DigDeep Founder George McGraw Announces Departure
George McGraw, the founder and CEO of the social impact organization DigDeep, has announced he will be departing the organization in 2026. DigDeep focuses on providing access to water and sanitation in the United States. The leadership transition highlights the challenges of founder succession as mission-driven organizations scale.
- Under McGraw's leadership, DigDeep co-authored the 2019 report "Closing the Water Access Gap in the United States," which revealed that over 2.2 million Americans live without running water or a toilet at home. Race is the single greatest predictor of water insecurity. - The organization's projects include the Navajo Water Project, which has delivered an estimated 1.54 million gallons of water, and the Appalachia Water Project, which has provided 90 families with piped water access since 2020. - A subsequent 2022 report led by McGraw, "Draining: The Economic Impact of America's Hidden Water Crisis," calculated that the water access gap costs the U.S. economy $8.58 billion each year. - The organization's Board of Directors has hired the executive search firm On-Ramps to lead the search for the next CEO. McGraw will remain in his role through May 2026 to support the leadership transition. - In addition to his role at DigDeep, McGraw was appointed by Mayor Karen Bass to serve as a commissioner for the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power for a term ending in June 2025. - The organization has been building out its leadership team in recent years, including the appointment of Anne-Marie Jones as President and Chief Operations Officer. - Founder transitions in the nonprofit sector are notoriously challenging, with studies showing that only 27% of nonprofit organizations have a written succession plan in place.
