Interview
How I Raised $700 Million: Charity: Water Founder: Scott Harrison | E153
- Scott Harrison, founder and CEO of Charity Water, experienced a decade-long lifestyle in New York City nightlife involving cocaine, MDMA, smoking 40–60 cigarettes daily, gambling, and promiscuity before a health scare precipitated a life pivot.
- Harrison's childhood was defined by a 1980 carbon monoxide leak that caused his mother permanent, severe chemical sensitivity, requiring her to live in a sealed room behind aluminum foil and wear a mask, which left Harrison feeling "emotionally bankrupt" and deprived of normal childhood experiences.
- The founder realized the futility of his hedonistic lifestyle after suffering neurological symptoms (numbness, inability to feel hot water) that led to a fear of death, prompting him to seek a 180-degree reversal in his identity and purpose.
- Harrison traveled to France and Maine in 2007 to "tithe his time" to humanitarian service, eventually accepting a position as a photojournalist aboard the Mercy Ships hospital ship in West Africa after failing to gain acceptance from other major aid organizations.
- During his first year on Mercy Ships, Harrison documented 1,500 medical transformations, including the removal of life-threatening facial tumors, an experience he described as providing "so much better" joy than his previous nightlife success.
- A pivotal moment occurred when Harrison and Dr. Gary Parker connected the prevalence of waterborne diseases in post-war Liberia to the medical crises they were treating; Parker challenged Harrison to become "the greatest doctor the world had ever seen" by ensuring global access to clean water.
- Charity Water was founded with a disruptive business model that separates funding streams: 100% of public donations go directly to water projects, while a separate "overhead account" is funded exclusively by a circle of 131 tech entrepreneurs and business leaders.
- Harrison launched the organization on his 31st birthday in September 2009 with a club fundraiser that raised $15,000, proving the model's viability by raising funds from skeptics and donors who previously distranted charities.
- In the second year of operation, the organization faced near-collapse with $1 million in project funds but no money to cover payroll for nine employees, leading Harrison to reject the "conventional wisdom" of borrowing from the project fund to maintain organizational integrity.
- The organization was saved by a $1 million overhead grant from Michael Birch, co-founder of Bebo, who provided 13 months of runway after Harrison pitched his vision from a dilapidated office, an investment that generated over $700 million in total fundraising over the following decade.
- As of the 15th anniversary of Charity Water, the organization has reached 15 million people globally, accounting for 2% of the 771 million people who still lack access to clean water, with an operational capacity of 5,000 people served daily.
- Harrison notes that 10% of the world's population currently consumes contaminated water, with 28 different diseases directly attributable to waterborne pathogens, emphasizing that the majority of their work remains ahead of them.
- The charity has expanded to 29 countries, utilizing a "Spring" membership model where individuals donate monthly (approx. $40/person) for clean water access, with 100% transparency guaranteed via GPS coordinates and photo proof sent to donors.
- Harrison defines a fulfilled life as one of "service" and "giving" rather than accumulation, advocating for a shift in language from "giving back" to "giving" to emphasize the privilege of contribution over restitution.
- Harrison reflects on his "dark side" not as a destructive force but as a source of anger and discontent that he has successfully harnessed to drive relentless action against poverty and water scarcity.
- The founder admits to "overcompensating" for his deprived childhood by ensuring his own children have experiences he missed, such as theme parks and travel, while maintaining the core value of work and service instilled in him during his youth.