Our new microgrant program (in partnership with Kohler) supports creative, high-impact solutions that provide access to water and sanitation developed by local Navajo change-makers.

Meet the 2021 grantees →

"They say that the United States is one of the wealthiest countries in the world. So why are citizens still living with no access to clean water?" Our client, Amanda, shares her story in Marie Claire.

In her own words →

The “Suitcase” water system was invented by one of our staff to keep the water flowing when we couldn’t enter homes safely. Suitcases brought running water to 100 Navajo families during the pandemic, and the technology was a Finalist in Fast Company’s 2021 Innovation by Design Awards.

Meet the suitcase →

During the holidays, 1966 donors came together to give running water and solar power to 122 Navajo families in a single day, united by the belief that “water is for all of us.”

Water is for all of us →

DigDeep offered a professional development opportunity to every staff member in 2021. Our Navajo teammates used it to learn critical skills and get new certifications, including Commercial Drivers’ Licenses.

DigDeep received our first direct investment from the Navajo Nation’s Sihasin Fund, which we spent on water trucks and Home Water Systems . The name Sihasin is a Diné word that means hope.

The Washington Post convened key Native leaders and activists working to solve the water crisis at this pivotal moment. They brought Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez into conversation with our own NWP Executive Director, Emma Robbins.

Watch the conversation →

Just months after launching our innovative new effort to lay water lines in McDowell County, WV, we finished phase one. All told, we brought clean, reliable running water to 191 families in a single year.

DigDeep’s Water Tech, Eddie George, cares about bringing water to people in rural West Virginia because he grew up there. So did the 3 other staff who joined the Appalachia Water Project in 2021.

Water is Pride →

The coal mining regions of Appalachia used to be some of the wealthiest in the country; now they’re the poorest, without basic services like running water. Why is this happening?

Go deeper with the Washington Post →

For every dollar we invest in closing the Water Access Gap, how many dollars do we get back in improved health, access to education, and economic opportunity? In 2020, we launched a two-year study to find out. More than 30 water, infrastructure, and public health experts joined the research project in 2021. The final report lands in Summer 2022.

In 2021, DigDeep signed our first MOU with the international WaSH nonprofit Water for People. First thing on the agenda: collaborative-learning webinars to exchange program data and insights from our project teams accross the country and the world.

Good research doesn’t extract; it adds. That’s why we partnered with Michigan State University and the US Water Alliance to get detailed microdata from our 2019 report, Closing the Water Gap in the United States, back into the hands of community organizations for grant applications, government testimony, and fundraising.

Did you know the world record for the fastest blindfolded mile is 7 min 19.63 sec, and was run by Megan Merenda on November 13, 2021? We did! That’s because Megan is our Strategic Partnerships Director, and she did it to raise awareness for the Navajo Water Project!

We’ve got receipts →

Remember Scholastic Magazine from your childhood dentist’s office? Our kindergarten dreams came true when DigDeep collaborated on an article that taught millions of children about the US water crisis.

Pull out your carpet square →

Liquid I.V. knows water—their formula is based on the World Health Organization’s clinical guidelines for treating dehydration. So it’s no surprise the company made a major investment in the Appalachia Water Project, which will bring working taps to more than 200 families in 2022.

Pendleton Woolen Mills launched the 'Gather' blanket designed by our own Emma Robbins, with a portion of proceeds benefiting the Navajo Water Project. In Emma’s design, a young woman's silver bracelet is set with turquoise, a sacred stone that symbolizes the water needed for life and health.

Grab one for yourself →

To celebrate Indigenous People’s Day we launched the #WaterIsPlay raffle with Skatepark Project to provide the clean water and dedicated space Native youth need to get outside. Winners claimed prizes like a skate deck signed by Tony Hawk.

When Robin Wright made her directorial debut in the movie LAND, she turned to our CEO George McGraw to help flesh out a main character. Robin’s love interest Miguel (played by Démian Bachir) is passionate about his work to bring water to indigenous communities at DigDeep. Look closely and you can even see our logo on his truck!

Watch the trailer →

Roy Wiegand rode his bike nearly 1,000 miles, crossing the Navajo Nation on his way from Los Angeles to Albuquerque. His effort raised money and brought valuable media attention to the Navajo Water Project.

Read about it in the Costco Connection →

When Kim and her husband launched their plumbing business 13 years ago, they started with nothing. Betty—a close friend and Holocaust survivor—told them: “One of the important things you are really going to have to think about is, once you are up and running, where are you going to give your money?” They chose DigDeep.

Great Advice →

We believe the US needs a WaSH (water, sanitation & hygiene) Sector, where diverse organizations join forces with impacted communities to close the Water Gap forever. So we built this database to facilitate collaboration between implementers, funders, academics, community champions, government agencies, and more.

Check it out →

We analyzed the region, approach, focus, and audience for more than 150 water and wastewater organizations to map the strengths of the emerging US WaSH sector and identify places we can improve as a community.

This is the US WaSH Sector →

Global WaSH organizations meet regularly to set goals and share information. So this year, DigDeep assembled a small, direction-setting coalition of key US water and wastewater leaders. The group will meet in October 2022 to set the parameters for an annual WaSH sector conference.

Read the concept note →

It's official! DigDeep is a Great Place to Work. We've built a team that can make miracles happen—doing it all with support, a sense of security, and joy. It's awesome to be recognized among the best companies in the US for employee happiness.

Join Team DigDeep →

We offered a $1300 professional development stipend to every staff member at DigDeep, allowing them to build critical knowledge and skills for their current work or to expand their abilities in a new direction. 2021 saw more internal promotions than any year in our history.

All of our project directors and managers are from frontline communities, as are more than 40% of our staff. Many of us have direct personal experience with the problem we're working to solve: 44% of Team DigDeep have lived without running water or a flush toilet at home.

We worked with Align Risk Management to provide science-backed insight and in-person training to our field teams, so they could safely transition back to working inside clients’ homes despite the ongoing pandemic.

Edna Primrose joined our Board of Directors. The former Assistant Administrator for Water and Environmental Programs and Chief Operating Officer at USDA brings a new depth of experience in policy and government relations. We welcomed Eleanor Allen (Water for People, BLabs), Bidtah Becker (Navajo Nation, Cal EPA), and George Hawkins (Moonshot Missions) to our Board of Advisors. We also added new talent to the c-suite, welcoming Anne Marie Jones (Chief Operating Officer) and BJ Davis (Chief Relationship Officer), each with more than 20 years of experience.

Meet the whole DigDeep team →

As part of our commitment to equity, DigDeep offers 100% employer-paid medical insurance. In 2021 we added employer-paid vision, dental, and mental health resources to our benefits, alongside generous paid time off and 401k matching.

As always, 100% of public donations went directly to programs. We earned a perfect Encompass score from Charity Navigator and a Platinum Seal of Transparency from Guidestar. That’s transparency you can trust.

We set a new record for Water Council growth in a single year! The Water Council is a prestigious group of donors who pledge a significant, 3-year gift to cover DigDeep’s operating costs, so 100% of public donations can go right to programs.

Join the Water Council →

If we’ve learned anything in the past two years, it’s that life can change quickly. We partnered with FreeWill because it makes estate planning free and accessible for all and has been used by over 300,000 Americans.

Make a free will →