Wellspring
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Charity foundation · Nonprofit NGOEvery gift lights a home.
Wellspring is a nonprofit foundation that brings solar light, clean water and schooling to mountain villages. Pick a gift and watch what it does.
$25 lights 3 homes for a year
00 / 14 homes lit
Winter light appeal: $184,200 raised of $250,000
2,140 homes lit since 201191¢ of every dollar goes to the field
Charity foundation · Nonprofit NGOEvery gift lights a home.
Wellspring is a nonprofit foundation that brings solar light, clean water and schooling to mountain villages. Pick a gift and watch what it does.
$25 lights 3 homes for a year
00 / 14 homes lit
Winter light appeal: $184,200 raised of $250,000
Charity foundation · Nonprofit NGOEvery gift lights a home.
Wellspring is a nonprofit foundation that brings solar light, clean water and schooling to mountain villages. Pick a gift and watch what it does.
$25 lights 3 homes for a year
00 / 14 homes lit
Winter light appeal: $184,200 raised of $250,000
01 · Who we are
Fourteen years. One village at a time.
Wellspring is a charity foundation that works with mountain villages a day's walk from the nearest road. We bring solar light, clean water and schooling, and we stay until the village runs them without us.
- 2,140homes lit since 2011Counted house by house, 2025
- 38villages on clean waterTested every spring
- 11schools kept openTeachers paid through winter
- 91¢of every dollar to the fieldAudited accounts, 2025
01 · Who we are
Fourteen years. One village at a time.
Wellspring is a charity foundation that works with mountain villages a day's walk from the nearest road. We bring solar light, clean water and schooling, and we stay until the village runs them without us.
- 2,140homes lit since 2011Counted house by house, 2025
- 38villages on clean waterTested every spring
- 11schools kept openTeachers paid through winter
- 91¢of every dollar to the fieldAudited accounts, 2025
01 · Who we are
Fourteen years. One village at a time.
Wellspring is a charity foundation that works with mountain villages a day's walk from the nearest road. We bring solar light, clean water and schooling, and we stay until the village runs them without us.
- 2,140homes lit since 2011Counted house by house, 2025
- 38villages on clean waterTested every spring
- 11schools kept openTeachers paid through winter
- 91¢of every dollar to the fieldAudited accounts, 2025
02 · Programs
Six ways a gift works.
- 01Solar lightTwo panels and three lamps per home, fitted by local crews.A kit costs $118 fitted and lasts about twelve years. We train two people in every village to repair it, and we come back each spring to check the batteries.See the program2,140homes lit
- 02Clean waterGravity-fed taps a short walk from every door.We pipe spring water down to shared tap stands and test it twice a year. A village water committee collects a small fee and pays for its own repairs.See the program38villages on tap water
- 03SchoolingTeachers paid, roofs fixed, books on the shelf.We top up the salaries of 46 teachers, repair classrooms before each winter and stock one reading room per school. Attendance is counted every month.See the program11schools kept open
- 04Health postsA stocked room and a trained health worker within a day's walk.Each post holds basic medicine, a birth kit and a radio. Health workers are local women who train for six months and are paid a monthly wage.See the program9health posts running
- 05LivelihoodsSeed, tools and a fair price for what grows.Small grants for seed, greenhouses and looms, paid back into a village fund. Last year 412 families sold a crop or a product for the first time.See the program412families earning
- 06Winter reliefStoves, blankets and fuel before the passes close.The high villages are cut off for four months. We deliver stoves, blankets and dry food in October, by mule and on foot, to the homes that need them most.See the program1,260winter kits delivered
02 · Programs
Six ways a gift works.
2,140homes litTwo panels and three lamps per home, fitted by local crews.
A kit costs $118 fitted and lasts about twelve years. We train two people in every village to repair it, and we come back each spring to check the batteries.
38villages on tap waterGravity-fed taps a short walk from every door.
We pipe spring water down to shared tap stands and test it twice a year. A village water committee collects a small fee and pays for its own repairs.
11schools kept openTeachers paid, roofs fixed, books on the shelf.
We top up the salaries of 46 teachers, repair classrooms before each winter and stock one reading room per school. Attendance is counted every month.
9health posts runningA stocked room and a trained health worker within a day's walk.
Each post holds basic medicine, a birth kit and a radio. Health workers are local women who train for six months and are paid a monthly wage.
412families earningSeed, tools and a fair price for what grows.
Small grants for seed, greenhouses and looms, paid back into a village fund. Last year 412 families sold a crop or a product for the first time.
