AbstrakDrinking water is indispensable for human life. This study investigated the distribution of rainwater harvesting tanks (RWHTs) by non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to address the drinking water crisis in southwest coastal Bangladesh. Field surveys conducted in Shyamnagar Upazila revealed that NGOs more often subsidise rather than donate RWHTs. NGOs subsidised RWHTs for wealthier households because they fulfil criteria such as tin roofs possession and NGO-organised activities involvement. Accordingly, poor households were excluded from NGO RWHT distribution activities as they failed to meet the required criteria. The phenomena may be due to the commercialisation of NGOs and the NGO policy of generating a sense of ownership toward RWHT among villagers. However, excessive commercialisation of NGOs may hamper the provision of safe drinking water to the people most in need, even though the commercialisation of NGOs and the generation of a sense of ownership toward given assets are essential for the sustainability of NGOs and their activities.