About Us

WFX is a 501(c)(3) non-profit platform created by an experienced team of water and finance professionals to develop and fund community-based water projects. WFX is a unique, community-based platform to facilitate the financing of long-term solutions for local water challenges. WFX is supported by its technical partners and an extended group of experts and advisors.

Our Mission

WFX’s mission is to help communities access funding, financing, and expertise to implement resilient, sustainable, and equitable water infrastructure solutions. WFX serves as a neutral partner for communities to provide support from project conception to implementation.

WFX believes that new, innovative models are necessary to meet the needs of communities around the country. These strategies must be holistic, integrating affordable community financing with the stewardship of water resources.

Our Vision

WFX’s vision is to build pathways to healthy communities and regions. Water infrastructure is more than just pipes and pumps but a cornerstone for healthy communities and economic development; all communities should have water and sanitation that is affordable and sustainable.

WFX strongly believes in the importance of diversity, equity, and inclusion in every facet of its work, internal processes, and engagement. WFX’s mission to support small, rural, and underserved communities necessitates an active and robust philosophy on the incorporation of diversity, equity, and inclusion practices. Trust is the foundational element of WFX’s relationship with communities and part of that trust requires elevating leadership and voices that represent the communities we serve.

WFX intentionally recruits employees, Board Members, and Advisory Council members to be representative of the communities the organization serves.

Our Model

WFX process of creating a pipeline of fundable communities includes:

Engaging with local communities and federal and state funders and regulators to assess regional characteristics and specific needs
Beginning with carefully selected communities, deploy pre-development funds and its network of experts to secure needed financing
Working with communities in the context of regional watersheds, ensure community plans are designed to be fundable and sustainable
Providing governance and operating plans to ensure community systems are sustainably managed and water rates are equitable and affordable upon project conclusion
Building a Community of Practice to implement the best science and advocacy to promote and scale sustainable regional water strategies
Encouraging a feedback loop to identify lessons learned and offer ideas to enhance policy framework

WFX’s approach is to work hand-in-hand with communities to develop and implement sustainable water infrastructure plans.

Primary Funders

The Water Finance Exchange is made possible through the financial contributions of the primary funders:
Lyda Hill Philanthropies, the Water Funder Initiative, and CoBank.

Lyda Hill Philanthropies encompasses the charitable giving for founder Lyda Hill and includes her foundation and personal philanthropy. Our organization is committed to funding transformational advances in science and nature, empowering nonprofit organizations and improving the Texas and Colorado communities. Because Miss Hill has a fervent belief that “science is the answer” to many of life’s most challenging issues, she has chosen to donate the entirety of her estate to philanthropy and scientific research.

Water Funder Initiative (WFI) is a collaborative effort to identify and activate promising water solutions through strategic philanthropic investments. Learn more at waterfunder.org

CoBank is a national cooperative bank serving vital industries across rural America. The bank provides loans, leases, export financing and other financial services to agribusinesses and rural power, water and communications providers in all 50 states.