1,260winter kits deliveredStoves, blankets and fuel before the passes close.
The high villages are cut off for four months. We deliver stoves, blankets and dry food in October, by mule and on foot, to the homes that need them most.
02 · Programs
Six ways a gift works.
- 2,140homes lit
Two panels and three lamps per home, fitted by local crews.
A kit costs $118 fitted and lasts about twelve years. We train two people in every village to repair it, and we come back each spring to check the batteries.
- 38villages on tap water
Gravity-fed taps a short walk from every door.
We pipe spring water down to shared tap stands and test it twice a year. A village water committee collects a small fee and pays for its own repairs.
- 11schools kept open
Teachers paid, roofs fixed, books on the shelf.
We top up the salaries of 46 teachers, repair classrooms before each winter and stock one reading room per school. Attendance is counted every month.
- 9health posts running
A stocked room and a trained health worker within a day's walk.
Each post holds basic medicine, a birth kit and a radio. Health workers are local women who train for six months and are paid a monthly wage.
- 412families earning
Seed, tools and a fair price for what grows.
Small grants for seed, greenhouses and looms, paid back into a village fund. Last year 412 families sold a crop or a product for the first time.
- 1,260winter kits delivered
Stoves, blankets and fuel before the passes close.
The high villages are cut off for four months. We deliver stoves, blankets and dry food in October, by mule and on foot, to the homes that need them most.
03 · Where it goes
Every dollar, accounted for.
We publish every line of the accounts each spring. Pick a gift and see where each cent of it lands.
- 91%The fieldSolar kits, pumps, teachers, transport$22.75 of your $25
- 6%Raising the next dollarAppeals and donor care$1.50 of your $25
- 3%Running the officeAudit, rent, two desks$0.75 of your $25
The field share, by program
Solar light34%$7.74
Clean water24%$5.46
Schooling18%$4.09
Health posts9%$2.05
Livelihoods8%$1.82
Winter relief7%$1.59
03 · Where it goes
Every dollar, accounted for.
We publish every line of the accounts each spring. Pick a gift and see where each cent of it lands.
- 91%The fieldSolar kits, pumps, teachers, transport$22.75 of your $25
- 6%Raising the next dollarAppeals and donor care$1.50 of your $25
- 3%Running the officeAudit, rent, two desks$0.75 of your $25
The field share, by program
- Solar light34%$7.74
- Clean water24%$5.46
- Schooling18%$4.09
- Health posts9%$2.05
- Livelihoods8%$1.82
- Winter relief7%$1.59
03 · Where it goes
Every dollar, accounted for.
We publish every line of the accounts each spring. Pick a gift and see where each cent of it lands.
- 91%The fieldSolar kits, pumps, teachers, transport$22.75 of your $25
- 6%Raising the next dollarAppeals and donor care$1.50 of your $25
- 3%Running the officeAudit, rent, two desks$0.75 of your $25
The field share, by program
- Solar light34%$7.74
- Clean water24%$5.46
- Schooling18%$4.09
- Health posts9%$2.05
- Livelihoods8%$1.82
- Winter relief7%$1.59
04 · Campaigns
Open appeals, closing soon.
Appeal 01 · Solar lightUpper Sarma valley
Winter light appeal
Light 420 more homes before the passes close in December.
$184,200raised of $250,000
74%1,932 donorsEnds 21 Dec 2026
04 · Campaigns
Open appeals, closing soon.
Appeal 01 · Solar lightUpper Sarma valley
Winter light appeal
Light 420 more homes before the passes close in December.
$184,200raised of $250,000
74%1,932 donorsEnds 21 Dec 2026
04 · Campaigns
Open appeals, closing soon.
Appeal 01 · Solar lightUpper Sarma valley
Winter light appeal
Light 420 more homes before the passes close in December.
$184,200raised of $250,000
74%1,932 donorsEnds 21 Dec 2026
Before · Dhorpa
The day · Dhorpa
After · Dhorpa05 · One family
One home in Dhorpa, before and after.
The house sits on the north side of the valley and loses the sun by four. One kerosene lamp had to do for cooking, mending and school books.
Our crew carried the kit up from the road, fixed two panels to the roof and wired three lamps before the light went.
The kitchen, the big room and the doorway are lit until ten. The kerosene money now buys school books.
“My daughter reads after dinner now. Before, the day ended when the sun did.”
05 · One family
One home in Dhorpa, before and after.
01 / 03 · Before
Homework stopped at dusk.
