Data doing good.

Strengthening communities with data services

Research & reporting

We uncover meaningful narratives from data. Through respectful and thoughtful engagement, we help you assess your community’s needs, bridge gaps, and promote local strengths.

Strategic planning

We prepare your organization for resiliency, growth, and sustainability. Through community-centered practices, we work with your team to establish processes for operational efficiency and long-term viability.

Impact measurement

We guide your organization in developing clear frameworks for goal setting and achievement. We showcase what your organization has done, reveal what’s meaningful, and help you chart what’s next.

Database management

We build user-friendly data management systems that highlight your community impacts and help you adapt to change. We have extensive experience with nonprofits and Native CDFIs and prioritize ease of use.

Capacity building

We help develop the systems and skills you need to reach your highest potential. We work with you to streamline your operations and strengthen your organization from the inside.

Communication & design

We use strategic visuals and data visualizations to demonstrate your organization's distinct personality and values. Through creative storytelling, we make sure your data is both understood and actionable.

We believe people should have control over their own data.

Data sovereignty is at the heart of what we do, because true representation is impossible without it.

Featured projects

Discover the people, places, and stories behind our work

Tribal members carrying a canoe out of the water near Little Boston, Washington

Port Gamble S'Klallam builds a healthy housing ecosystem on the Kitsap Peninsula

The tribe is undertaking a nation-level strategic planning and evaluation process to guide future housing development over the next 10 years.

HOUSING

Colorful boathouses on Fisherman's Wharf in Monterey County, California.

FAMILY & SOCIAL SERVICES

A trusted, mission-driven organization adapts to a rapidly changing landscape

Intensive, strategic collaboration helped United Way Monterey County become an organization that is clearer about who it is and better prepared for what lies ahead.

Outside of Lower Sioux's cultural incubator

ARTS & CULTURE

Lower Sioux Indian Community's cultural incubator becomes a vibrant hub for education, art, and connection

Through community engagement, market analysis, and collaborative planning, the Lower Sioux created a cultural center that could thrive for generations.

See all case studies

Working with Sweet Grass was a huge win for our team. For years, we struggled to measure the impact of our work across the five-county region we serve. Choosing Sweet Grass was easy due to their impressive previous work and their engaging, understanding, and confident approach.”

Charitie Herbst, Sourcewell

Our clients & partners

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Insights & articles

Explore our latest articles about economic development and sustainable community practices

Featured
The complicated beauty of America’s national parks
ENVIRONMENT
The complicated beauty of America’s national parks
ENVIRONMENT

To truly appreciate our exquisite public parks, we must grapple with their violent origins and honor the human story behind the grandeur.

ENVIRONMENT
Akiptan proves “slow and steady” is the way to build an impact measurement system
DATA IMPACT, FINANCE
Akiptan proves “slow and steady” is the way to build an impact measurement system
DATA IMPACT, FINANCE

Unlike the “move fast and break things” mentality of mainstream tech, thoughtful, strategic planning has been Akiptan’s best investment.

DATA IMPACT, FINANCE
Is there a thoughtful and culturally responsive way to use AI?
DATA IMPACT
Is there a thoughtful and culturally responsive way to use AI?
DATA IMPACT

There’s still much to be understood and uncovered about AI, so we’re sharing what we’ve learned helping nonprofits think through how they currently use AI and how they could use it in the future, if at all.

DATA IMPACT
See all blog posts

What our partners are saying:

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  • Sweet Grass is respectful and listens to the needs of the partner. I appreciate their awareness of Tribal Nations, the importance of tribal sovereignty, and community-driven work.

    —Emily White Hat, American Indian College Fund

  • Sweet Grass is a phenomenal partner who really took the time to understand very complex subject matter and facilitated seamlessly among a diverse set of stakeholders.

    —Intertribal Agriculture Council

  • Sweet Grass’ contextual and cultural understanding of the Native CDFI market is unsurpassed in the field. We appreciate the work they do to stay informed about our markets and to continually amplify our voices on the ground.

    —Lakota Vogel, Four Bands Community Fund

  • Sweet Grass allowed for us to have a sense of direction with our products and programming, and it helped us to tell the story of our impact.

    —Skya Ducheneaux, Akiptan

  • Sweet Grass hit every single timeline and went above and beyond our contractual expectations. I really feel like they are family. I can be honest without fear . . . it's an authentic relationship and I cherish it.

    —Cheryal Hills, Region Five Development Commission

  • The type of analysis we needed for our equity work wouldn't have been possible without the assistance of Sweet Grass.

    —Shalyn Hawley, Four Bands Community Fund

  • Sweet Grass helped us in seeking ways to find justification and answers in how we need to move forward in providing housing opportunities for our community.

    —Donovan Vicenti, Pueblo of Jemez Housing Authority

  • Sweet Grass met us where we were at on projects and undoubtedly helped us to advance our projects closer to our goals.

