FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

DIGDEEP 101

Why should I get involved with DIGDEEP?

We believe that all people – whatever their condition or location – have a right to the clean water they need to live in dignity. If you believe as we do – in defending the rights of the human person – join us!

I have a media / press request.

You may request an interview or information for a media production via email: press@digdeep.org

What are DigDeep's ratings on Guidestar and Charity Navigator?

DigDeep is rated platinum for transparency on Guidestar. Other Charity ranking organizations establish standards for the charities they will or won’t rank based on years of operation or the volume of expenditures. For this reason, Charity Navigator ratings are not yet available for DigDeep.

If you wish to review our financial statements, we publish them publicly in our Annual Report. We also file an annual 990, which is available online from the IRS.

We’re committed to 100% transparency, because we know it’s the only way to make our work truly sustainable. If you have a question or concern regarding a water project or your donation, please contact us by email

Who's fault is it when someone doesn't have access to water?

Countries must ensure access to water for all their citizens – even those too poor to pay for it. They’re also required to ensure adequate oversight and regulation through effective monitoring and complaint mechanisms. States bear the ultimate responsibility for human rights violations caused by the actions of any actor – public or private – inside their territory.

Learn more about DigDeep’s work to defend water access for marginalized communities on the Our Mission page

Does DigDeep receive US Government funding?

DigDeep is primarily funded by individual donors, people like you. 100% of every public donation is used to fund programs that close the Water Gap in the U.S.

Does DigDeep have a political or religious affiliation?

DigDeep is a secular human rights organization, and we do not have any political or religious affiliation.

DigDeep believes in working with any organization that actively seeks to defend human dignity in an authentic way. We often work with religious groups and organizations – including churches – who support our projects. Some of our partner organizations also have a religious affiliation. We understand water’s intimate relationship with spirituality of many kinds, and we’re grateful for this incredible support.

Sometimes our work requires that we interface with a government or its agencies. DigDeep and our partners strive to keep our work consultative and free of political entanglement, while defending the rights of the poor and marginalized. DigDeep has a no tolerance policy for graft and corruption.

How is DigDeep funded?

DigDeep is primarily funded by individual donors, people like you. 100% of every public donation is used to fund programs that close the Water Gap in the U.S.

DigDeep’s education and awareness projects are funded by grants, unrestricted gifts and contributions made for that specific purpose.

A group of supporters called The Water Council covers our administrative and operating costs. To show our gratitude, we offer Water Council members one-on-one updates, field visits and exclusive campaign previews. Want to know what it takes to get an invitation to The Water Council? Send us an email.

Does DigDeep maintain close relationships with any business or corporation?

Sometimes DigDeep enters short-term partnerships with corporations in support of our access or education projects. We believe in working with any organization that actively seeks to defend human dignity in an authentic way, and corporations often have a powerful voice to lend to the cause.

DigDeep strives to avoid affiliation with any company or entity that challenges or weakens human rights – actively or passively.

If you have a question about any of our specific corporate affiliations, or you wish to explore partnership options, feel free to email us

Is DigDeep a tax exempt charitable organization?

DigDeep is a 501(3)c public charity. Our EIN is 46-0686920. Donations made to DIGDEEP are tax-deductible.

Where does DigDeep work?

DigDeep began working in South Sudan in 2011. At first we focused on community-led water projects in South Sudan and Cameroon.

We began working in the United States in 2014, where millions of Americans still don’t have access to clean, running water at home. We became the only global WASH organization working domestically, and attention to US projects began to grow. In 2016 we shifted our focus exclusively to the United States.

Learn more about our current projects here.

How does DigDeep measure impact?

Many water charities just measure “people served.” Because DigDeep has a human rights focus, however, we measure our impact differently.

Every DigDeep project measures its impact across a number of international human rights indicators including education, health, gender equity and rule of law. We set a baseline for these indicators and measure the way our projects improve them over time.

DigDeep tracks the impact of every project with a full report. We send these reports to project donors and partners. You can read a sample report here

Who makes decisions for DigDeep?

Day-to-day decisions are made by our staff at our Los Angeles HQ and in the field, with oversight from our Board of Directors.

Our Board of Directors takes legal responsibility for the overall function and direction of the organization. Our Board is composed of incredibly unique and talented individuals from diverse fields, including law, construction, advertising and finance.

The Water Council is an important group of philanthropists that provide important input on the direction and scope of our work. Water Council members believe so strongly in our mission, that they commit the financial resources necessary to fund our administration. The Water Council is the foundation on which everything else rests; they make DIGDEEP sustainable, and every donor dollar more powerful through our 100% model.

Want to know what it takes to be invited to the Water Council? Learn more here.

What is DigDeep’s Vision?

DigDeep works to ensure that every person, everywhere enjoys their human right to water. All people should have access to a sufficient quantity of safe, accessible, affordable water of good quality, and that they should understand and care for their water resources.

We believe water is a human right because without basic access to clean water it’s impossible for a person to live in dignity.

Although we work to provide clean water to those living without it, DigDeep’s larger goal is to change the way people think about water – because so many of us take it for granted.

What does DigDeep do, exactly?