The house sits on the north side of the valley and loses the sun by four. One kerosene lamp had to do for cooking, mending and school books.
02 / 03 · The day
Two panels, one afternoon.
Our crew carried the kit up from the road, fixed two panels to the roof and wired three lamps before the light went.
03 / 03 · After
Three lamps, and a phone that charges.
The kitchen, the big room and the doorway are lit until ten. The kerosene money now buys school books.
“My daughter reads after dinner now. Before, the day ended when the sun did.”
Before · DhorpaThe day · DhorpaAfter · Dhorpa05 · One family
One home in Dhorpa, before and after.
The house sits on the north side of the valley and loses the sun by four. One kerosene lamp had to do for cooking, mending and school books.
Our crew carried the kit up from the road, fixed two panels to the roof and wired three lamps before the light went.
The kitchen, the big room and the doorway are lit until ten. The kerosene money now buys school books.
“My daughter reads after dinner now. Before, the day ended when the sun did.”
06 · Impact
Three valleys, thirty-eight villages.
We go back to the same valleys every year. Each dot is a village and the hamlets round it, lit in the year we finished the work.
2011 → 2025
2,140homes lit
Pangri, Upper Sarma valley- villages on our map
- 38
- schools kept open
- 11
- health posts staffed
- 9
06 · Impact
Three valleys, thirty-eight villages.
We go back to the same valleys every year. Each dot is a village and the hamlets round it, lit in the year we finished the work.
2011 → 2025
2,140homes lit
Pangri, Upper Sarma valley- villages on our map
- 38
- schools kept open
- 11
- health posts staffed
- 9
06 · Impact
Three valleys, thirty-eight villages.
We go back to the same valleys every year. Each dot is a village and the hamlets round it, lit in the year we finished the work.
2011 → 2025
2,140homes lit
Pangri, Upper Sarma valley- villages on our map
- 38
- schools kept open
- 11
- health posts staffed
- 9
07 · From the field
What your gift looks like.
No stock photos. Every picture here was taken by our field teams in the three valleys, on the day the work was done.
07 · From the field
What your gift looks like.
No stock photos. Every picture here was taken by our field teams in the three valleys, on the day the work was done.
07 · From the field
What your gift looks like.
No stock photos. Every picture here was taken by our field teams in the three valleys, on the day the work was done.
08 · Monthly giving
A little, every month.
Monthly gifts are what let us promise a village five years, not one visit. Pick what fits; change or stop it whenever you like.
$10/month
Lamplighter
Keeps 2 homes lit
- Two solar lamps serviced
- Field notes, four times a year
- One receipt each January
$25/month
Wellkeeper
Clean water for a family of five
- Water tested every quarter
- A letter from the village each spring
- One receipt each January
$50/month
Schoolkeeper
A teacher's month in one classroom
- A teacher paid on time
- Join our yearly school trek
- One receipt each January
08 · Monthly giving
A little, every month.
Monthly gifts are what let us promise a village five years, not one visit. Pick what fits; change or stop it whenever you like.
$10/month
Lamplighter
Keeps 2 homes lit
- Two solar lamps serviced
- Field notes, four times a year
- One receipt each January
$25/month
Wellkeeper
Clean water for a family of five
- Water tested every quarter
- A letter from the village each spring
- One receipt each January
$50/month
Schoolkeeper
A teacher's month in one classroom
- A teacher paid on time
- Join our yearly school trek
- One receipt each January
08 · Monthly giving
A little, every month.
Monthly gifts are what let us promise a village five years, not one visit. Pick what fits; change or stop it whenever you like.
$10/month
Lamplighter
Keeps 2 homes lit
- Two solar lamps serviced
- Field notes, four times a year
- One receipt each January
$25/month
Wellkeeper
Clean water for a family of five
- Water tested every quarter
- A letter from the village each spring
- One receipt each January
$50/month
Schoolkeeper
A teacher's month in one classroom
- A teacher paid on time
- Join our yearly school trek
- One receipt each January
09 · Voices
Donors, partners, neighbours.
01 of 05I gave twenty-five dollars. Four months later they sent a photo of the exact house, with the lamp on. Nobody had ever shown me where my money went.I gave twenty-five dollars. Four months later they sent a photo of the exact house, with the lamp on. Nobody had ever shown me where my money went.
