I sent an overseas friend a nice surprise parcel for Christmas and she was so pleased she wanted me to give her a wish list so she can do the same in return. I sincerely feel I have everything I want and need, so I asked her to donate the amount she would spend on me on a worthy charity.

Perhaps you can do the same thing? For your birthday, or when people want to give you a gift for whatever reason, tell them about your desire to build a well and they can either donate the money towards your cause or a related charity. This way, they are not forking out more money for yet another charity. They are simply spending the money on you, the way you want it.

Another way would be to throw a donation party and invite everyone you know and everyone they know. Get as much information as you can about a charity that works on providing clean water, and contact the charity/organisation (they might send someone or have suggestions), then get guests to donate. At the same event, you can have an auction.

If you're really passionate about this, plan in advance and the event can be huge. First find out exactly how you're going to build this well of yours. (A particular aid organisation? Then contact them.) Then find venues you would like to hold the event, and write them letters asking them to provide the venue for free. Explain your worthy cause, make sure you emphasise that you are super grateful for their help and will credit them for it when advertising the event. Write similar letters to caterers/restaurants and ask them to donate food for the event. Write to retailers and ask for donations of items for the auction and lucky dip. Approach a printing company and ask for free invitations. Make sure your letters are well-written (no bad grammar), enthusiastic, and has a sincere promise that due credit would be given. Approach media outlets (newspapers/tv stations/magazines) and ask if they can help in advertising. And find water-related companies (spring water providers?) and persuade them to make a direct donation. This could be a lot of work, so get like-minded people in your area and form a committee. You would be surprised how many willing helpers are out there. All they need are an idea (which you have), and someone to coordinate (which you can).

I'm not in the United States, but I'll be super happy to provide advice/ideas where I can. I have a bit of experience in event planning and social work. Just let me know.

I'm hogging the comments... but I've got another idea. If it's 4k you're shooting for and you're not shy, arm yourself with info/pamphlets on the charity, your personal namecards and start talking to strangers. Ask each person for just one dollar. Ask the people around you on public buses, ask shopkeepers, ask cashiers in supermarket, ask your best friend's sister's babysitter's grandmother's neighbour. Ask everyone and anyone. Some might say no, but I believe most people will give you a dollar. Tell your friends you'll give them a lifelong supply of fresh water when they visit your house if they give you two dollars. Tell them you'll shut up about it and stop hogging them if they give you ten dollars. Be shameless, go crazy.

@Issie - wait, i love those ideas, too!

you've helped me, now, too xD thankyou!

it would be a great thing to do for all the people that need water. but i just want to remind you of something, first of all, the big thing to you should be your salvation, your life with God, and yeah God is having a plan for each one of us, pray that you follow this plan, that big thing God is having for you must not be a huge big world wide thing , it could be something between you and God only, maybe like saving forgotten souls, forgotten people, that maybe no one will know ,when the are saved,

any way the point is to pray to God , to show you the life he wants for you , and to live it, through the bible already God is telling us about this life, follow God and whatever he tells you, and be sure that this life is the only big thing that is going to satisfy you.

God bless you : )

I just returned from a trip in the Dominican Republic working with the Encounter Group and my church. (Triad Community Church in NC). We built water purification systems which only cost about $50 and they are simple and easy to install. One purification system can help an entire community and will work for 30 years. Of course a well, may seem like a more permanent solution, but there are many places where a well is not possible or feasible. In some areas, like the places we were at in the Dominican, they have water, just not clean safe drinking water.

My church recently did this very thing. Actually, it was "dig a well". It took four Sundays to accomplish. The church gave each attender a water bottle. They asked everyone to drink the water and fill it with whatever money they could for 30 days. We brought the bottles back on Christmas Eve. it's amazing how much money can fill a plastic water bottle, checks, paper money, coins, etc.