to safe water. Wells of Life works to not only drill new wells, but to restore forgotten non-functioning wells drilled by previous organizations. Each Restoration well cost $4,000, which includes, drilling, maintenance, and repair costs.

Healthy Village

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WASH (acronym for interrelated areas of Water, Sanitation and Hygiene) was started in 2019. It was later renamed Healthy Village Program.

In rural Uganda, clean water, sanitation, and good hygiene practices are not accessible for many children and families. This remains one of the biggest challenges in villages, schools, and health centers throughout the country.

Wells of Life’s solution is to provide education and resources that encourage healthy sanitation and hygienic practices. The program implementation takes approximately 6 months in order to educate the community on how to build and use latrines, ending open defecation and thus eliminating fecal contamination.[30]

Water Warriors

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Water Warriors are a passionate and committed community of monthly givers on a mission to create sustainable communities through clean water. These people, from all over the world, are giving what they can to transform the lives of those in need.

Run4Water

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Run4Water is the biggest fundraising event for wells in 2024. This event brings together schools, churches, businesses & families and allows everyone to play a part of the progression to bringing clean water to the communities that need it the most. For the past 10 years, this event has brought clean water to over 300,000 people in rural Uganda. In 2024, it raised $200,000.

Legacy Circle

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The Legacy Circle is a dedicated group of individuals who commit to five-year pledges, ensuring Wells of Life can sustain its operational costs and continue providing clean water to communities in need, while maintaining its 100% donor model.


Currently, there are 78 highly committed donors who have been personally invited to pledge a 5 year gift, which totals $3.7 Million from 2022-2026.


The Legacy Circle of Wells of Life, established in 2017, has been a cornerstone in sustaining the organization's operations and ensuring access to clean water in Uganda. Through the generous annual contributions of Legacy Circle members, Wells of Life has been able to maintain the cost of new wells at $8,000 and restored wells at $4,000, all while upholding its 100% donor model. This means that every dollar contributed towards water projects directly funds the drilling, restoring, and maintaining of wells.


In recent years, the annual Legacy Gala has made a significant impact, raising a combined total of $5,940,000 over the past four years. This funding, largely supported by Lugano Diamonds and Farmers and Merchants Bank, has been instrumental in providing sustainable clean water to communities in need and advancing Wells of Life's mission across Uganda.

Financials

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Wells of Life, Inc. is a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. They believe in transparency, ethical accounting, and donor stewardship.

References

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  1. ^ "Wells of Life –– Funded Wells". Wells of Life. Retrieved 7 August 2018.[dead link‍]
  2. ^ "O.C. man helps bring clean water to Ugandans". OC Register. 13 July 2011.
  3. ^ "Wells Of Life –– Forge54". Forge54. Retrieved 7 August 2018.
  4. ^ Staggs, Brook (16 October 2016). "54-hour blitz: Marketing pros spend weekend using talents to help homeless". Orange County Register.
  5. ^ "Third Annual Forge 54 - Wells of Life - Sparkhouse". Sparkhouse. 27 October 2015. Retrieved 7 August 2018.
  6. ^ "Wells of Life 2016 Annual Report". Issuu. Wells of Life. 13 February 2017. p. 1. Retrieved 7 August 2018.
  7. ^ "Buganda takes water to Kooki, Buluuli – Buganda Today". bugandatoday.com. Buganda Today. 12 March 2018. Retrieved 7 August 2018.
  8. ^ "Uganda Headquarters Update". Wells of Life. 29 May 2018. Retrieved 7 August 2018.
  9. ^ Casey, Ann (2021-08-10). "Bringing water of life to Uganda". Meath Chronicle. Retrieved 2024-06-27.
  10. ^ "Wells for Well-Being: Operation Restoration". Wells of Life. 2021-12-28. Retrieved 2024-06-27.
  11. ^ "Wells of Life supports Mityana district response to COVID19" (PDF). The Watsan Eye. Vol. 1, no. 4. 2020-04-17. p. 5. Retrieved 2024-06-27.
  12. ^ Kimler, Barbara (2020-09-15). "Wells of Life Founder Nick Jordan Receives Pope Saint John XXIII 2020 Humanitarian Award". EIN News. Retrieved 2024-03-20.
  13. ^ "Wells of Life Receives Top Awards by Orange County Business Journal". EIN News. 2022-02-11. Retrieved 2024-06-27.
  14. ^ "ANNOUNCING GREENWELL!". LinkedIn. Retrieved 2024-06-27.
  15. ^ "Buganda Kingdom partners with America NGO to provide safe water to all Ugandans". YouTube. NTVUganda. 12 March 2018.
  16. ^ "Uganda – CEED". CEED. Retrieved 7 August 2018.
  17. ^ "Wells of Life –– Meet The Team". wellsoflife.org. Retrieved 7 August 2018.
  18. ^ "Austin Hedges, his teammates and Padre fans are making a Big League Impact". pledgeit.org. Retrieved 7 August 2018.
  19. ^ Harrington, James (2023). "Ugandan Water Project Annual Report" (PDF).
  20. ^ "Pedego Electric Bikes Helps Bring Fresh Water Wells to Rural Uganda". Pedego Electric Bikes. Retrieved 7 August 2018.
  21. ^ "Anthony Kearns Music - Anthony Kearns News". Anthony Kearns Music. Retrieved 7 August 2018.
  22. ^ Ekberg Padilla, Marie (17 June 2015). "Bravo: Eagle Scout helps Uganda water crisis". Orange County Register. Retrieved 7 August 2018.
  23. ^ "Local Student Group Helps Nonprofit Build Wells in Uganda". The Capistrano Dispatch. 30 March 2017. Retrieved 7 August 2018.
  24. ^ Audette, Alex (17 May 2018). "School raises about $12K for Wells of Life". The Scarlet Scroll. Retrieved 7 August 2018.
  25. ^ Wilson, Reilly (23 April 2018). "Servite Participates in Wells of Life Annual "Run4Water"". Servite High School | A Catholic All-Boy College Prep High School in Orange County, CA. Retrieved 7 August 2018.
  26. ^ Lee, Esther (12 March 2018). "Miles Teller Received a Sweet Engagement Gift From His Future In-Laws". The Knot News.
  27. ^ "Wells for life overflows". OC Catholic. 8 May 2018.
  28. ^ "Wells of Life National Ambassador Anthony Kearns, World Renowned Tenor, Performs for Wells of Life Gala – Exceeding Fundraising Goal at Sold Out Benefit - Aliso Laguna News". Aliso Laguna News. 1 December 2014.
  29. ^ Bharath, Deepa (13 August 2015). "At 100, O.C. monsignor still giving to those in need around the world". Orange County Register.
  30. ^ "Healthy Village Program (WASH)". Wells of Life. Retrieved 2024-10-16.
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