How I Raised $700 Million: Charity: Water Founder: Scott Harrison | E153

TL;DR

Scott Harrison, founder and CEO of charity: water, shares his transformation from a life of excess and partying to a mission-driven life dedicated to providing clean water to those in need.

Transcript

i'm emotionally bankrupt i'm morally bankrupt and this is not how i'd want it to end the founder and ceo of charity water making a difference all over the world a new york times bestseller he's a certifiable badass and his name is scott harrison the lifestyle of a promoter is one where you get lots of attention the fun i had for 10 years in nightli... Read More

Key Insights

• 😢 Scott Harrison's childhood was marked by his mother's health struggles, which were caused by a carbon monoxide gas leak in their house. This experience shaped his desire to help others and make a difference in the world.
• 😎 Scott Harrison's career as a nightclub promoter was filled with excessive partying and destructive behaviors. However, he eventually realized the emptiness of this lifestyle and sought to find a more meaningful purpose in life.
• 💡 Scott Harrison came up with the idea for charity: water, a non-profit organization that provides clean water to those in need. His innovative and transparent business model promised that 100% of donations would go directly toward helping people access clean water.
• 😰 In the early stages of charity: water, Scott Harrison faced financial challenges and struggled to meet the organization's overhead costs. However, a generous donation from an entrepreneur named Michael Birch saved the organization from bankruptcy and provided a year of funding.
• 🌍 Over the years, charity: water has made a significant impact by providing clean water to millions of people around the world. They have reached 15 million people so far but recognize the need to continue their work on a larger scale.
• 🔥 Scott Harrison's commitment to his cause is unwavering, as he is driven by a desire to make a positive impact in the world. His dedication to charity: water is evident in his relentless pursuit of providing clean water to those in need.
• 💪 Despite the challenges and doubts he has faced along the way, Scott Harrison remains resolute in his mission to bring clean water to every person on the planet. He is willing to take risks and push boundaries to achieve this goal.
• ⚖️ While Scott Harrison acknowledges the importance of work-life balance, he recognizes that there are seasons of life when certain priorities require more attention. He is committed to creating meaningful change and is willing to put in the effort required to make it happen.

Questions & Answers

Q: How did Scott Harrison's upbringing shape his perspective on charity work?

Scott Harrison's upbringing, particularly his mother's health issues caused by carbon monoxide poisoning, showed him the importance of giving back and helping others in need. The experience of seeing his mother suffer and the challenges his family faced due to her illness instilled in him a desire to make a difference in the lives of those facing similar hardships.

Q: How did charity: water's funding model address people's skepticism about charitable organizations?

charity: water's funding model promised that 100% of donations would go directly to funding water projects, which addressed people's concerns about their money not reaching those in need. By separating the overhead costs from donation funds, charity: water provided transparency and accountability, building trust with donors and demonstrating the impact of their contributions.

Q: What was the turning point for Scott Harrison that led him to start charity: water?

After years of living a life of excess and realizing its emptiness, Scott Harrison reached a breaking point when he questioned the legacy he would leave behind. He recognized the lack of trust in charitable organizations and was inspired to create a model that would address this skepticism while making a tangible impact on a global scale.

Q: How did the chance meeting with entrepreneur Michael Birch save charity: water?

Scott Harrison was on the brink of shutting down charity: water due to financial difficulties when he encountered Michael Birch, who generously donated one million dollars to cover the organization's overhead costs. This allowed charity: water to continue its mission and set the stage for its future success in providing clean water to millions of people.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Scott Harrison recounts his upbringing, marked by his mother's health issues due to carbon monoxide poisoning, and his subsequent descent into a life of excess in the nightlife industry.

• A turning point came when Scott realized the emptiness of his lifestyle and the need for purpose in his life, leading him to start charity: water and promise that 100% of donations would go directly to helping people access clean water.

• Scott faced numerous challenges as he struggled to fund the overhead costs of the organization, but a chance meeting with entrepreneur Michael Birch led to a million-dollar donation that saved charity: water and set it on the path to its current success.