What Big Water Consulting does

Big Water Consulting is a privately-held, Seattle-based boutique consulting firm founded in 2011 that provides professional services to tribes, Indigenous communities, foundations, philanthropic organizations, and state and federal agencies. Its core offerings span five integrated service lines: Primary Data Collection (household surveys, housing unit mapping, intercept surveys, key informant interviews), Research and Analysis (needs assessments, market studies, existing-data analysis), Data Sharing (data clearinghouse development and stewardship), Planning and Evaluation (strategic planning and program evaluation, including a differentiated "integrated planning" framework that connects housing, transit, broadband, behavioral health, and education), and Capacity Building (GIS training, IHBG formula training, Census methodology training). The firm also delivers specialty services in Tribal Data Sovereignty consulting and HUD IHBG Census Challenges — preparing tribally-administered census data that can replace U.S. Census counts in IHBG funding allocations under NAHASDA.

The firm's underlying capability stack is methodological rather than software-based. It combines GIS and spatial analysis, mixed-methods social science research (survey design, focus groups, key informant interviews), statistical analysis, and data visualization to produce high-quality primary data — historically achieving 95%+ survey response rates across dozens of tribal engagements. Web-based GIS dashboards and APIs are used for real-time census-outreach tracking. The firm has delivered outcomes including the Tohono O'odham Nation census challenge (which erased anticipated HUD funding losses and supported a $2.5M/year tribal housing commitment), formation of regional housing needs coalitions on the Flathead Reservation, and foundational research for the U.S. Treasury CDFI Fund's New Markets Tax Credit Native Initiative.

Commercially, Big Water operates a project-based professional services model. Engagements are scoped individually and quoted, with billing on multi-year contract cadences. Revenue is funded through tribal allocations, HUD grants, CDFI Fund contracts, state governments (e.g., Washington State Department of Commerce), foundations, and nonprofit clients. Go-to-market is relationship-driven — referrals through the Indigenous Economic Development Community of Practice (CoP, 1,100+ members co-managed by Big Water), partner organizations (Urban Institute, Enterprise Community Partners, NAIHC, NWIHA), conference presence (NAIHC, NADO, Housing Washington), and repeat tribal clients. The firm is wholly owned by Managing Director Kevin Klingbeil, supported by a small team of Research Associates.

Name

Big Water Consulting

Legal name

Big Water Consulting

Website

https://bigwaterconsulting.net

Company type

Private

Founded year

2011

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Big Water Consulting is a Seattle-based boutique consultancy (founded 2011) that helps tribes, Indigenous communities, foundations, and government agencies with primary data collection, GIS mapping, needs assessments, tribal data sovereignty, and HUD IHBG Census Challenge methodology. The firm serves clients across multiple U.S. regions through grant- and contract-funded professional services engagements.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Seattle

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Consulting and Technical Assistance Services: Fee-for-service consulting engagements with tribal governments, housing authorities, nonprofits, and government agencies. Projects are typically grant-funded or funded through tribal allocations. Engagement types include needs assessments, housing studies, census and data collection, GIS mapping, strategic planning, and program evaluation.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Big Water Consulting is a professional services firm that helps tribes and Indigenous communities build relationships with data and exercise sovereignty over how it is collected, governed, and shared. The firm delivers primary data collection, research and analysis, data sharing infrastructure, planning and evaluation, and capacity building services to tribal governments, tribal housing authorities, foundations, and government agencies across the United States.

