Scott Harrison - Founder of Charity Water | From Nightclub Promoter to Billion Dollar Charity

Scott Harrison is a humanitarian, entrepreneur, and founder of Charity Water, a nonprofit organization committed to providing clean, safe drinking water to people in developing countries. Before starting Charity Water, Harrison worked in the New York City nightlife industry, where he achieved financial success but found himself feeling deeply unfulfilled. Seeking a life change, he volunteered with a medical charity in West Africa and witnessed firsthand the devastating effects of unsafe drinking water. This experience inspired him to dedicate his life to addressing the global water crisis, leading him to establish Charity Water in 2006.Under Harrison's leadership, Charity Water has become one of the most trusted and innovative nonprofits in the world, pioneering transparency in fundraising by sending donors real-time updates and geotagged images of their contributions' impact. Through creative campaigns, partnerships, and grassroots support, the organization has raised over $1 billion to fund clean water projects, positively impacting millions of lives in over 29 countries. Harrison’s work has inspired a new generation of philanthropists and has demonstrated how technology and storytelling can drive social change.

➡️ Talking Points

00:00 — Intro

03:05 — Scott’s Journey

13:40 — Finding Life’s Purpose

25:32 — Purpose Through Service

31:50 — The Nonprofit Disconnect

46:24 — Scott’s NPO vs. the Old Guard

57:40 — Disrupting for Awareness

59:44 — Challenges of Running an NPO

1:04:52 — Bridging the Trust Gap

1:07:09 — Hiring the Right People

1:09:08 — Raising a Billion: The Challenges

1:14:00 — Global Impact of Clean Water

1:16:43 — How You Can Help

1:19:10 — Scott’s Parting Wisdom