DigDeep defends your human right to water. Our community-led projects bring clean, hot and cold running water into American homes. We also invest in research, advocacy, and workforce development to close the Water Gap once and for all.

DIGDEEP.ORG

Can I control how and when you communicate with me?

DigDeep won’t spam you or fill your inbox with requests for support. In order to make sure you have the best experience of our work possible, we restrict most project updates to website and social media. Your email address will only be used for tax exemption information and periodic updates from large field projects or milestones. It’s our goal only to send you something you’ll be motivated in turn to use or share!

Read more about the way we collect and use your personal information in our Statement of Privacy.

Will you sell my name and contact information to anyone else?

Absolutely not. DigDeep does not rent or sell its lists to any other person, business or organization. Any personal information you choose to share with us is secure.

Read more about the way we collect and use your personal information in our Statement of Privacy

Who takes your photos and videos?

A large group of photographers, paid and volunteer, profession and amateur. Need the photo credit for a particular photo? Email us.

Who made your website?

Our website was designed and coded by Concept & Cadence.

How does digdeep.org collect and use my personal information?

We’ve written a comprehensive Statement of Privacy to answer this question. You can find it here

Can I repost, tweak, edit or share content from digdeep.org?

digdeep.org and all of its content (with the exception of material from external links, publications, media or where otherwise noted) is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 License.

Feel free to remix, tweak, and build upon our work for your project, fundraiser or class. That is, providing you credit DigDeep and license your creations under identical terms. Please do not use DigDeep’s work for commercial purposes.

I found a broken link. What should I do?

Super sleuth! Just shoot us a short email with the broken link and the page you found it and we’ll get right on that!

DONATING TO DIGDEEP

Does DigDeep accept in-kind donations of goods or services?

DigDeep welcomes certain in-kind gifts from our supporters, including photo and video equipment, office space, travel, plumbing, pumps, tools and event supplies. We also welcome donations by skilled professionals, including social media coordinators, lawyers, accountants, videographers, etc…

If you think you have a gift or skill to put to work in defense of the right to water, reach out to us by email. Just put “In Kind Donor” in the subject line and we’ll get right back to you. If the donation is a good fit, DIGDEEP may be able to offer a tax deduction, after receiving an invoice for the fair market value.

Note: Please contact us before sending anything to our physical address. If you send something without prior verification, we cannot guarantee we will be able to offer you a donation receipt or pay for return postage.

Are there sponsorship opportunities available for events or other projects in the US?

DigDeep welcomes individuals, foundations and businesses that wish to sponsor a water project, education / awareness campaign, or fundraising event. We always have a variety of ways to get involved, from concerts to exhibitions to branded parties.

To learn more about DigDeep’s calendar and ways you or your organization can get involved, contact our Giving Team

What happens when I "sponsor" part of a water project?

By sponsoring part of a water project—like a sink, pump, solar panel, or pipes—you're making a contribution directly to a water project in a specific region (like Navajo Nation or Appalachia). We'll take your donation and blend it with other part sponsorships and use those combined funds to complete a project. You're not purchasing a physical product, and nothing will be mailed to you.

If you sponsor a *full water project* (such as Running Water and Solar Power for One Family on the Navajo Nation, for example), your donation will be used to fund the full project.

You can sponsor part of a water project on the Give Page on digdeep.org and individual project websites. Sponsorships make great gifts in honor of people you love!

I live outside of the US. Is my donation tax exempt?

We’re so happy to have your support! Unfortunately, however, only donations made within the US are tax deductible. This means that if you chose to donate, you will not receive a tax receipt.

DigDeep can only process donations in US Dollars. If you’re sending a check or money order, please do so by obtaining it in US currency from an international bank and mail it to:

DigDeep Right to Water Project

110 W 11th St, Suite 400A

Los Angeles, CA 90015

Your check or money order should be made payable to DIGDEEP Water.

Where is my tax receipt?

If you donated online, a tax receipt should have been automatically generated and sent to the email address provided. Before contacting us, check your spam and junk mail folders.

If you donated by check or money order you will receive a tax receipt in about 2-4 weeks. If you registered your email address with us, keep an eye out for an electronic receipt. If we only have your postal address, check the mail.

Every time you donate offline, please write your email address on your check so that we can send you your tax receipt electronically. This cuts down on our overhead and helps save valuable resources, including water!

If you can’t find your receipt, feel free to email us or call the office +1 424 285 0773. We’ll check our records and issue you another.

What is the difference between a program expense and an operational expense?

PROGRAM EXPENSE

We define a program expense in two ways:

1. A direct cost associated with each program
2. A support cost associated with each program

For example, the parts for a home water system–like a cistern or pump–are direct costs. But those parts must be carefully selected, tested, ordered and installed. The time (% of employee’s salary) and resources (% of office use) spent on that process and on growing, documenting and sharing the program are considered a program support cost. Program expenses are covered by your donations.

OPERATIONAL EXPENSE

Operational expenses are costs required to keep us up and running. They include things like operational salaries, fundraising expenses and other costs associated with building and maintaining the organization. Operational expenses are covered by the Water Council.

