Kapwa Consulting

What Kapwa Consulting does

Kapwa Consulting is a privately held boutique consulting firm founded in 2017 in Portland, Oregon, by Desirée Williams-Rajee. The firm provides equity strategy and organizational innovation services to government agencies, nonprofit organizations, and national movement networks working at the intersection of racial equity and environmental sustainability. Its core offering is project-based professional services rather than software: engagements produce equity frameworks, strategic organizational assessments, and capacity-building programs, exemplified by the AfroEcology Framework (developed with Imagine Black and Africa House), the Prosper Portland Equity Framework, the Voz Environmental Justice Framework, and The Currents Project national collaborative.

The underlying technology is methodological rather than software-based, comprising proprietary equity frameworks codified through authentic community-engagement processes and the founder's 25+ years of cross-sector experience. Notably, the founder served as the nation's first Equity Program Manager at the City of Portland Bureau of Planning and Sustainability, and has received multiple national recognitions including an Obama White House honor (2016) and a Grist Fixer designation (2020), which the firm leverages for thought leadership.

Kapwa Consulting operates a sales-led go-to-market model built on founder reputation, published case studies and reports, and referrals within the equity and sustainability ecosystem. Revenue is generated through project-based consulting contracts with government agencies, nonprofits, and mission-driven organizations, primarily in the Pacific Northwest and at the national level. The core team is approximately four people (founder, executive assistant, a design-strategy collaborator, and marketing/design support), and the firm maintains no disclosed funding, parent company, or external investors.

Name

Kapwa Consulting

Legal name

Kapwa Consulting

Website

https://kapwaconsulting.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2017

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Kapwa Consulting is a Portland-based boutique consulting firm founded in 2017 that provides equity strategy and organizational innovation services to government agencies, nonprofits, and national movement networks at the intersection of racial equity and environmental sustainability.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Management Consulting — Equity Strategy & Organizational Innovation

NAICS

Management Consulting Services (54161), Other Management Consulting Services (541618)

SIC

Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)

akta.pro primary industry

Public Sector & Policy Consulting (BPAHACAN)

akta.pro secondary industry

Operations & Process Improvement Consulting (BPAHACAB)

Keywords

• Equity strategy consulting
• Organizational transformation services
• Climate justice advisory
• Equity framework development
• Government equity consulting

Headquarters

HQ city

Portland

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Equity Strategy Consulting: Consulting engagements with organizations to develop equity frameworks, strategic organizational assessments, and capacity building programs. Revenue is generated through project-based consulting contracts with government agencies, nonprofits, and mission-driven organizations.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Kapwa Consulting is a boutique equity strategy and organizational innovation consulting firm that helps government agencies, nonprofits, and mission-driven organizations integrate equity into planning, climate action, and public administration. Engagements center on strategic organizational assessments, equity framework development, and capacity building, delivered through proprietary methodologies such as the AfroEcology Framework, the Prosper Portland Equity Framework, the Voz Environmental Justice Framework, and The Currents Project Framework. The firm also participates in national collaborative projects such as the Justice40 Capacity Building Fund, the ACCC Equity Capacity Building Fund, and Sounding the Call.

Product overview

Kapwa Consulting is a consulting firm offering equity strategy and organizational innovation services for a socially just, sustainable world. Their portfolio consists of consulting services and innovation projects including: Sounding the Call (a practitioner collaboration for climate equity), The Currents Project (a national effort for racially just climate action), the Justice40 Capacity Building Fund (supporting community-government partnerships for federal climate investments), the ACCC Equity Capacity Building Fund (helping cities integrate equity), and the AfroEcology Framework (an African Diasporic environmental framework). They also produce published reports including the Prosper Portland Equity Framework, Voz Environmental Justice Framework, and Portland Climate Action Plan Through Equity. These offerings work together to help organizations change systems and transform organizations for shared prosperity and a sustainable future.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Sounding the Call An aligned collaboration of practitioners within the national movement ecosystem who hold various roles that build capacity and relationships between government and community to take action on climate equity and climate justice.
• The Currents Project A national collaborative effort that aims to develop place-based pilot projects which ultimately will transform economic, cultural, and political power to accelerate the transformation required to act on and create racially just climate action.
• Justice40 Capacity Building Fund A fund supporting community-based organizations to engage and partner with their local government to advance community-led projects that align with the Justice40 Initiative, aiming to deliver 40% of the overall benefits of federal investment to disadvantaged communities.
• ACCC Equity Capacity Building Fund A fund designed to help city staff and community groups meaningfully and intentionally collaborate on equitable initiatives by securing capacity building support to move work forward.
• AfroEcology Framework A framework developed through a community dialogue series that aims to name a uniquely African Diasporic way of describing the dynamic, spiritual, and intergenerational relationship with nature.
• Prosper Portland Equity Framework Report A strategic organizational assessment report led by Kapwa Consulting in 2018 to identify pathways to advance equity work from the inside out, including tools developed through staff engagement to define theory of change, language, and culture.
• Voz Environmental Justice Framework Report A report for the Voz Workers Rights and Education Project focused on empowering diverse day laborers and immigrants to improve their working conditions and protect civil rights through leadership development, organizing, education, and economic opportunity.
• Portland Climate Action Plan Through Equity Report A report on the 2015 City of Portland Multnomah County Climate Action Plan which was the first Climate Action Plan to acknowledge and aim to address the intersectional challenges of systemic racism and climate change.

