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About The Groundwater Project
The Groundwater Project is a Canadian nonprofit dedicated to making groundwater understandable. Since launching in 2017 (and registering as a nonprofit in 2019), the organization has become a globally recognized hub for groundwater knowledge, reaching millions of readers in every country globally.
With more than 1,000 volunteer experts, including leading scientists and practitioners, The Groundwater Project provides free, high-quality educational resources to children, the general public, universities, professionals, and communities across the globe.
Materials are translated into 59 languages and the list is growing. This knowledge is often hidden behind expensive paywalls and so the intent is to democratize access to vital water education.
Keeping content free and accessible is core to their mission—but doing so makes sustainable fundraising essential.
The Challenge
Like many mission-driven nonprofits, The Groundwater Project faced a difficult fundraising tradeoff: keeping high-quality educational content free and accessible, while relying on online donations supported by tools that were costly, complex, and inefficient.
In 2024, as the organization prepared for future fundraising needs, it became clear their existing donation platform presented several challenges:
- High costs with low return, including annual fees and an additional $500 per year just to enable recurring donations
- Additional web development required, adding complexity and ongoing costs to maintain their donation form
- Fundraising efforts heavily dependent on corporations and personal networks, need for growth in sustainable individual giving
The Solution
The Groundwater Project implemented Glass Register as their donation form to remove unnecessary cost and complexity from giving—ensuring their fundraising tools aligned with their mission to keep educational content free and accessible.
Glass Register replaced a costly donation process with a simple, fee-free donation form that required no custom development and was easy for supporters to use.
The Results
With the right donation infrastructure in place, The Groundwater Project gained a fundraising foundation that was ready when it mattered most.
As a result:
- 100% of donor gifts were retained, with no platform fees deducted
- Supporters could complete donations quickly and easily, without friction or confusion
- The organization established a reliable base for individual donor engagement moving forward
In late 2024, when The Groundwater Project made an urgent appeal to its mailing list to support their rapid growth, supporters were able to respond without barriers.
As a result of that outreach, online donations increased by 525%, growing from $4,500 in 2024 to $28,125 in 2025.
By removing friction and cost, Glass Register ensured that when supporters were ready to give, nothing stood in their way.
Why It Matters
For The Groundwater Project, every dollar saved on fundraising tools is a dollar reinvested into:
- Expanding free groundwater education
- Supporting global research and partnerships
- Building long-term capacity for sustainable water management
Glass Register didn’t just improve donations—it strengthened the organization’s ability to deliver on its mission.