How does the 100% model work?

100% OF YOUR DONATION FUNDS PROGRAMS THAT CLOSE THE WATER GAP IN THE U.S.

We know that every dollar you invest in our work is hard earned and thoughtfully given, so we commit 100% of every donation to a program to close the Water Gap in the U.S. We maximize the impact of your donation by leveraging gifts from like-minded individuals, foundations and companies to cover important operational expenses. We call this community of people and organizations The Water Council.

To show our gratitude, we offer Water Council members one-on-one updates, field visits and exclusive campaign previews. Want to request an invitation to the Water Council? Email us.

Read more about the difference between a program expense and an operational expense.

Is my donation to DigDeep tax-deductible?

Yes. DigDeep is a 501(c)3 non-profit. Our EIN is 46-0686920. Your gift is tax deductible to the extent permitted by law.

Can I sponsor an entire water project in someone’s memory?

Yes. Just navigate to the sponsorship page and sponsor running water for a family. You will be prompted to share dedication information and one of our team mates will get in touch. When your project is complete, you will receive a specialized report bearing your sponsorship information to share with your network.

Can I give anonymously?

Yes. We’ve provided you an anonymous option on the donate form at digdeep.org/donate. When you give anonymously, only DigDeep will know your name and the project your donation funded. The project report sent to donors will not include your information. For gifts of a certain size, we may be legally required to share the donor's name with the IRS.

Can I donate to honor another person?

We’d be happy to help you honor your friend or family member. We’ve provided you a "gift dedication” option on the form at digdeep.org/donate. When you select this option you may choose to name the person on whose behalf you’re giving.

You can also sponsor an entire water project in someone’s name or memory.

Start a donation here.

Can I make my donation a gift in someone else’s name?

A donation is an incredible gift – both for the recipient community and for the person you’re honoring. We’ve provided you a “gift” option on the donate form at digdeep.org/donate.

When you select this option, you’ll be prompted to provide the name and email address of the intended recipient. When we email you your tax-deductible receipt, we’ll also send along a notification to the person you’re giving for.

Who processes my online donation? Is it secure?

DigDeep processes our donations via PayPal and Stripe – the industry leaders in online payment processing. They’ll ensure that your transaction is not only smooth, but also secure.

The information you share on our website is communicated to these services via a secure link. We do not store your credit cars information on our own servers.

If you’re having trouble making your donation online for any reason, feel free to call us at our LA HQ during regular business hours (PST) +1 424 285 0773, or email us to discuss other ways to give.

I work at this really cool place and I think they would love this. How do I get my office involved?

Lucky you! Corporate fundraising can be a great tool for team-building! There are a few different ways you can make this happen:

Fundraise together. Set a collective goal, track your progress and share your campaign with your networks. You might even challenge another office to a fundraise-off. As with any campaign, 100% of your donation will fund programs that close the Water Gap in the U.S.

Sponsor a water project as a team or business. Sponsorship of a water project means that your team is entirely responsible for a water project in the field. We’ll provide you with a customized completion report including project location, photos, stories and data.

Match your gift. Many corporations have a matching gift program to make their employees’ donations even more powerful. You can select “corporate matching” when making a donation online and search for your company information. You might also ask your Human Resources officer whether your company offers matching gifts.

To begin your campaign, you can mail your company’s matching gift verification letter to:

DigDeep Water
110 W 11th St, Suite 400A
Los Angeles, CA 90015

You may also be able to request a matching gift through your corporate intranet. In this case, your corporation will contact us directly.

What is DigDeep’s address?

We would be happy to take your check or money order. Just drop it in the mail using this address:

DigDeep Right to Water Project
110 W 11th St, Suite 400A
Los Angeles, CA 90015

Your check or money order should be made payable to DigDeep Water.

Please write your email address on the check so we can send your tax receipt electronically. This cuts down on our overhead and helps save valuable resources, including water!

I make recurring gifts to DigDeep. How can I cancel my gift or change my credit card?

Just call our office during regular business hours PST and we’ll be happy to assist you! (424 285 0773). You can also send an email to our giving team

How do I donate to DigDeep?

You can make a donation to our water projects online, by check/money order, or by phone.

ONLINE (recommended): simply visit digdeep.org and use any major credit card by clicking the DONATE button near the top right of the screen. Your donation will be processed in USD, and a tax receipt will be sent to the email address you provide. There is more than one way to donate online. Make your donation a monthly commitment, a gift in someone else’s name, or sponsor an entire project.

CHECK OR MONEY ORDER: If you’d like to send your donation by mail, simply post your check or money order to:

DigDeep Water
110 W 11th St, Suite 400A
Los Angeles, CA 90015

Please make your check payable to DigDeep water. Please write your email address on the check so we can send your tax receipt electronically. This cuts down on our overhead and helps save valuable resources, including water! If your donation is a gift in honor of someone, or a pledge to an online fundraising campaign, please include a note with that information. not send cash.

PHONE: We’d be happy to take your donation via phone, using any major credit card. Simply call us +1 424 285 0773 during regular business hours (PST) with your information.

