Upcoming Webinars

Native Gathering 2015; Photo courtesy of Sam Levitan

Listening Session: 2015 Native Convening Feedback

Tuesday, November 24th - 1:00 PM MT

Did you attend the 2015 Native Convening in Detroit, Michigan? Tell us what you thought! We are hosting a listening session where we will ask for feedback on the 2015 Native Convening, including the 12th Annual Native Gathering Pre-Conference Day, the Native Track Sessions at the OFN Conference, and the 10th Annual Native Awards Ceremony.
 

Native CDFI Capitalization Strategies

Tuesday, December 8- 12:00 PM MT

This webinar will examine a range of capitalization strategies and sources of capital for Native CDFIs and the pros and cons of each of the various sources. Potential sources of capital we will review include investments from banks, program related investments, religious institutions, individuals, and government sources of capital.

Michael Swack will present this webinar. Michael Swack is a professor at the University of New Hampshire where he has appointments at the Carsey School of Public Policy and the Paul College of Business and Economics. He is the faculty director of the Center for Social Innovation and Finance. Dr. Swack has published in the areas of community development finance, community investment and mission related investment. Recent publications include a comprehensive industry analysis of the Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) industry for the CDFI Fund and a book, co-written with Charles Tansey entitled Capital Markets, CDFIs and Organizational Credit Risk. In 2000 he founded, and continues to direct, the Financial Innovations Roundtable, a program that promotes new approaches and policies designed to build the field of community development finance and increase access to capital for community development intermediaries.

Dr. Swack received his doctorate from Columbia University, his master’s degree from Harvard University and his bachelor’s degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Market Research

Financial Coaching Market Research

We want to hear from YOU! Please take the time to fill out this 5 minute survey for a chance to win a $25 AMAZON GIFT CERTIFICATE! The information collected in this survey will assist Oweesta in the development of our future trainings. Any information you are able to provide will advance our curriculum tremendously. Follow the link below for the survey.

Annual 2015 Building Native Communities
Instructor Survey Winner

The winner of the Samsung Galaxy Tablet is Dorothy Perry with the Tolowa-Dine Tribe, formerly Smith River. We appreciate all of the survey participants! Please follow the link below for information on our 2015 Annual Building Native Communities Instructor's Survey.

Lending

Oweesta's New Loan Clients

First Nation Oweesta Corporation is pleased to announce that it has recently awarded loans totaling $415,000 to four Native CDFIs. Each organization will use the capital received to make loans in their respective target market. Congratulations to Native American Community Development Corporation, Wind River Development Fund, Four Bands Community Fund, and Cha Piyeh on their accomplishments and continuing commitment to economic development in Indian Country.

 

Does Your Organization Need Loan Capital?

Oweesta considers loan applications on a rolling basis. Application requirements include current and historical financial statements, portfolio reports, loan policies, current and historical financial statements, and a comprehensive business plan or comparable information. If you are interested in finding out more about our loan program, please visit http://www.oweesta.org/our-services/lending-capitalization or contact Emily Trump, Lending and Compliance Manager at emily@oweesta.org.

News from the Oweesta Office

Join Team Oweesta as Chief Financial Officer!

Oweesta is hiring a Chief Financial Officer (CFO). The CFO is responsible for all financial matters of Oweesta. The CFO will report to and work closely with the executive director. In addition, s/he will partner with the senior leadership and the board of directors to develop and implement strategies across the organization. The CFO will oversee all compliance and recognition for government (federal and state) contracts and private grants. S/he must be able to adapt to the continually evolving environment and thrive in an autonomous and deadline-oriented workplace while managing finance staff. For more information, please follow the link below.

New Website

We are so excited to share that we have just launched our new website! On our new site, you will find the latest event information, news, and publications from the industry.
 

Please let us know if you would like to see any changes to the website or have news or events you would like to share on our site! Our Communications Manager, Stephanie Cote at stephanie@oweesta.org, is happy to hear from you and accommodate any suggestions.
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Innovative CDFI Partnership

Rural Community Assistance Cooperative
and Native Home Capital

In October 2013, RCAC and Native Home Capital (NHC) launched a three-year initiative- Tribal Housing Excellence Academy (THE Academy) to increase the variety and volume of housing on Tribal lands. RCAC helps participants bring their respective housing developments from concept to learning how best to network with key players such as architects, bankers, and consultants and how to access legal support. RCAC will also offer coaching from seasoned housing development experts.
THE Academy was designed to provide an incubator for developing new skills, and forming new strategies for developing and financing housing. THE Academy also gives participants a forum to discuss issues of governance, and culture and public policy unique to Tribes.

For more information on THE Academy and this innovative partnership, please follow the link below:


 

Policy & Advocacy

Back Row (left to right): Fern Orie of Wisconsin Native Loan Fund, Susan Hammond of Four Directions Development Corporation, Loren White Jr. of Native American Development Corporation, and Ted Piccolo of Northwest Native Development Fund.
Front Row (left to right): Cora Mae Haskell of Four Bands Community Fund and Cindy Logsdon of Citizen Potawatomi Community Development Corporation.

New Board Members

We are please to share the new Native CDFI Network board members. The elections were held at the 7th Annual Native CDFI Network Member Gathering on Monday, November 9th at the OFN Conference.

We welcome Susan Hammond of Four Directions Development Fund, Cora Mae Haskell of Four Bands Community Fund, Cindy Middlestadt of Community Financial Inc., and Fern Orie of Wisconsin Native Loan Fund, along with Dave Castillo of Native Home Capital and Loren White Jr. of Native American Development Corporation to serve a second term on the board. Congratulations to those leaders nominated and elected!

For more information, please follow the link below:


 

November: Native American Heritage Month

Our partner organization, First Nations Development Institute, gathered this amazing collection of recipes through their Native Agriculture and Food Systems Initiative and their new partnership in the "Seeds of Native Health" campaign created by the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community. Follow the link below for more information.

Job Opportunities

Check out our website for the latest job opportunities in the Native CDFI and nonprofit sector. There are available positions from First Nations Oweesta Corporation, First Nations Development Institute, Native American Bank, Bank 2, Seven Sisters Development Group LLC, and First People's Fund.



If you have a job opportunity available at your organization, share it with the industry by emailing our Communications Manager, stephanie@oweesta.org.
 

Resources

Photo courtesy of Sam Levine

What is a Native CDFI?

First Check out the latest Oweesta one page publication "What is a Native CDFI?". This informational handout will assist you in communicating the needs within our Native CDFI industry.


 

Spending Frenzy: NOW AVAILABLE!

First Nations Development Institute's "Spending Frenzy" kits are now available for purchase. Spending Frenzy kits were developed to offer youth with large impending minor's trust payments an opportunity to practice handling a substantial lump sum of money and spending it wisely. In the simulation, high school students are given $40,000 in fake money and are asked to make spending decisions to purchase a car, a house, groceries, and other items. For more information, please contact Chris Hansen at chris@oweesta.org.