Dedicated Donors: Natalie Makes Giving a Family Initiative!

Multi-generational anything is good in our book. Whether that is passing along the recipe for Grandma’s holiday cookies or passing on traditions and life lessons, inspiring our children is a gift and an honor to parents and other family members. Values such as caring for others and giving are also often a family affair!

We hear wonderful stories from parents who support clean water work with us showing kids our project reports so they can meet the people their family helped, teaching kids handwashing songs to stay clean and not to waste water, and even doing water-themed science experiments at home to teach them how precious water is.

Natalie is an excellent example of inviting her children into giving — her daughters Timotea (Timmy) and Olivia are part of her family’s incredible family philanthropy initiative called Ubuntu, a Zulu word meaning that our kindness toward others is what defines us. We think that’s a beautiful sentiment.

Natalie and her family have been giving to The Water Project since 2020 as regular donors and contributors to our monthly Water Promise giving program. Natalie is instilling charitable values in her kids by example and by involving them in the gifts she makes. 

Recently, we asked Natalie a few questions about her family’s philanthropy, and her insights were so valuable. We’re hoping some of our wonderful donors can see themselves in her!

TWP: What kind of work does your family initiative do? What are your favorite causes to support? 

Natalie: Since its launch in January 2019, The Ubuntu Family Initiative has been a personal account of our travels and giving journey as a philanthropic family. To date, we have actively supported education, water, and conservation. Our mission today is to share our philanthropic story with the hope of inspiring the next generation of philanthropists. 

TWP: What made you get started? 

Natalie: My determination to provide a similar experience to my own to my children, making them more empathetic toward cultural differences and those less fortunate, whilst helping them adapt to the ever-changing global situations of today.

TWP: What led you to The Water Project?

Natalie: Starting off our journey with education in Africa, the intimate connection between education and water that comes forth from The Water Project’s commitment is very much in line with the primary goals of our initiative.

TWP: How would you describe your life goals? How does giving to help others access clean water fit with your life’s mission?

Natalie: I am the CCO of a 150-year-old family business and am very much involved in the corporate world, but ultimately discovering that helping others was my greatest asset. The reward, social connection, and trust that [have] come from my activities with the Ubuntu Family Initiative have been the biggest moments of impact in my life and the joy that has come of this journey is where my dedication will remain.

TWP: What would you say to someone considering donating to The Water Project?

Natalie: I have assessed a number of water projects throughout to collaborate with.

The Water Project has the best impact practice and strategy to achieve results. They are accessible and friendly, and our experiences have [always been] rewarding, with the insight we have into the projects we contribute towards unmeasurable.

TWP: What do you wish more people knew about water?

Natalie: Over the years, as the Ubuntu Family Initiative, we have seen firsthand the basic human needs, such as clean water, nutrition, health care, education, clothing, and shelter missing in communities, and have witnessed its direct impact and disabling effect. 

In terms of all basic needs such as those stated above and water, most importantly in this context, I wish the people around were more aware of the direct consequences that come as a result of being without.

Natalie’s kids are either grown and almost grown, now dreaming up giving initiatives of their own thanks to Natalie’s example. As Natalie said, philanthropy brings joy, and we’re so thankful she has led her children to embrace that joy alongside her.

For ideas to get your own kids involved with water, we have a bunch of accessible tools. The first we’d recommend is The Water Challenge, which gets kids thinking about how much water they drink while gamifying their sacrifice on someone else’s behalf. The best part is that you end up with money saved toward a donation at the end of the Challenge without actually spending anything beyond your normal budget. 

Another tool is The Water Project’s lesson plans, which help parents passionate about water to share its value with their kids, too. The plans include a bunch of experiments, exercises, and prompts for kids from kindergarten to 12th grade to understand the water crisis on a personal level as well as a global level. 

We’re so thankful to Natalie for sharing her family’s story with us, and to you for reading it!