No matter how you donate, 100% of your donation will fund programs that close the Water Gap in the U.S. You can learn more about our 100% model here. You are also welcome to support our administrative needs. Simply make note of your preference when donating.

There are so many “water charities” out there, why should I donate to DigDeep?

DigDeep is the only WaSH (water, sanitation and hygiene) organization working in the US. We believe that every American has a right to the clean water they need to live a life in dignity, happiness and freedom. If you believe this too, you’re already in the right place.

There are three other great reasons to support our work:

100% model. It’s a new way of giving for a new generation of dedicated non-profits. DigDeep commits to sending every dollar of your donation to programs that close the Water Gap in the U.S. We show the impact of these programs by preparing project reports.

Hands-on approach. DigDeep is not a donation aggregator. We’re involved in each project we fund – in some cases planning and executing the projects

Holism. DigDeep challenges the conditions that cause water poverty by changing the way people think about water. Through education and awareness projects in support of the human right to water, we’re working to combat pollution, over-consumption, disconnection, water conflict, and other related concerns.

I know of a community in need. Can I direct my donation there?

With a few exceptions, we do not allow you to restrict the funds you donate via digdeep.org to a specific project or location – even if we already plan to work there. If you donate to a specific project, like the Navajo Water Project, through those websites, your donation will be used to fund only that work.

If you want to introduce us to a community or family in need, please inform us of the location (GPS and/or address) by email and we’ll ping our project map with the coordinates for future reference.

Please know that 100% of your funds will be used to bring clean water and human rights protection to a community in dire need.

EDUCATION & AWARENESS PROJECTS

I am a teacher. Do you have resources to help me in my classroom?

You might also be interested in the 4Liters Challenge and Curriculum, a series of fun, flexible lessons for a wide range of middle and high-school classrooms.

We’d be happy to discuss your goals as an educator and help you plan something really special. Just send us an email

How can I involve my school in your education work?

Are you a student? The best way to involve your school is through an awareness or fundraising event. Consider visiting classrooms, writing a paper, or using your school club or sports team to raise funds for a clean water project. We’re here to help you plan. Just shoot us an email

Are you a parent or educator? DigDeep believes that water–as it relates to science, world cultures, history economics–should be a key educational focus! Just send us an email and we’ll be happy to discuss your goals and help you plan a social activity, a skype lecture or even a classroom visit. Send an email

You might also be interested in the 4Liters Challenge and Curriculum, a series of fun, flexible lessons for a wide range of middle and high-school classrooms.

What’s one simple way to change the way I think about water myself?

Have you ever measured or limited the amount of water you consume every day? Try something simple, like using the same cup for every water-related task (like cooking, tooth brushing, hand washing and drinking).

Keep a record of how much you use in a typical day, and add a rough estimate for showering and other tasks. Spend some time appreciating how difficult each of life’s simple tasks would become without easy access to water.

Why does DigDeep also plan education and awareness projects?

Providing clean water to those who live without it is an essential step in protecting their human rights. To better strengthen support for the human right to water more generally, however, DigDeep believes we must also change the way people think about water.

Only when all of us–those with and without access to running water–understand the important link between clean water access and human dignity will we avoid future problems like pollution, over-consumption, disconnection, non-access, development failure and conflict. As water stress increases, it’s important that we begin to change both our behavior and our vocabulary.

Finally, we will only achieve legal protection for the human right to water at all levels when we understand and identify with that right’s basic scope and content!

What kind of Education and Awareness projects does DigDeep plan?

Sometimes we take water for granted, so DigDeep designs education and awareness projects like curricular programs, events, publications, brand partnerships, and digital campaigns to help us think differently about water.

The cornerstone of DigDeep’s education work is the 4Liters Challenge and Curriculum.

You can learn more about other education and awareness projects on the Our Work page.

EVENTS

Can DigDeep send materials or staff to my school, event or fundraiser?

If you’re planning an event in LA, and you want us to attend, send us an email and we’ll check the schedule.

If you teach for or attend an LA-based elementary, secondary or college institution, we’d love to speak to your students about the 4Liters Challenge.

If you wish to invite DigDeep Staff to speak at your school or event, send us an email and we’ll check the schedule. Generally, we request that your organization or institution cover travel and housing expenses and fundraise a small honorarium that we will donate toward a water project in your name.

Since DigDeep operates on a 100% model, it’s important to keep our administrative costs low. For this reason, we don’t offer to send our staff or materials to any event outside of the LA area unless we’re compensated.

I’m planning a fundraiser. Can I offer a tax deduction to vendors or supporters who buy something at my event?

DigDeep takes its responsibility as a public charity very seriously, and does not offer third-party tax deductions that we cannot independently verify.

If your guests wish to make tax deductible donations to your campaign at your event, we suggest you keep detailed records of their names and addresses or offer them access to online giving through an internet-ready computer.

Can I host my own event to fundraise for a water project?

Yes! What better way to make a big impact?

Feel free to use any media you find on the site, including the resources we’ve shared here (resources page), like photos, logos, social media banners and backgrounds, etc…

Make sure you know as much about the human right to water as possible before your event so you can explain it to your supporters and guests. Our website is good for that.

