In August, famous YouTuber MrBeast (a.k.a. Jimmy Donaldson) joined his fellow YouTuber and engineer Mark Rober to announce a major fundraising campaign: #TeamWater.
On the heels of two successful crowdfunding campaigns with other content creators — #TeamTrees, which raised $20 million to plant 20 million trees in 2019; and #TeamSeas, which raised $30 million to remove 30 million pounds of plastic waste from oceans in 2021 — Donaldson and Rober announced their new cause: access to clean water.
“Over 3,000 of your favorite creators are all coming together with over 3 billion followers combined,” MrBeast said in a video launching the campaign. “This could be one of the largest philanthropy projects in history: #TeamWater.”
Their goal was to raise $40 million over the course of August. They surpassed it.
As of the writing of this article, the campaign has raised over $41.5 million for the nonprofit WaterAid, which will supply an estimated 2 million people with access to clean water for decades.
“Reaching our $40 million goal means that millions of people will experience the life-changing impact of clean water for years to come,” said Donaldson and Rober in a joint statement.
“Mark and I are blown away by what the creator community has accomplished — we could never have achieved this on our own. So thank you to the thousands of creators who helped make this possible. From $1 to $1 million, every donation made a difference in reaching this goal, and we couldn’t be more grateful.”
Following the campaign’s launch on August 1, content creators from 144 countries reached billions of subscribers through videos, livestreams, and social media content, including a 17-hour livestream that raised $12 million toward the total goal.
“#TeamWater, #TeamSeas, and #TeamTrees have mobilized a generation of creators and their global audiences toward collective, measurable impact,” Matt Fitzgerald, the co-founder and campaign director of these large-scale movements, said in a statement.
“#TeamWater’s work won’t stop here — every additional dollar donated means more families benefit, more futures are transformed, and even greater momentum for long-term, durable progress that empowers communities around the world.”
Kelly Parsons, the CEO of WaterAid America, told Good Good Good that the #TeamWater funds will be transformative to the organization’s goal of ensuring everyone on earth has access to clean water.
“Together with our partners around the world, we will reach 2 million people with access to clean water,” she said.
“This will have ripple effects for decades to come. Girls and women who spend hours collecting dirty water can go to school or earn a living. Healthcare facilities can provide the care people need. It will change lives. We know the path and outcomes of a child born with access to clean water differ dramatically from those of a child who is born without.”
Now that the $40 million goal has been reached, the organization will shift its focus to implementation.
“Every community has different needs, so we work hand-in-hand to find solutions that address their specific challenges and deliver clean water sustainably for years to come,” Parsons told Good Good Good.
She said this will include installing solar-powered wells, gravity-fed pipelines, and rainwater harvesting systems that are tailored to meet the needs of each community.
Additionally, those communities are not just left with a new piece of technology, but are empowered through its development.
“We work to train local water technicians who will keep the water flowing and make sure it’s safe. We help establish local boards that understand the competing interests of different groups in accessing water and manage it sustainably. Where they exist, we work with small utilities to strengthen their business practices and ensure everyone receives good service,” Parsons added.
“Turning on the tap is just the first step — keeping the water flowing is our long-term goal and commitment.”
According to a press release, WaterAid will work with implementation partners like DigDeep, GivePower, and Instituto Alok in various communities across the globe.
It is yet to be seen which areas will be impacted most by these funds, but Parsons said that “transparency is a priority,” so #TeamWater community members will be updated regularly on the progress and impact of these efforts.
“We want to keep the stories coming and this amazing community engaged because we know this is just the beginning of what we can achieve together,” Parsons said.
And for those who have been moved by the mission to provide clean water to people in need, Parsons said it’s not too late to get involved.
“Advocacy doesn’t end with a single campaign,” she said. “There are many ways people can continue to support clean water initiatives.”
The first step is easy: Stay engaged with WaterAid and #TeamWater for updates.
From there, support policies that prioritize clean water for everyone — at home and abroad. Sharing facts about clean water access can also help build awareness and make people aware of the issue at hand.
“Finally,” she said, “consider becoming a long-term supporter. Monthly donations, volunteering, or even hosting your own fundraising events can help sustain our work. Every action, no matter how small, contributes to the larger goal of ensuring clean water for everyone, everywhere.”
While the voices of some of the world’s most popular YouTubers have played a significant role in this cause, Parsons said, it’s only the beginning.
“It will take all of us uniting around clean water to make it happen,” she said. “The success of #TeamWater has been tremendous, and we’re so thankful to the creators who helped make it happen. We invite everyone to join us as we continue our mission, because we’re just getting started.”
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Header image by WaterAid/ Lee-Ann Olwage
