About DFI

The Deep Foundations Institute (DFI) is an international association of contractors, engineers, manufacturers, suppliers, academics and owners in the deep foundations industry.

Meet the DFI Board ➤
DFI's Home Team ➤
Contact Us ➤

Who We Are

DFI is an international association whose members are geoprofessionals involved in the design and construction of deep foundations, excavations and tunneling. These project owners, general and specialty contractors, consulting and design engineers, equipment and material manufacturers and suppliers, educators and students gather at conferences, seminars and in committee meetings to network, educate, communicate and collaborate. In these forums they work together to share knowledge and improve the design and construction of projects with complex geotechncial conditions.

DFI's Mission​

To bring together multidisciplined individuals and organizations to find common ground and create a shared vision and a consensus voice for continual advancement in the deep foundations industry.

DFI's Vision​

To be the global forum for sharing and advancing practical geotechnical design and construction.

Strategic Plan

Strategic Plan 2020-2024: Strengthen and Improve the DFI Community

Four Main Strategic Goals were identified and developed by the combined Board of Trustees (BOT) and Committee Chairs which build upon the two pillars of DFI success: our connected membership and our consensus voice.

1. Raise Awareness of DFI’s value proposition.
  1. Senior DFI members serve as ambassadors to communicate the value of DFI’s offerings and content through collaboration with related industry organizations and public agencies.
  2. Technical and Industry-based committees identify target entities and recruit ambassadors.
  3. Ambassadors provide corporate business presentations and include information on DFI’s content and the expertise members can contribute to their projects and goals.
  4. Ambassadors present technical/case history presentations at events of related organization or write articles for publications of related organizations to enlighten the attendees/readers and attract interest.
  5. Design improved DFI member access interface on a redesigned website and new association mobile app which include enhanced committee web pages and content search tools to engage related organization members.
2. Improve DFI member experience.
  1. Increase and expand social media presence to reach more students and young professional members.
  2. Link social media platforms with association management software and website to increase engagement of all members through delivery of DFI content, news and industry updates.
  3. Create a DFI mentorship program to connect young entry-level members with senior members.
  4. Use the association app to match mentors and mentees and keep all members informed of educational opportunities and association activities and provide ability for easy communication.
3. Improve DFI event experiences and interactive activities.
  1. Build an improved event App that incorporates a variety of new features such as:
    • Session-based references with direct links to additional DFI content.
    • Links for mentors and mentees.
    • Question and moderator access tools.
    • Links to social media for outward communication, social function information, & photo sharing platform.
  2. Ease of registration, flex rates, group passes, affordable remote attendance:
    • Online and on App registration to avoid lines.
    • Event group passes for sharing at a Company / Organization.
    • Affordable remote live access featuring selected content (keynotes, Hal Hunt, WiDF, top ten papers as selected by organizing committee) presented with PPT slides and live video feed worldwide.
  3. Moderator training:
    • Moderator training sessions ahead of conferences to instruct moderators in speaker control, basic IT/video systems, App interaction, question vetting and prioritization, damage control statements when speakers make inappropriate statements.
4. Improve technical committee efficiency and broader dissemination of deliverables.
  1. Build committee-controlled web pages that showcase committee driven content, features, initiatives, advertising and direct links to content under multiple areas of interest.
  2. Build committee-based virtual space for meeting, communicating, working and transferring information, 24/7 from anywhere in the world.
  3. Develop new industry-based committees.

DFI History

Deep Foundations Institute (DFI) was incorporated as a 501(c)6 association in January 1976. It was founded by Jack Dougherty and Hal Hunt during the “Pile Talk” seminars and became a multidisciplinary worldwide membership organization.  After forty years the organization has grown from 70 charter members to over 4,000 industry professionals.

timeline collage of DFI from 1975 - 1985
timeline collage of DFI from 1985 - 1995
timeline collage of DFI from 1995 - 2005
timeline collage of DFI from 2005 - 2015

Dig Deeper

Learn more about how DFI is helping to promote growth and advancement for the deep foundations industry through its community of members.

Merchandise Store

DFI Merchandise is now available! Show your participation in the DFI community with cool apparel and accessories sporting the DFI logo.

Check it Out ➤

DFI By-Laws

Download the most recent version of the DFI By-Laws as amended through May 2021.

Download PDF ➤

DFI Educational Trust

The Deep Foundations Institute Educational Trust is the charitable arm of DFI, established to support and encourage individuals in the fields of study related to the deep foundations industry through scholarships, grants and opportunities to meet and work with deep foundations industry leaders.

Learn More ➤
Scroll to Top