Product overview

Big Water Consulting is a consulting firm offering professional services to tribal, governmental, and nonprofit entities. The firm does not offer a single software product but provides a portfolio of interconnected consulting service lines: Primary Data Collection (housing unit mapping, household surveys, intercept surveys, key informant interviews), Research and Analysis (existing and newly collected data analysis, market studies, needs assessments), Data Sharing (clearinghouse development), Planning and Evaluation (strategic planning, program evaluation), and Capacity Building (GIS training, technical training). These services support tribal data sovereignty, housing needs assessment, census challenges, and comprehensive community economic development.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Primary Data Collection Services Comprehensive data collection services including housing unit mapping, housing unit condition assessments, household surveys, intercept surveys, targeted sampling, and key informant interviews for tribal communities and government clients.
• Research and Analysis Services Analysis of existing data from federal, state, local, tribal, and private sources; analysis of newly collected survey data; market studies; and comprehensive needs assessments to support programmatic goals and decision-making.
• Data Sharing Services Data clearinghouse development including technical and institutional infrastructure for responsible data sharing, database creation, data steward support, user privileges and security protocols.
• Planning and Evaluation Services Strategic planning services integrating indicators of need, interest, awareness, and progress into decision-making and plan development; program evaluation including designing indicators of program effectiveness.
• Capacity Building Services GIS capacity building including mapping and software solutions, workflow development, and staff skill improvement; targeted technical training on Indian Housing Block Grant formula, Point-in-Time counts, Census methodology, and tribal data collection.
• Tribal Data Sovereignty Consulting Helping tribes build capacity to evaluate, collect, own, manage, analyze, and meaningfully use data as a foundation for informed decision-making and tribal data sovereignty implementation.
• Housing Needs Assessment Services Comprehensive housing needs assessments including household surveys, housing unit mapping, focus groups, key informant interviews, and data analysis to identify housing conditions and needs for tribal communities.
• Census Challenge Services Assisting tribes in challenging U.S. Census data used to determine Indian Housing Block Grant (IHBG) formula allocations through tribally-collected data to secure increased federal funding.
• Tribal Economic Development Planning Comprehensive planning services for tribal communities including economic development planning, program coordination, and strategic alignment of investments with community priorities.

Quantifiable outcome

• Tohono O'odham Nation Census Challenge: erased anticipated HUD IHBG funding losses; secured $2.5M/year in tribal gaming revenue commitment to housing for 5+ years
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers12 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

