against the current

What against the current does

Against The Current Consulting is a Native-owned and -led boutique consulting firm founded in 2013 by Eddie Sherman (Diné | Umóⁿ'hoⁿ), headquartered in Bainbridge Island, Washington on the Traditional Lands of the Suquamish People. The firm delivers a unified portfolio of professional services — Public Affairs Strategy, Issue & Political Advocacy, Media Relations, Coalition Building & Facilitation, PAC and C4 Infrastructure Support, Leadership Coaching & Development, Website & Visual Strategy, Organizational Development & Strategic Planning, and Indigenous Governance & Board Development — all grounded in a stated Indigenous Values Framework (Relationship, Responsibility, Reciprocity, Redistribution, Restoration).

The client base spans Tribal Nations, Indigenous and communities of color, Native-led and BIPOC-serving nonprofit organizations, political campaigns, philanthropic institutions, and grassroots coalitions. Engagements are project- and retainer-based, priced per quote, and delivered through a direct, relationship-led sales motion with no intermediary channels. The team disclosed on the public site comprises three named members: the Founder and Principal, a Tribal Engagement Coordinator, and an Organizer, and the firm maintains a strategic partnership with Native-led creative teams for visual strategy deliverables.

Commercially, the firm operates without disclosed funding, M&A activity, or institutional investment. Revenue is not publicly reported; pricing is bespoke; and go-to-market depends on referrals, authentic storytelling through its website, and direct outreach. The operating posture is consistent with a small, values-aligned practice that scales selectively through partnerships rather than headcount expansion.

Name

against the current

Legal name

Against The Current Consulting

Website

https://againstthecurrent.consulting

Company type

Private

Founded year

2013

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Against The Current Consulting is a Native-owned, Indigenous-led boutique consulting firm offering public affairs strategy, advocacy, coalition building, and organizational development services to Tribal Nations, BIPOC-led coalitions, advocacy nonprofits, political campaigns, and philanthropic institutions.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Public Affairs and Advocacy Consulting

NAICS

Management Consulting Services (54161), Human Resources Consulting Services (541612)

SIC

Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)

akta.pro primary industry

Public Sector & Policy Consulting (BPAHACAN)

akta.pro secondary industries

Strategy & Corporate Development Consulting (BPAHACAA), Organization Design & Operating Model Consulting (BPAHAGAB), Leadership Development & Executive Coaching (BPAHAGAD)

Keywords

• Public affairs consulting
• Political advocacy services
• Organizational development consulting
• Coalition building facilitation
• Media relations consulting

Headquarters

HQ city

Bainbridge Island

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

Revenue model

1. Strategic Consulting Services: Professional consulting services including public affairs strategy, issue advocacy, coalition building, organizational development, leadership coaching, and PAC infrastructure support. Engagements include strategic planning (1-3 year frameworks), organizational assessments, and capacity-building for sustained impact.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels2 records

Core offering

Against The Current Consulting provides public affairs, issue and political advocacy, media relations, coalition building and facilitation, PAC and C4 infrastructure support, leadership coaching and development, website and visual strategy, organizational development and strategic planning, and Indigenous governance and board development. It delivers these services through culturally grounded, relationship-based engagements for Tribal Nations, advocacy organizations, philanthropic institutions, political campaigns, and BIPOC-led coalitions and grassroots networks.