Hannah ReyesMonthly donor since 2019
Working with
All partners- FunderHalden Family TrustCore funding since 2013
- FunderNorthlight FundPays for every water test
- FunderThe Marlowe FoundationThree-year schools grant
- Field partnerKhaling Water Union38 village water committees
- Field partnerSarma Teachers' CircleRecruits and mentors teachers
- Field partnerHighpass MuleteersCarry every kit the last two days
- Field partnerValley Health NetworkTrains our health workers
- CorporateBrightcellPanels at cost
- CorporateOrrin & ValeMatches staff donations
- CorporateTern OutdoorBlankets and boots each winter
Wellspring Foundation is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit · EIN 00-0000000
09 · Voices
Donors, partners, neighbours.
01 of 05I gave twenty-five dollars. Four months later they sent a photo of the exact house, with the lamp on. Nobody had ever shown me where my money went.I gave twenty-five dollars. Four months later they sent a photo of the exact house, with the lamp on. Nobody had ever shown me where my money went.
Hannah ReyesMonthly donor since 2019
Working with
All partners- FunderHalden Family TrustCore funding since 2013
- FunderNorthlight FundPays for every water test
- FunderThe Marlowe FoundationThree-year schools grant
- Field partnerKhaling Water Union38 village water committees
- Field partnerSarma Teachers' CircleRecruits and mentors teachers
- Field partnerHighpass MuleteersCarry every kit the last two days
- Field partnerValley Health NetworkTrains our health workers
- CorporateBrightcellPanels at cost
- CorporateOrrin & ValeMatches staff donations
- CorporateTern OutdoorBlankets and boots each winter
Wellspring Foundation is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit · EIN 00-0000000
09 · Voices
Donors, partners, neighbours.
01 of 05I gave twenty-five dollars. Four months later they sent a photo of the exact house, with the lamp on. Nobody had ever shown me where my money went.I gave twenty-five dollars. Four months later they sent a photo of the exact house, with the lamp on. Nobody had ever shown me where my money went.
Hannah ReyesMonthly donor since 2019
Working with
All partners- FunderHalden Family TrustCore funding since 2013
- FunderNorthlight FundPays for every water test
- FunderThe Marlowe FoundationThree-year schools grant
- Field partnerKhaling Water Union38 village water committees
- Field partnerSarma Teachers' CircleRecruits and mentors teachers
- Field partnerHighpass MuleteersCarry every kit the last two days
- Field partnerValley Health NetworkTrains our health workers
- CorporateBrightcellPanels at cost
- CorporateOrrin & ValeMatches staff donations
- CorporateTern OutdoorBlankets and boots each winter
Wellspring Foundation is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit · EIN 00-0000000
10 · Get involved
Not only money. Hands too.
Pack a winter kit, host a dinner, or walk the route the kits travel. Every event below is run by the people who do the work.
312volunteers last yearPack days, skilled field posts and one trek a year.
- 24Oct 2026Volunteer day18 places left
Winter kit pack day
Wellspring warehouse, Oakland · 09:00–15:00Pack 300 winter kits before they ship. Gloves and lunch provided.
- 14Nov 2026Fundraiser42 places left
The lantern dinner
Fort Mason, San Francisco · 18:30A long table, one lantern per guest, and the year's field report.
- 5Dec 2026Talk120 places left
Field talk: a year on the water line
Online · 17:00Our water lead walks through one village's first year on tap water.
- 20Mar 2027Trek5 places left
The donors' trek
Khaling valley · 9 daysWalk the route the kits travel and sleep in the villages you fund.
10 · Get involved
Not only money. Hands too.
Pack a winter kit, host a dinner, or walk the route the kits travel. Every event below is run by the people who do the work.
312volunteers last yearPack days, skilled field posts and one trek a year.
- 24Oct 2026Volunteer day18 places left
Winter kit pack day
Wellspring warehouse, Oakland · 09:00–15:00Pack 300 winter kits before they ship. Gloves and lunch provided. - 14Nov 2026Fundraiser42 places left
The lantern dinner
Fort Mason, San Francisco · 18:30A long table, one lantern per guest, and the year's field report. - 5Dec 2026Talk120 places left
Field talk: a year on the water line
Online · 17:00Our water lead walks through one village's first year on tap water. - 20Mar 2027Trek5 places left
The donors' trek
Khaling valley · 9 daysWalk the route the kits travel and sleep in the villages you fund.
10 · Get involved
Not only money. Hands too.
Pack a winter kit, host a dinner, or walk the route the kits travel. Every event below is run by the people who do the work.
312volunteers last yearPack days, skilled field posts and one trek a year.