Finally have fun with it. This is your chance to engage your friends, family and network in an exciting way. Make sure you event really reflects you.

You can reach out for help by emailing us.

NOTE: DigDeep takes its responsibility as a public charity very seriously, and does not offer third-party tax deductions that we cannot independently verify./dd>

Does DigDeep host events?

Yes. We think events are a great way to convince people to recognize and defend the human right to water! DigDeep plans regular public events in LA, including fundraisers, concerts, dinners and outings. We also plan or co-host other events and fundraisers nation-wide. Sign up for our mailing list on the home page at digdeep.org to stay informed!

THE HUMAN RIGHT TO WATER

How can the human right to water change things for people living in water poverty?

Human rights change perspectives. A human right to water forces all of us to see water poverty as a situation of injustice – not simply misery or misfortune.

Human rights put humans first. A human right to water forces human dignity back to the center of resource management.

Human rights bring us together. They’re one way of recognizing the global moral conscience that manifests itself throughout the philosophies, religions and cultures of the world.

Human rights create ownership. A right to water encourages people to participate in the bodies and processes that govern water access. It also opens these bodies themselves to input and criticism.

Human rights motivate the big guys. Recognition of the human right to water encourages governments to justify their actions as working toward universal water access, making actions that do the opposite shameful.

Human rights encourage local control. They decentralize control over water resources, allowing access to information and genuine decision-making at the local and regional levels.

Human rights prioritize the poor. By recognizing a human right to water, governments recognize their responsibility to first assist the poorest and most marginalized.

Human rights makes sense. The simple act of recognizing a human right to water creates a logical, level playing field from which a discussion of human economics, smart infrastructure and human development may grow.

How does sanitation factor into the human right to water?

Access to adequate sanitation is an important part of the human right to water (in fact, it’s sometimes called the “human right to water and sanitation”). This is because the two are so closely related.

Humans need both clean water and adequate sanitation facilities to live a healthy life in dignity. Without the one, the other is not effective. Unsafe sanitation practices contaminate clean water sources, and hygienic behavior (and therefore effective use of sanitation facilities) is impossible without clean water.

Every DigDeep project includes a sanitation and hygiene focus. Tools and techniques to encourage adequate sanitation and hygiene vary by location. Learn more on our Our Work

What is sanitation? What is hygiene? Is there a difference?

Sanitation is the effective use of tools and actions that keep our environment healthy. These include latrines or toilets to manage waste, food preparation, washing stations, effective drainage and other such mechanisms.

Hygiene is a set of personal practices that contribute to good health. It includes things like hand-washing, bathing and cutting hair/nails. Hand-washing is the single most important activity we can all do to encourage the stop of disease.

The difference is subtle but important. While both sanitation and hygiene are related, we must be taught both effective tools and effective behaviors to protect our health. Imagine how important these can be in places without a toilet or where hand washing has never been learned!

Does the human right to water require that water be provided for free?

No, but water must be always be affordable. For those who cannot afford to pay without jeopardizing some other important right (like the rights to food, housing or health), water must be provided for free. For most people, however, water can be provided for a price or contribution in-kind.

DigDeep’s projects establish a body of community leaders to oversee every water project we construct. Sometimes, these “water councils” charge a nominal amount for the water each family consumes. Water Council funds can be used for loans, community development and well maintenance. Learn more about DigDeep projects on our Our Work page

Should water access be the same for everyone? Is everyone entitled to sinks and flush toilets?

Just as communities differ from place to place, appropriate technologies (like a hand pump well or a flush toilet) differ from place to place. The goal is to start by providing everyone with the basic access they need to protect their health and dignity, and work from there!

DigDeep works to ensure that our projects meet international standards of water availability, acceptability, accessibility, affordability and quality. Beyond those standards, each project is customized to meet local expectations of convenience and comfort.

How much water does the human right protect? Is there enough water in the world to protect this right for everyone?

Every human being requires about 1 gal. (4 liters) of water a day to survive in a moderate climate at an average activity level. We require an additional 13 gal. (50 liters) minimum to meet safe cooking, bathing and sanitation standards.

That means that we require about 5.3 gal. (20 liters) of water every day to survive and live the most basic life. Some people call this the human right’s “minimum core.” This is just a “minimum” because access to 5 gal. of water over the long term still poses significant health risks. To ensure the full enjoyment of the right to water (and the full expression of our dignity and freedom) we generally require about 13-27 gallons (50-100 liters) per person, per day.

There is sufficient water to meet the human rights-based needs of every person in every country in the world–it’s just a matter of distribution within the population. Human rights requires human consumption of basic amounts of water to trump other uses like industry.

Where does the “human right to water” concept come from?

In law, the human right to water is a relatively new concept. Water was not mentioned among other human rights codified after WWII in the 1940s. Water access was only implied in international human rights treaties – probably because diplomats could not imagine the water crisis ahead.

Water access became a greater concern on the international stage in the 1970’s, and there has been a struggle to define the human right to water in law ever since. Though the Human Right to Water and Sanitation has been formally recognized, we’re still a long way from creating effective protection for that right worldwide.