Product overview

Against The Current Consulting is a Native-owned consulting firm offering a unified portfolio of advisory and strategy services rather than a software product platform. The core offerings include Public Affairs Strategy, Issue & Political Advocacy, Media Relations, Coalition Building & Facilitation, PAC & C4 Infrastructure Support, Leadership Coaching & Development, and Website & Visual Strategy. Additional specialized services encompass Organizational Development & Strategic Planning and Indigenous Governance & Board Development. All services are grounded in Indigenous values and designed to help Indigenous and communities of color build power, shift influence, and advance community-defined solutions.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Public Affairs Strategy Narrative-first strategy services rooted in Indigenous values and political clarity, helping organizations and Tribal Nations shape stories and develop culturally grounded strategies for campaigns, policy influence, and sovereignty defense.
• Issue & Political Advocacy Grassroots mobilization and federal advocacy services spanning legislative drafting, agency influence, and campaign advancement to create real impact in decision-making spaces.
• Media Relations Strategic storytelling, messaging development, media training, op-ed creation, press outreach, and rapid response services that help clients lead narratives and shift public will.
• Coalition Building & Facilitation Relational, trust-centered coalition building services using culturally responsive and trauma-informed facilitation to unite movements for coordinated collective action.
• PAC & C4 Infrastructure Support Builds and scales 501(c)(4) and PAC infrastructure for Native and BIPOC leaders, including governance, compliance, fundraising strategy, and capacity-building for issue-based and electoral campaigns.
• Leadership Coaching & Development Culturally grounded leadership support for Native and BIPOC leaders through one-on-one coaching, team retreats, and capacity-building engagements to strengthen internal clarity and external strategy.
• Website & Visual Strategy Digital presence development in partnership with Native designers, including websites, visual identities, and branded storytelling tools that center cultural authenticity and narrative power.
• Organizational Development & Strategic Planning Strategic planning processes rooted in community wisdom, political reality, and future vision for Native-led and BIPOC-serving organizations, including organizational assessments, mission/vision alignment, and capacity-building.
• Indigenous Governance & Board Development Board development services supporting Native-led and BIPOC-serving organizations in developing governance structures that reflect Indigenous values, accountability, and collective responsibility, including board structure, culturally grounded onboarding, and governance training.

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Native Designers (Partnership for Visual Strategy)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic partnership with Native-led creative teams for website and visual identity work. Collaborates on branded storytelling tools that center cultural authenticity, accessibility, and narrative power.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Echo Hawk Consulting: Native-owned consulting firm offering public affairs, advocacy, and government relations services to Tribal Nations and Indigenous communities. Directly comparable as a fellow boutique Indigenous-led consultancy with similar service mix and client base.
• Grassroots Solutions: Consulting firm specializing in community organizing, coalition building, and advocacy strategy for social justice organizations. Comparable in coalition building and grassroots mobilization offerings.
• Noetic Praxis Group: Indigenous-led consulting firm offering strategic planning, organizational development, and capacity-building for Native-serving organizations. Closely comparable in service mix and target client base.

Emerging players

• NDN Collective: Indigenous-led organization focused on building Indigenous power through organizing, advocacy, and narrative change. Comparable in mission and target community, though structured as a movement-building organization rather than a fee-for-service consultancy.
• IllumiNative: Native-led nonprofit focused on narrative change, storytelling, and advocacy for Indigenous peoples. Overlaps with the firm's media relations and narrative strategy offerings for similar client segments.
• Seventh Generation Fund: Indigenous-led foundation supporting grassroots community development, advocacy, and capacity-building for Tribal Nations. Comparable in values-driven approach and target client base of Indigenous communities and organizations.
• BluePath Labs: Native-owned consulting firm providing federal contracting, strategic communications, and advocacy services. Comparable as a fellow Indigenous-owned consultancy serving similar client segments.
• First Nations Development Institute: Native-led nonprofit providing capacity-building, grantmaking, and strategic support to Native communities and organizations. Comparable in serving Tribal Nations and BIPOC-led organizations with capacity-building engagements.

Broad incumbents

• The Raben Group: Public affairs, lobbying, and impact strategy firm serving progressive causes, foundations, and advocacy organizations. Comparable as a public affairs consultancy, though broader and not Indigenous-specialized.
• The Hatcher Group: Public affairs and advocacy communications firm offering strategic communications, coalition building, and policy advocacy for progressive causes and nonprofits. Comparable in public affairs strategy and coalition work.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

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 against the current