- 24Oct 2026Volunteer day18 places left
Winter kit pack day
Wellspring warehouse, Oakland · 09:00–15:00Pack 300 winter kits before they ship. Gloves and lunch provided. - 14Nov 2026Fundraiser42 places left
The lantern dinner
Fort Mason, San Francisco · 18:30A long table, one lantern per guest, and the year's field report. - 5Dec 2026Talk120 places left
Field talk: a year on the water line
Online · 17:00Our water lead walks through one village's first year on tap water. - 20Mar 2027Trek5 places left
The donors' trek
Khaling valley · 9 daysWalk the route the kits travel and sleep in the villages you fund.
11 · Questions
Before you give.
Something else? Write to hello@wellspring.foundation. A person answers within two working days.
91 cents of every dollar goes to work in the villages. 6 cents raise the next dollar and 3 cents run the office. The split is audited each year and published in the annual report.
Where money goesYes. Pick an appeal or a program when you donate and your gift is spent there. If an appeal is already fully funded we ask before moving your gift.
GivingWellspring is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit. Gifts from US donors are deductible to the extent the law allows.
Tax & receiptsA receipt is emailed as soon as your gift goes through. Monthly donors get one summary each January.
Tax & receiptsAny time, from the link in your receipt or by writing to us. There is no notice period.
GivingVillage councils apply. We visit, agree what the village will contribute in labour and upkeep, and start only when a local committee is in place.
Where money goesWe go back. Every solar kit, tap and classroom is checked each spring and the results are published by village.
Where money goesYes. Pack days run in Oakland each autumn, and we take a small number of skilled volunteers in the valleys: engineers, nurses and teachers.
Get involvedCompanies match staff gifts, sponsor an appeal or give goods at cost. Write to us and we will set it up within a week.
Get involved
11 · Questions
Before you give.
Something else? Write to hello@wellspring.foundation. A person answers within two working days.
91 cents of every dollar goes to work in the villages. 6 cents raise the next dollar and 3 cents run the office. The split is audited each year and published in the annual report.
Where money goesYes. Pick an appeal or a program when you donate and your gift is spent there. If an appeal is already fully funded we ask before moving your gift.
GivingWellspring is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit. Gifts from US donors are deductible to the extent the law allows.
Tax & receiptsA receipt is emailed as soon as your gift goes through. Monthly donors get one summary each January.
Tax & receiptsAny time, from the link in your receipt or by writing to us. There is no notice period.
GivingVillage councils apply. We visit, agree what the village will contribute in labour and upkeep, and start only when a local committee is in place.
Where money goesWe go back. Every solar kit, tap and classroom is checked each spring and the results are published by village.
Where money goesYes. Pack days run in Oakland each autumn, and we take a small number of skilled volunteers in the valleys: engineers, nurses and teachers.
Get involvedCompanies match staff gifts, sponsor an appeal or give goods at cost. Write to us and we will set it up within a week.
Get involved
11 · Questions
Before you give.
Something else? Write to hello@wellspring.foundation. A person answers within two working days.
91 cents of every dollar goes to work in the villages. 6 cents raise the next dollar and 3 cents run the office. The split is audited each year and published in the annual report.
Where money goesYes. Pick an appeal or a program when you donate and your gift is spent there. If an appeal is already fully funded we ask before moving your gift.
GivingWellspring is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit. Gifts from US donors are deductible to the extent the law allows.
Tax & receiptsA receipt is emailed as soon as your gift goes through. Monthly donors get one summary each January.
Tax & receiptsAny time, from the link in your receipt or by writing to us. There is no notice period.
GivingVillage councils apply. We visit, agree what the village will contribute in labour and upkeep, and start only when a local committee is in place.
Where money goesWe go back. Every solar kit, tap and classroom is checked each spring and the results are published by village.
Where money goesYes. Pack days run in Oakland each autumn, and we take a small number of skilled volunteers in the valleys: engineers, nurses and teachers.
Get involvedCompanies match staff gifts, sponsor an appeal or give goods at cost. Write to us and we will set it up within a week.
Get involved
12 · Give
Turn one light on.
Choose your gift
$25 lights 3 homes for a year
2,140 homes lit since 2011 · 91¢ of every dollar goes to the field
12 · Give
Turn one light on.
Choose your gift
$25 lights 3 homes for a year
2,140 homes lit since 2011 · 91¢ of every dollar goes to the field
12 · Give
Turn one light on.
Choose your gift
$25 lights 3 homes for a year
2,140 homes lit since 2011 · 91¢ of every dollar goes to the field