Learn more about DigDeep’s work to defend your human right to water on our Our Work page

How does DigDeep take a Human Rights-Based Approach in its projects?

Each DigDeep project is planned with a Human Rights-Based Approach (HRBA) to development. The differing needs of individuals or communities mean that the specifics differ from place to place. Here are some examples:

1. DigDeep treats water poverty as an injustice. It’s a huge shift in focus. Severe poverty precludes the enjoyment of human dignity and is therefore unjust. The poor don’t receive our help because its “good” to do so (charity), or because they “need” it to grow economically or socially (traditional development) – but because they deserve it by reason of the dignity we all share. HBRA creates a level-playing field between those experiencing poverty and those helping fight it
2. DigDeep treats its recipient communities as stakeholders. We recognize that human dignity gives each of us a unique potential that can only be recognized when we’re empowered to lift ourselves (and our families) out of poverty. Without personal empowerment, efforts to help the suffering are often ineffective.
3. DigDeep provides the poorest and most vulnerable with special attention. Since all people are equal, development should befit us all equally. Internationally, this means a project focuses on areas of extreme poverty and little governmental ability. Within communities, this means additional efforts to address traditional models of marginalization.
4. DigDeep combats discrimination and exclusion. In any community, gender-based and social discrimination can silence certain voices. We all have a right to participate in our own development. Women and the marginalized are always given a democratic voice (often their first) in water decision-making.
5. DigDeep focuses on processes and outcomes. Your donation is important, but we’re especially interested in its ability to (a) educate you about your human right to water and (b) empower others to protect their own rights. Our projects focus on process and outcomes by encouraging:
   • local ownership through community buy-ins
   • social cohesion and gender equity through authentic participation
   • rule-of law through formal governance mechanisms
   • sustainability through community participation
6. DigDeep treats humans holistically. People are civil, political, social, economic and cultural beings. DigDeep projects address water-related issues of education, economic productivity, and cultural tradition.
7. DigDeep engages responsible parties. Over time, DigDeep uses its work with local communities to build a trusting relationship with local and state governments, encouraging the creation of policies that respect rights.
8. DigDeep actively engages a worldwide audience. We build support for everyone’s human right to water through education and awareness programs. We’re all in this together.

What is a Human Rights-Based Approach to development?

A Human Rights-Based Approach to development (HRBA) is a practical framework that integrates human rights and dignity into the plans and processes of development. A HRBA strives to place the human being at the center of decision-making over their community and resources, and it creates or rethinks activities designed to fight poverty.

Conceptually, this means a shift in focus. HRBA focuses not just on poverty, but on the processes that perpetuate it like marginalization, discrimination and exploitation. A lack of access to clean water – for instance – is seen not just as a problem, but an injustice.

Practically, HRBA changes every aspect of a planned activity to fight poverty (including water poverty). DigDeep maximizes the impact of all of or projects using an HRBA. Affected individuals are treated as equal stakeholders, not victims or charity recipients. Efforts are made to protect the rights of the poorest and traditionally marginalized. The community is involved in every aspect of decision-making, creating ownership and responsibility. Mechanisms are created to encourage the development of rule-of-law and processes for complaint or oversight for resource management. Finally, the human person is treated holistically, and efforts are made to address the civil, political, social, economic and cultural roles related to water. Over time the local and state governments are actively engaged.

The stakeholders we work with are not expected to be grateful – they’re expected to be proactive… empowered to protect their own rights and achieve their own development in the future.

What is a human right? What is the human right to water?

Human rights are those rights you enjoy simply by being human. They are universal, inalienable and all fundamentally related. Human rights are also intuitive – they’re the way you instinctively expect to be treated as a person.

More than that, human rights constitute legal requirements. Human rights define the basic nature of the relationship between you and your government. When fully recognized, they are often “enshrined” (or written down) as legal tools used to ensure you are treated in a way that recognizes your fundamental human dignity.

Human rights still exist, however, even when not fully recognized by governments. That’s because they originate in the natural law – a common understanding of what it takes to live a truly free and happy life.

There are many human rights, and the right to water is one of the most vital to health and dignity.

 

What is the human right to water?

Kofi Annan said it best: “access to safe water is a fundamental need and therefore a basic human right.”

The human right to water is a concept that recognizes – first and foremost – that all people require basic access to clean water and sanitation in order to live healthy, dignified lives.

The concept itself is a powerful one.

When we embrace the link between basic water access and human dignity, we begin to rethink the way we use water… challenging pollution, over-consumption, unsustainable use, potential conflict – even transforming the way we help people get access to water for the first time.

DigDeep plans projects that defend the human right to water and create measurable change. We call this the Human Rights Based Approach.

Human rights are most powerful when recognized by the laws that protect and govern us (both domestic and international). That’s because human rights laws define the basic relationship between the stakeholder (that’s you!) and your government.

The human right to water and sanitation exists in international law. In 2010 the United Nations General Assembly (representing every country in the world) unanimously recognized the right to water and sanitation derived from the right to an adequate standard of living (from article 11 of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, a binding treaty). Even before this landmark resolution in 2010, every country in the world had voiced its support for the right to water at least once, through public statement, international declaration, resolution, law or policy. For international law geeks, the basic content of the right to water had been previously outlined in 2001 by the UN organ ECOSOC in its General Comment 15 (GC15).

