Building Our Safe Water Grantmaking: Apply to the DIV Fund’s RFP

Key Takeaways

• GiveWell allocated $5 million to the DIV Fund for water innovation
• RFP offers up to $200k for early‑stage pilots, $500k for scaling
• Stage 3 grants can reach $1.5 million to support widespread rollout
• Applications accepted rolling; final funding decisions rest with DIV Fund
• Focus on evidence, cost‑effectiveness, and durable scale for impact

Pulse Analysis

Unsafe drinking water remains a leading cause of mortality, accounting for over 750,000 deaths annually, primarily in low‑income regions of Africa and Asia. GiveWell, a leading effective‑altruism evaluator, has directed more than $150 million toward water‑quality interventions since 2022, emphasizing chlorination as a proven, cost‑effective solution. Recognizing that innovative approaches could further reduce preventable deaths, GiveWell is expanding its search beyond established methods, seeking early‑stage technologies that promise comparable or superior impact at lower cost. These deaths are largely preventable through affordable treatment methods, making each dollar of effective aid highly leveraged.

To accelerate discovery, GiveWell contributed $5 million to the Development Impact Ventures (DIV) Fund, earmarked for water‑related projects over the next three years. The DIV Fund’s newly launched request for proposals (RFP) offers tiered grants: up to $200,000 for Stage 1 pilots, $500,000 for Stage 2 scaling studies, and $1.5 million for Stage 3 full‑scale deployment. Applicants must demonstrate a credible theory of change, transparent cost assumptions, and a clear pathway to durable scale. Final award decisions rest with the DIV Fund, ensuring independent vetting. The staged approach also mitigates risk by allowing funders to assess performance before committing larger sums.

For donors and NGOs, the RFP represents a rare conduit to channel resources into nascent water solutions that meet rigorous impact standards. Successful grantees could unlock scalable technologies—such as low‑cost filtration, real‑time contamination sensors, or community‑managed treatment systems—that complement existing chlorination programs. By fostering a pipeline of evidence‑driven innovations, GiveWell and the DIV Fund aim to broaden the portfolio of high‑impact, cost‑effective water interventions, ultimately accelerating progress toward the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 6 of universal safe water access. Organizations that secure funding will gain not only capital but also methodological support from both GiveWell and the DIV Fund, enhancing their ability to generate robust impact data.