Quantifiable outcome

• First Climate Action Plan to acknowledge and address intersection of systemic racism and climate change - Portland 2015
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers5 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

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• VerdecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPortland-based nonprofit focused on building environmental wealth within communities of color. Founder Desirée Williams-Rajee serves as Board Chair, indicating a deep ongoing relationship and alignment of mission between organizations.
• Imagine Black (formerly PAALF)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership funded by Meyer Memorial Trust in 2017 to develop a Climate Strategy, resulting in the AfroEcology Framework. Led coalition of Black City Staff and community members in design and implementation of community dialogue series.
• Africa HousecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered with Imagine Black (formerly PAALF) and Africa House in Portland, OR to develop the AfroEcology Framework through a Meyer Memorial Trust funded climate strategy initiative.
• Center for Diversity and the EnvironmentcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounding Board Member organization focused on advancing diversity and equity in the environmental field. Aligns with firm's mission to address structural and institutional racism.
• Beaverton Black People's UnioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBoard Chair and Founder role held by Desirée Williams-Rajee, indicating a core strategic partnership for community empowerment work.
• Consortium for International Management and Policy Development (CIMPAD)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCurrent board appointment that extends the firm's reach into international development and policy work.
• USDN (Urban Sustainability Directors Network)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKey national network partner in the Currents Project, working at intersection of climate justice ecosystem. The Currents Project aims to align key national networks for transformative place-based pilots.
• Full Spectrum CapitalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKey national network partner in the Currents Project. Part of ecosystem of networks and institutions aligned in restorative and movement accountable values for racially just climate action.
• Climate Justice Alliance (CJA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKey national network partner in the Currents Project. Part of collaborative effort to transform economic, cultural and political power for racially just climate action.
• The Solutions ProjectcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKey national network partner in the Currents Project. Part of aligned network working to accelerate transformation required for racially just climate action.
• SankofaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTrusted partner organization featured on website, representing cultural and philosophical alignment with the firm's ethos centered on the concept of Kapwa - 'I am because you are.'

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Government Alliance on Race and Equity (GARE): GARE is a national network of government leaders working to advance racial equity and inclusive practices within government operations and policies. It is a direct peer to Kapwa because both deliver equity strategy, capacity building, and organizational transformation services specifically to public-sector clients.
• Race Forward: Race Forward is a national racial justice organization that runs the Government Alliance on Race and Equity (GARE) and produces policy research, trainings, and consulting on racial equity in government and institutions. It is a direct peer to Kapwa because both operate at the intersection of racial equity practice, public-sector transformation, and movement-aligned consulting.
• PolicyLink: PolicyLink is a national research and action institute advancing racial and economic equity through policy change, with deep work in government capacity building, equitable climate policy, and community development. It is a direct peer to Kapwa given overlapping focus on equity-centered policy advisory, government engagement, and infrastructure investment equity.
• BCT Partners: BCT Partners is a national consulting firm specializing in DEI strategy, organizational transformation, and equitable community development for government, nonprofit, and corporate clients. It is a direct peer to Kapwa given similar service offerings in equity strategy, organizational assessments, and public-sector consulting engagements.
• The Raben Group: The Raben Group is a public affairs and social impact consulting firm advising foundations, nonprofits, and companies on equity, policy, and communications strategy. It is a direct peer to Kapwa because both operate as boutique consulting firms supporting mission-driven organizations on equity and public sector strategy engagements.
• Movement Strategy Center: Movement Strategy Center supports movement-building organizations and networks with strategy, research, and capacity-building services for social justice. It is a direct peer to Kapwa given overlapping focus on ecosystem alignment, network convening, and capacity building for equity-focused organizations and movements.
• Center for Diversity and the Environment: Center for Diversity and the Environment is a national organization advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion in the environmental movement, of which Kapwa's founder is a founding board member. It is a direct peer given its closely aligned focus on equity in environmental work and movement ecosystem building.
• Emerald Cities Collaborative: Emerald Cities Collaborative is a national nonprofit coalition advancing an equitable, sustainable, and inclusive economy through partnerships between labor, communities of color, and the public sector. It is a direct peer to Kapwa given shared work at the intersection of climate/sustainability, equity, and government-community partnership building.

Emerging players

• Just Transition Alliance: Just Transition Alliance is a national coalition of environmental justice and labor organizations advancing a just transition to a regenerative economy. It is an emerging player peer to Kapwa because both operate at the intersection of climate justice, equity, and movement ecosystem building, though Just Transition Alliance focuses more on coalition advocacy than consulting services.
• The Justice & Sustainability Initiative: The Justice & Sustainability Initiative is a small consulting and research practice supporting equitable climate and infrastructure policy through partnerships with community organizations and government. It is an emerging player peer to Kapwa given its narrow, mission-aligned focus on connecting equity work with climate and infrastructure investment strategy.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/kapwa-consulting
• Instagraminstagram.com/kapwa_consulting

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 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 Kapwa Consulting