The human right to water is also recognized and protected in national law. In countries that have signed the ICESCR and enshrined it in national law (like India), in countries that have adopted a constitutional protection for right to water (like Mexico, Uganda and South Africa) or in countries with legislation or policies that explicitly or implicitly support the right (like Sri Lanka, Brazil or France).

DigDeep is working to improve recognition and protection of the human right to water across the U.S. (and the world). It’s an essential step toward defending the right for all people, everywhere. We believe that every human being has a right to the clean water they need to live with dignity. If you believe that too, join us by donating, sharing DigDeep’s works with your network and registering for updates

VOLUNTEER AND INTERN INFORMATION

Can I travel with DigDeep to work on a project?

Trips to the field are costly and put tremendous stress on our partners. They can also be disruptive or uncomfortable for the communities we serve.

Since DigDeep works to protect the human dignity of every person, we’re especially sensitive to the needs and vulnerabilities of stakeholder communities. We try to balance this sensitivity with a desire to connect people with differing experiences of water access. These interactions can be beneficial learning opportunities!

For that reason, DigDeep plans periodic site visits on an “invitation only” basis – a privilege reserved for our Water Council members, visiting experts and groups of people making a major investment in our work.

Can I visit DigDeep’s office?

DigDeep has a permanent office in Los Angeles and field offices near our projects, but our staff spend much of their time on the road. Feel free to tweet (@DigDeepH2O) or email us if you want to meet up!

Does DigDeep have interns?

DigDeep offers a limited Fellowship Program at its LA HQ for current college or graduate students, or recent graduates. Fellowships are different than internships; they’re integrated learning experiences that give participants real-world experience across an operating non-profit. Each Fellowship is tailored to the Fellow’s expertise and interests. Our Fellows don’t get coffee, run errands or make copies.

LA fellowships are unpaid, and all expenses – including travel and housing – are the sole responsibility of the Fellow. Fellows seeking college credit are preferred.

We post periodic Fellowship openings on our social media accounts and to our email list. If you’re interested in applying for a Fellowship with DigDeep, send your cover letter and resume to us by email and put “Intern Request” in the subject line. We’ll be in touch with you to discuss openings!

Can I volunteer for DigDeep?

DigDeep has an incredible group of volunteers who help with media gathering, fundraising, engineering, construction oversight, plumbing, and more. If you have a skill to offer, we would love to have you!

Please reach out to us by email with a quick explanation of your background, interests and availability. We’ll be in touch with you to discuss upcoming projects and see if there’s a fit.

If you’re in LA, we can arrange a time for you to stop by DigDeep HQ.

WATER ACCESS PROJECTS

I heard that DigDeep’s projects sometimes serve people with issues like substance abuse or a criminal record. Is this true?

Every person has a human right to the water we all require to live in dignity. This includes the poorest and most marginalized – even criminals. The right to water for the incarcerated is recognized in the UN Convention on the Treatment of Prisoners, just as similar documents protect water access for women (CEDAW), children (CRC) and prisoners of war (Geneva). DigDeep is proud to lead access projects that serve all people, no matter their character, history or way of life.

Learn more about all of our access projects on the Our Work page

How long does a DigDeep water project last?

The human right to water requires that every person always have access to clean water. That’s why every access project DigDeep funds – with the exception of emergency water programs – is designed to be sustainable.

In the end we have no way of guaranteeing that a water project will last forever. That responsibility belongs to the communities we serve! If they run into a snag, DigDeep and our partners are here to help.

Who owns a water project once it’s completed?

DigDeep projects are generally locally-owned and community-run — built on community land with direct public participation in every level of decision-making, both before and after construction.

Occasionally, DigDeep and our partners construct projects on the grounds of schools, churches, clinics or other community/charitable organizations. In these cases, projects fall under the administration of the operating entity, which has committed to actively engaging the local community.

In some cases DigDeep installs equipment in private homes. In these cases, the equipment is owned and maintained by the homeowner, who actively participates in building the project and is trained to care for it.

Who supplies the material for DigDeep’s water projects?

Materials vary tremendously by location, partner and project. DigDeep sources materials from a number of vendors with whom we have negotiated favorable terms and even sponsorships. Sometimes DigDeep works with local businesses (like well drillers) who procure their own supplies.

Most DigDeep projects also require a community buy-in: some material contribution from the local community hosting the water project. This often includes a contribution of in kind supplies like bricks, aggregate, sand and gravel or participation in light construction work. Sometimes the contribution is monetary, a portion of the project cost. Each community buy-in is determined jointly by DigDeep and our local partners and is based on the situation of the community in question.

How does DigDeep choose a project or location?

With 2.2+ million Americans lacking a safe source of clean, running water and basic plumbing, there are far more communities in need than DigDeep has the resources to serve.

