About Us
Mission
At Fundamental Needs, we partner with underserved communities in the United States to address critical gaps in access to clean drinking water, electricity, education, and vocational opportunities. By combining community-led approaches with practical solutions, we empower individuals and families to overcome systemic barriers and create lasting change.
Our Story
Fundamental Needs was founded in 2020 with a simple but urgent mission: to show up for communities that have been overlooked, and to meet people where they are, not with preconceived solutions, but with the tools, resources, and respect each community actually needs.
It started in the Four Corners region, where the founders of Fundamental Needs had witnessed firsthand the conditions faced by families on the Navajo Reservation. Homes were without running water, without reliable heat, without consistent access to food. The response was the Oasis Project, which installs off-grid water systems for households on the Navajo Reservation that lack access to clean running water. To date, over 220+ systems have been installed, and the project has gone further by teaching, training, and hiring local high school students to build and install those systems themselves, turning infrastructure work into a pathway for youth development and economic opportunity.
From there, the work grew. Food delivery, firewear distribution, firewood transport, and the planting of apple trees in the Rock Point, AZ area all followed. But the thread connecting everything was the same: find the need, find the people, and build something that lasts.
That same philosophy led to the launch of the Youth Entrepreneurship Program in Cortez, CO, and eventually, to the Cortez Makerspace. The idea for the Makerspace was sparked by a student in the entrepreneurship program at Southwest Open School, whose vision for what a community space could be helped bring it to life. Today, the Makerspace serves over 200 members, hosts workshops, and is growing every month.
Fundamental Needs continues to operate from the Four Corners — Colorado, Utah, Arizona, and New Mexico — and serves communities wherever the need exists.
The Problem
Across the Navajo Nation and rural Colorado, including Montezuma County and the Ute Mountain Ute Reservation, families face intertwined challenges that significantly impact their health, education, and economic opportunities.
The Navajo Nation
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Water Crisis:
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Over 30% of homes lack running water, forcing families to haul water from agricultural wells or chapter houses. This task takes up to four hours daily and costs between $10–15 per day, placing a financial burden on families already living in poverty.
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Many homes are excluded from infrastructure development due to the Navajo Nation's homesite lease system, which designates land for residents but can delay or prevent access to utilities.
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Limited water access exacerbates hygiene challenges, increasing risks of waterborne illnesses and limiting sanitation practices during crises like the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Electricity Deficiency:
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14,000 homes—representing 75% of all U.S. households without power—are located on the Navajo Nation.
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Youth Disadvantage:
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Less than 70% of Navajo (Diné) students graduate high school, and 40% of children live in poverty. These systemic inequities reduce opportunities for future economic mobility.
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Rural Colorado (Montezuma County and Ute Mountain Ute Reservation)
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Economic Disparities:
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Montezuma County: The median household income is $50,805, significantly below the Colorado average of $72,331. The poverty rate is 16.3%.
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Ute Mountain Ute Reservation: Estimated poverty rate of 27%, with limited infrastructure and opportunities for economic advancement.
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Educational Challenges:
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At Southwest Open High School (SWOS), 73% of students are economically disadvantaged, and only 10% are proficient in math and reading.
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Job Growth and Opportunities:
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Both regions face stagnant job growth, with limited access to vocational training, technology, and entrepreneurial resources.
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The Solution
The Oasis Project
The Oasis Project builds off-grid water systems on the Navajo Reservation, via an after school work program where we teach, train, and hire high school students to do the work. Local youth gain hands-on experience while helping bring long-term infrastructure to their own communities.
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Infrastructure Solutions:
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Install off-grid systems combining 2,000-watt-hour battery banks and 500-watt solar panels with 550-gallon water tanks, solar-powered pumps, tankless water heaters, and greywater gardens. These off-grid water systems provide consistent access to clean water and electricity for homes without infrastructure access.
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Deliver water to 30 elders monthly, ensuring consistent access for the most vulnerable.
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Vocational Training and Employment:
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The Oasis Project operates on a teach/train/hire model, empowering high school students through education and employment:
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Teach: Equip students with foundational knowledge in plumbing, solar installation, and water system maintenance.
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Train: Provide hands-on training where students actively participate in the installation of water and solar systems in their communities.
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Hire: Employ trained students for paid positions within the project, ensuring continued skill development and providing income opportunities.
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In 2024, 15 students from Rock Point Community High School and 8 students from Kirtland Central High School were trained and hired to assist with installations.
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Certificate Programs (coming in 2025):
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Partnering with Fort Lewis College, we will offer certifications that provide students and community members with industry-recognized credentials:
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NABCEP PV Associates credential for solar energy.
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Water certifications covering filtration, purification, and maintenance.
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Micro-credentials in water/wastewater operations and management.
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Scalable Expansion:
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Collaborate with local Chapter Houses to identify homes most in need and streamline deployment.
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Partnering with local high schools, a comprehensive instruction manual, and a streamlined process enables us to rapidly scale to new communities as funding becomes available.
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Meet the Team
Jonathan Walck
Board member
Joe Ramos
Board member
Timberlin Henderson
Board member
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