The BetterLife Podcast: Wealth | Real Estate Investing | Life

#49: Scott Harrison

Feb 12, 2024

Scott Harrison, Founder of charity: water, shares his journey from a nightclub promoter to launching a charity. Topics include his life-changing experience on a hospital ship, the importance of clean water access, bringing storytelling to charity, his leadership lessons, and the power of small donations for greater impact.

01:18:18

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Episode guests

Scott Harrison

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Quick takeaways

Charity Water's success is attributed to their focus on transparency, technology, and inspiring branding.

Overcoming skepticism and cynicism towards charities is a challenge that Charity Water addresses through financial transparency and showing the impact of donations.

Charity Water utilizes storytelling to create personal connections between donors and the communities they help, inspiring ongoing support.

Deep dives

The Founding of Charity Water

Charity Water was founded by an individual with no prior charity experience, who wanted to solve the global water crisis. They focused on three pillars: transparency, with 100% of public donations going directly to water projects; technology, using tools like Google Earth to show donors where their money went; and a beautiful brand that inspired and uplifted people. They worked with locals in each country to ensure cultural appropriateness and sustainability. The initial fundraising efforts included a party where attendees donated $20 to attend and see the impact of their donation in action.

Introduction

2min

Finding Faith and Purpose

22min

Leaving Vices Behind

3min

Building Charity Water and Making a Difference

31min

Leadership Lessons and the Power of Storytelling

6min

Changes and the Impact of the Spring

12min

The Power of Small Donations and the Potential for Greater Impact

2min

Scott Harrison is the founder of charity: water, one of the world’s most impactful and highly-rated charities.

In this episode, you’ll learn how Scott walked away from his “degenerate” life as a nightclub promoter; how volunteering on a hospital ship inspired him to launch a charity despite having no money and no experience; and the life and business lessons he’s learned while raising nearly $1 billion without any government involvement.

Scott also talks about:
- His “Prodigal Son” journey away from faith and virtue and back
- How and why he finally walked away from a superficial life of drugs, gambling, “bottles and models”
- His life-changing experience on a hospital ship in Liberia
- Advice for taking a daunting challenge, step-by-step
- Why access to clean water is ultimately a money problem
- Bringing storytelling and Nike-inspired marketing principles to the world of charity
- What he’s learned about hiring, delegating, and leading teams
- Why he still doesn’t think big enough at times

Connect with Scott:
- His Instagram
- His book, Thirst: A Story of Redemption, Compassion, and a Mission to Bring Clean Water to the World

Scott’s charitable cause:
- Donate directly to charity: water here
- The Spring membership
- 100% of net proceeds from Scott’s book go to charity: water projects around the world

Interested in building wealth without losing your soul? Join the BetterLife Tribe here

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