Some 17 years ago, as an international funder Peter Laugharn penned a letter to an imagined colleague new to the field. Here he writes a follow-up letter from his vantage point as president and CEO of the influential Conrad N. Hilton Foundation

Dear friend,

Amazing that we’re both still involved in international grantmaking! I remember writing you a longish letter of advice 17 years ago when you were just getting started. Well, in keeping with our fast-paced world, here is a shorter reflection on the road we’ve travelled together since then.

I’m glad you did your homework so well and decided that safe drinking water was the issue you wanted to get involved in. And that you invited our foundation to join you, so that our foundations have been co-funding in the water sector in Africa for 15 years now.