CDFIs

The US Department of Treasury’s Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFI) Fund program provides financial support to American Indian and Alaska Native people and communities, through a program called Native Initiatives. It focuses on job creation, business development, and other initiatives which foster financial growth. Native Initiatives offers financial assistance, technical assistance, and training opportunities, as well as the expansion and creation of Native CDFIs throughout the U.S.

Approximately 86 percent of Native communities lack a single financial institution within their boundaries, which hampers their ability to access affordable financial products and services. Native community development financial institutions (CDFIs) play a crucial role in devising innovative solutions to overcome these obstacles. Over the past decade, Native CDFIs have demonstrated their effectiveness in fostering robust Native economies and communities. They have ventured into markets typically deemed "high-risk" and have facilitated an astonishing transformation, generating businesses, jobs, homeownership, and acting as catalysts for local economic development. Their distinctive programs and services are specifically designed to build financial assets among the low-income populations they serve and offer avenues for accessing economic opportunities.

Currently, over 69 certified Native CDFIs are located in 27 states across the country, serving Indian Country, Alaska, and Hawaii. Native CDFIs are a diverse group representing rural reservation communities, as well as urban Native communities.

If you’re a business owner or an entrepreneur who is looking for financial support, your local Native CDFI can be a great resource to help you along your journey. You can learn more about how CDFIs support businesses and entrepreneurs here.