• DFI Europe
  • DFI India
  • DFI Trust

About DFI

Mission Statement

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.

Vision Statement

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

Strategic Plan

Deep Foundations Institute (DFI) has developed a 5-year strategic plan to strengthen and improve the DFI community through raising awareness of DFI’s value proposition, improving the DFI member and event experiences and improving technical committee efficiency and broader dissemination of deliverables.

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.

DFI Board

A president is elected each year by the DFI Board of Trustees to preside over the Board of Trustees.  His biography and information on his expertise in the field of deep foundations are provided here.

DFI Staff

DFI is led by an executive director and has a dedicated staff of professionals who plan, organize and execute the ongoing activities of the association and carry out the strategic plan developed by the board of trustees.

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.

DFI By-Laws

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

About DFI – Finding Common Ground®

As an international membership association, Deep Foundations Institute®, incorporated in 1976, gathers worldwide geotechnical professionals involved in the design and construction of deep foundations and excavations.

Our community is comprised of project owners, general and specialty contractors, engineers, manufacturers, suppliers, educators and students.

This multidisciplinary membership creates a consensus voice and a common vision for continual improvement in the planning, design and construction of projects with complex geotechnical conditions.

Our 4,000 plus worldwide members are provided a forum for networking, education, communication and collaboration.  Through their combined expertise we promote the advancement of the deep foundations industry through technical committee activities, educational programs and conferences, publication of guides and specifications, a peer-reviewed journal, a flagship magazine, funded research, government relations and outreach.

Member Diversity

In addition to an inclusive membership of all professionals involved in a deep foundations project from beginning to end, these specialists hail from six continents and seventy-five countries.  Their shared perspectives and varying experience levels provide a community environment that promotes mentoring and knowledge exchange.

Contact us

How can we help? View a list of DFI staff contacts who can answer your questions about membership, upcoming events, publications, committees, sponsor/advertising opportunities and more. We are here to assist in any way possible.