DigDeep has a dedicated staff of human rights and project development professionals that vet projects with the help of our partner organizations. Although it’s a complicated process, there are three basic criteria:

First, we have to ensure that the community can be reached by either DigDeep staff or a trusted local partner. Second, we must have the capacity to execute the project in a responsible and sustainable way. Finally, the stakeholder community must demonstrate ownership of the project and its willingness to manage of the new water source when we’re finished.

You can see all of the regions in which we’re currently working by visiting our Our Work page

How does DigDeep select a partner organization?

DigDeep does not accept solicitations or recommendations for new partnerships. Each of our partnerships is carefully initiated through in-house and field research utilizing expert knowledge and publicly-available data (including charitable accountability ratings). We build on this work through site visits, project audits and frequent communication.

Does DigDeep build the projects it funds?

For every project, DigDeep is actively involved in project planning and implementation, including post-construction monitoring. Our incredible staff and advisory board keep themselves at the cutting-edge of water management strategy and technology.

When we build relationships with local partners or contractors, we look for expertise, experience and a long-term commitment to the communities we serve. It’s a time and capital-intensive process formalized by a special agreement called an MOU (Memorandum of Understanding).

When DigDeep plans a local project, every effort is made to source all the necessary work (ex. well drilling) from within the affected community in support of the local economy. DigDeep considers each of our projects an “investment” not only in human rights, but also in local development. Each project empowers local stakeholders to defend their own rights… as decision-makers, maintenance-trainees, construction specialists or community spokesmen (to name a few roles).

What goes into a water project exactly?

A lot of time and effort – and great concern for each and every human person we serve. Each water project is unique, but here are some factors to consider:

Construction and Equipment. The bulk of funds cover construction costs (like drilling or excavating), equipment costs (like pumps, tools, etc…) and costs related to water trucking and the exploration and engineering of water access points.

Labor. Covers salaries and benefits for our local water techs, project managers and contractors. Sometimes this includes bonuses or a staff celebration.

Partner Costs. Project partners like local government or community-based organizations generally cover their own costs related to a project, but we may help from time-to-time with gap support or a big purchase.

Program Support Costs. The time (as a % of employee’s salary) and resources (as a % of office use) spent on the program. Program Support Costs include housing, meals and travel for multi-site crew, volunteer trips, site visits for partnership or community-building, conferences, meetings with local leaders, regulatory agencies, and research costs.

Sanitation Training. Part hardware and part software. In addition to investing time and equipment into bathrooms, hand washing stations and other sanitation measures, DIGDEEP gives local communities the training they need to ensure that their water source will stay clean and protected for generations.

Hygiene Training. Access to water can cut disease rates by about 20%. When combined with adequate sanitation facilities and basic hygiene education, however, that number can more than double. Hygiene is about avoiding disease by changing behavior – including body cleanliness, hand washing, and food cleaning / storage.

Human Rights Work. Communities are empowered to claim and protect their rights in the future. Our activities help create basic mechanisms for rule of law (like water councils) and build awareness around location-specific human rights-based entitlements.

Information Collection and Reporting. Whether the data is coming from partners, DigDeep staff or independent photographers, videographers and journalists, this covers the time and equipment used to report on a water project to its supporters and the public.

Monitoring and Maintenance. Covers the cost of equipping a community to care for their own water source. Generally, long-term maintenance costs are borne by the local community, but occasionally some funds are used to re-visit project sites or assist communities with repairs that they are unable to cover themselves.

Program funds are not used for fundraising or for operational expenses like operational salaries, fundraising expenses, web development, and other costs associated with building and maintaining the organization.

How much does a well cost?

DigDeep plans and executes a number of water projects, not just wells. Costs can vary greatly depending on technology, geographical location, local infrastructure and national regulations.

The estimated cost of a project includes research and permitting, construction, labor, follow-up and sanitation, hygiene and human rights training. Local communities always help bear part of this cost, either through cash or in-kind contributions.

DigDeep reports the cost of some individual water projects in project reports. See a sample report

When is water considered “clean”?

The Human right to water entitles every person to available, safe, acceptable and accessible water for personal and domestic use. “Accessible” water must also be affordable (if paid for).

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), safe drinking water is free from micro-organisms, chemical substances and radiological hazards that constitute a threat to a person’s health.

Standards for each of these potential contaminants are held and updated by several international bodies, as well as many national governments, including the US EPA Clean and Safe Drinking Water Act Standards. DigDeep and its partners always test the water provided by our projects and ensure we meet these standards.

Who typically benefits from a DigDeep project?

DigDeep water projects are designed to give an improved source of water to those living in water poverty. Every person’s experience of water poverty is unique, but generally our clients live off of just a few gallons or less of water each day, often consume contaminated water, and must travel long distances to collect water. They also experience water and sanitation-related impacts to their health, education, family life and happiness. Together, all of these factors impact their ability to live with dignity.

You can find more information – including personal stories – on the Our Work

I believe every American has a human right to clean, running water.

I believe in an America where every family can clean their hands, bodies and homes.

I believe American families shouldn’t have to choose between buying clean water or putting food on the table.

I believe that tribal nations, rural communities and people of color deserve running water.

I believe young Americans shouldn’t have to drive to truck stops to use the bathroom or take a shower