20 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Urban InstitutecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated on the Washington Statewide Native Housing Needs Assessment (2020-2021). Urban Institute's Nancy Pindus served as co-project coordinator alongside Big Water's Kevin Klingbeil. Contributed expertise in housing policy research and data analysis.
• AkanacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated on the Washington Statewide Native Housing Needs Assessment as part of the three-firm partnership (Big Water Consulting, Urban Institute, Akana). Akana provided specialized expertise in the engagement.
• U.S. Department of the Treasury CDFI FundcoreOthersClient and program administrator for the New Markets Tax Credit (NMTC) Native Initiative. Big Water produced the Market Research Report, Case Study Report, and Self-Assessment Guide for NMTC investments in tribal areas.
• National American Indian Housing Council (NAIHC)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerNAIHC serves as the Community Compass TA Provider administering HUD Office of Native American Programs training and technical assistance. Big Water collaborated with NAIHC on the meth contamination study and regularly presents at NAIHC Annual Conventions and Legal Symposia.
• Northwest Indian Housing Association (NWIHA)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerCollaborated on the Washington Statewide Native Housing Needs Assessment. NWIHA hosted presentations of preliminary findings at their fall conferences and served on the stakeholder group.
• Seven Sisters Community Development GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated with Big Water on multiple projects including the Salish & Kootenai Housing Authority meth contamination study and the Big Valley Rancheria Community Needs Assessment. Seven Sisters provides community development consulting.
• Enterprise Community PartnerscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFunded and partnered on multiple tribal housing needs assessment projects including Red Cliff Housing Needs Assessment, Big Valley Rancheria, and SDNHC Veterans Study. Provides capital, expertise, and programmatic support for affordable housing in tribal communities.
• Lakota FundscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommissioned Big Water for South Dakota Native Homeownership Coalition housing studies and veterans studies. A Native CDFI providing financial services and economic development support on the Pine Ridge and Rosebud reservations.
• United Way of King CountycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCore partner in the 2020 Census Outreach and Education coalition for King County and Washington State. Big Water provided GIS mapping dashboards and technical assistance to United Way tax preparation/benefits navigator volunteers.
• MASS Design Group (Sustainable Native Communities Design Lab)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered on the Big Valley Rancheria Community Needs Assessment and permanent supportive housing development in collaboration with Muckleshoot Housing Authority. MASS Design is a Native-owned architecture firm providing sustainable community design.
• NeighborWorks AmericaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner and funder on the South Dakota Native Homeownership Coalition Veterans Housing Needs Study. Part of the SDNHC coalition supporting Native homeownership across South Dakota.
• South Dakota Housing Development AuthorityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner on the South Dakota Native Homeownership Coalition Veterans Housing Needs Study. State housing finance agency supporting Native housing development in South Dakota.
• BeauxSimone ConsultingcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered on the Muckleshoot Community Needs Assessment and permanent supportive housing development. Also served on the Washington Statewide Native Housing Needs Assessment Advisory Group.
• RTHawk Housing AlliancecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner on the Muckleshoot permanent supportive housing project. Also served on the Washington Statewide Native Housing Needs Assessment Advisory Group.
• Haskell Indian Nations UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization within the Indigenous Economic Development Community of Practice (CoP) network. Contributes to the knowledge-sharing platform for tribal economic development.
• Native Community CapitalminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner stakeholder in the Washington Statewide Native Housing Needs Assessment. A Native CDFI supporting tribal housing and community development.
• Affiliated Tribes of Northwest Indians (ATNI)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAdvisory group member for the Washington Statewide Native Housing Needs Assessment. Regional tribal organization serving Northwest tribes.
• Washington State Department of CommercecoreOthersClient for the Assessment of the Housing Needs of American Indians, Alaska Natives and Native Hawaiians in Washington State (2019-2021). Funded and directed the statewide Native housing needs study.
• Washington Census AllianceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCore partner in the 2020 Census Outreach and Education coalition for Washington State. Coalition member organization supporting census participation in underserved communities.
• Na'ah Illahee FundminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCore partner in the 2020 Census Outreach and Education coalition for Washington State. Organization focused on Indigenous women's leadership and community engagement.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Seven Sisters Community Development Group: Native-women-owned community development consulting firm that has partnered directly with Big Water on the Salish & Kootenai meth contamination study and the Big Valley Rancheria Community Needs Assessment. Comparable in size, mission, and tribal client base.
• Akana: Native-owned consulting firm that co-delivered the Washington Statewide Native Housing Needs Assessment alongside Big Water. Operates in a closely adjacent niche in tribal governance, economic development, and policy consulting.
• BeauxSimone Consulting: Small Native-affiliated consulting firm that partnered with Big Water on the Muckleshoot Community Needs Assessment and served together on the Washington Statewide assessment advisory group. Comparable scope in tribal community planning and housing studies.
• MASS Design Group (Sustainable Native Communities Design Lab): Native-owned architecture and community design firm that partnered with Big Water on the Big Valley Rancheria and Muckleshoot projects. Comparable client base (tribes/TDHEs) with overlapping expertise in housing planning, though focused on physical design rather than data and planning.

Others

• National American Indian Housing Council (NAIHC): The principal national membership and technical assistance organization for tribal housing. NAIHC is more of an ecosystem partner than a direct competitor, but its HUD-funded training and technical assistance function overlaps with parts of Big Water's capacity-building services.

Emerging players

• Urban Institute: Major policy research organization that co-led the Washington Statewide Native Housing Needs Assessment with Big Water. Operates at larger scale with broader research mandate, but its tribal housing and community development practice directly competes on specific federal/state studies.
• RTHawk Housing Alliance: Tribal-aligned housing organization that partnered with Big Water on the Muckleshoot permanent supportive housing project. Comparable in tribal focus and small scale, with overlapping interest in tribal housing planning and development.

Broad incumbents

• Enterprise Community Partners: National affordable housing nonprofit that funds and partners with Big Water on tribal housing needs assessments. Much larger and broader in scope; competes for tribal housing advisory work and brings substantial capital, programmatic, and policy resources.
• NeighborWorks America: Congressionally chartered national housing intermediary that partners with Big Water on the SDNHC Veterans Study. Broad incumbent in affordable housing with tribal-facing programs; comparable in mission but vastly larger in scale and budget.

Regional players

• Lakota Funds: Native CDFI on Pine Ridge and Rosebud reservations that commissions Big Water for the SDNHOC housing and veterans studies. Operates regionally in South Dakota but is adjacent rather than directly competitive — financial services and capital rather than consulting.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/bigwaterlive

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Big Water Consulting