    —Intertribal Agriculture Council

  • Sweet Grass brought a breadth of expertise as we delved into our first loan fund evaluation. They were critical in helping us understand our goals, process, and evaluation methodologies.

    —Jesus Gonzalez Saucedo, Inclusive Action for the City

  • The contribution Sweet Grass is making will lead to transformative change for many.

    —Nick Tilsen, Thunder Valley Community Development Corporation

  • Sweet Grass team members are responsive, timely, and develop processes that gain the information needed to benefit our work in a clear and concise manner.

    —Emily White Hat, American Indian College Fund

  • Our interactions with Sweet Grass were thoughtful and chock-full of meaningful, inspiring, and goal-oriented encounters.

    —Intertribal Agriculture Council

  • It has been so easy to approach the staff and ask any questions. Our company has learned a lot in such a short period of time with them.

    —Westwater Financial, Inc.

  • Whenever we have a question or run into an issue, it has been very easy to communicate and get answers.

    —Vaipuarii Tapiero-Kight, Hawaiian Lending and Investments

  • Clear communication and explanation of capability, set clear expectations and met them, quite timely.

    —Kris Brunetto, Mountain Plains Community Development Corporation

  • Good to work with and very helpful walking through the steps and listening to the ideas we had.

    —Margaret Morrison, Rosebud Sioux Tribe

  • The information we received was really helpful. The end result gave us a document that we're already diving into, and that I can see steering our organization for years to come.

    —Jenna Tomiello, MT Alpha Cycling

  • We appreciate Sweet Grass' patience and response time. We threw a lot at [them] and they handled it like a pro. We have been able to shift our timesheets to Salesforce for better data.

    —Stephanie Janis, Akiptan

  • Sweet Grass is easy to contact, responds in a timely manner, and goes above and beyond to help when asked. They do their best to make things as easy as possible.

    —Melissa Curley, Akiptan

  • Sweet Grass helped our organizations deploy more than $500,000 in emergency loans for folks impacted by COVID, reaching our most impacted populations — Native communities, communities of color, and women.

    —Jeff Gilbreath, Hawaiian Community Assets

  • Your professionalism, expertise, and willingness to find solutions made for an exceptional project.

    —Karla Aguilar, Texas Tribal Buffalo Project

  • We developed a great publication that is helpful to Native farmers and ranchers interested in agritourism.

    —American Indian and Alaska Native Tourism Association

  • Sweet Grass did an excellent job facilitating and the write-up was great. I have always found Sweet Grass to be professional, knowledgeable and a good value.

    —Lisa Wagner, Wind River Development Fund

  • Really, my best experience working with consultants. I loved the way you all embraced our community.

    —Kara Horton, Port Gamble S'Klallam Housing Authority

  • There was a lot of understanding of where we were as an organization and where we wanted to go in the next few years. It felt like a huge step in the right direction for our org.

    —Jenna Tomiello, MT Alpha Cycling

  • Sweet Grass was wonderful. They kept us informed as to their progress, and made sure visits and interviews were at our discretion so as not to be a burden on the tribe.

    —Kaye Khabir-Harvey, Monacan Indian Nation

  • I appreciate the hands-on approach and willingness to meet with staff, leadership, and citizens to gather input from all participants.

    —Linda Van Tassell, Monacan Indian Nation

  • Sweet Grass is responsive and actively willing to assist regardless of the project. The information we've received from their services has helped us build organizational capacity and leverage resources.

    —Angie Main, NACDC Financial Services

  • Whether it's a small task or a large project, they're always willing to help us. The rapport we've built with the team is unbeatable and irreplaceable.

    —Skya Ducheneaux, Akiptan

  • We value their deep understanding of our organization and the Native CDFI field, as well as the thoughtful insights they bring to our work.

    —Shalyn Hawley, Four Bands Community Fund

  • The whole process was amazing and I am grateful each step was completed before moving on to the next. I think tribal members were very comfortable sharing.

    —Kara Horton, Port Gamble S'Klallam Housing Authority

  • It was super convenient to find someone who could do the logo and poster and web ads, which meant that we weren't constantly having to play telephone with multiple parties . . . less stress for us.

    —Jos Johnson, Cascade Bicycle Club

  • Michael was a professional [and a] newly found friend. The hard work and effort he put forth in this project will always be honored and respected . . . as will he.

    —Lou Branham, Monacan Indian Nation

  • Sweet Grass is capable of understanding the issues of Indigenous communities and assisting in assessing much needed data in Indian Country.

    —Lucille Contreras, Texas Tribal Buffalo Project

  • Our work with Sweet Grass propelled us forward in some of the more strategic projects in our portfolio. This has allowed us to make strides in areas of capacity building and advocacy.

    —Julie Keel, Mountain T.O.P.

  • Flawless performance and were key to operating the project in a team environment. Always available and on task. Sweet Grass became more co-workers than contractors.

    —Randy Finn, Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe

Woodcut floral design
Woodcut floral design

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