Have you received support from a Native CDFI as a small business owner, homeowner, or consumer? We want to hear from you.
Your experience shows the real power of Native-led community finance. By sharing your story – how you started, the challenges you overcame, and how access to financial tools or support helped you reach your goals – you help inspire others and show policymakers and partners the real impact happening across Indian Country.
We’ve created a simple resource guide to help you share your story clearly, confidently, and in your own voice.
Submit your story at the link in our bio!
Energy. Connections. Momentum.
This is what Native-led community finance looks like when we come together.
✨Save the date for NCN's 2026 Policy & Capacity Building Summit✨
Same mission. Bigger energy. Don’t miss it. #NCNSummit
Thank you, Blackfeet Nation.
Thank you, Indigikitchen.
Thank you, NACDC.
Thank you to all of our speakers, partners, and attendees who showed up, engaged, and were fully present throughout the entire Northern Plains Regional Event.
Your collaboration, wisdom, and willingness to share ideas and experiences made this week incredibly meaningful.
#NativeCDFIs #IndianCountry #CommunityDevelopment
We closed out the Northern Plains Regional Convening with important conversations about the future of community finance in Indian Country alongside key partners including NeighborWorks America, Opportunity Finance Network (OFN), and Clearinghouse CDFI. Discussions focused on collaboration, capital access, and strengthening long-term opportunities in Native communities.
One of the day’s standout conversations focused on character-based lending, where seasoned Native CDFI leaders discussed how relationship-driven and community-informed approaches help expand access to capital for borrowers who may not fully fit within conventional credit frameworks. The panel highlighted how trusted education, local knowledge, and holistic lending practices can support responsible lending while creating stronger pathways to financial opportunity.
Finally, we heard from NACDC Financial Services on their approach to housing development, homeownership, and financial capability programming—highlighting how these initiatives contribute to long-term community stability, asset-building, and wealth creation on the Blackfeet Reservation.
Thank you to everyone who helped make this convening such a meaningful and impactful week in Browning.
#NativeCDFIs #IndianCountry #AccessToCapital #CommunityDevelopment
What a powerful afternoon of learning and connection.
Attendees heard remarks from U.S. Treasurer Brandon Beach on the importance of strengthening local economies and expanding opportunity across Tribal communities.
The afternoon also featured “The State of Native Economies,” led by Casey Lozar of the Center for Indian Country Development (CICD), exploring the trends, data, and opportunities shaping economic growth across Indian Country.
One of the most impactful moments of the day came from NACDC Financial Services’ Mini Bank Program, where students shared what they’ve learned about saving money, financial responsibility, and planning for their futures. Hearing directly from these young leaders was a powerful reminder that investing in Native communities also means investing in the next generation.
#nativecdfis #economicdevelopment
Today at the Northern Plains Regional Event, attendees experienced the impact of Native-led community development firsthand during the Community in Action: Native Business, Banking, and CDFI Impact Tour on the Blackfeet Reservation.
The tour highlighted local businesses and initiatives supported by NACDC Financial Services, showcasing how access to capital, housing, technical assistance, and relationship-based lending are helping strengthen families, entrepreneurs, and communities across the Reservation.
From growing small businesses to expanding opportunities for future generations, the tour reflected the power of Native CDFIs to create lasting, community-driven impact where it matters most.
A special thank you to NACDC Financial Services for hosting and sharing the incredible work happening across the Blackfeet Reservation.
#NativeCDFIs #IndianCountry #CommunityDevelopment #AccessToCapital #BlackfeetNation
Welcome to Browning! We were honored to welcome Theda New Breast this morning who provided our blessing and a history of the Blackfeet Nation.
#nativecdfis #lendinginnovation
🔔📝🔔
This week, NCN joined eight national and regional Native organizations in a joint letter to Congress calling for the immediate reauthorization of the ANA SEDS and SEDS-AK programs for the next five years.
These programs are critical to advancing economic development in Native communities—supporting initiatives like small business growth, homeownership, and the expansion of Native CDFIs to increase access to affordable capital across Indian Country.
This effort builds on NCN’s continued advocacy to protect these programs and ensure federal resources remain aligned with community-driven priorities.
#NativeCDFIs #IndianCountry #PolicyAdvocacy #AccessToCapital
At next week’s Northern Plains Regional Convening, we’re proud to feature “Beyond the Score: Alternative Data, Community Context, and Responsible Access to Capital” – a session exploring how Native CDFIs look beyond traditional credit scores to better understand borrower potential.
From cash flow and community context to relationships and real-world business conditions, this conversation highlights how Native CDFIs expand access to capital while maintaining strong, responsible lending practices.
A special thank you to FICO for sponsoring this event and supporting innovative approaches that strengthen access to capital in Native communities.
#NativeCDFIs #AccessToCapital #IndianCountry #FICO #CommunityDrivenCapital
🔔 📝🔔 Last week, NCN has submitted a second formal comment letter opposing proposed deregulation changes to the Administration for Native Americans (ANA) programs—raising concerns about preserving Tribal priorities, protecting nonprofit eligibility, and maintaining community-driven decision-making.
This action builds on NCN’s ongoing advocacy to ensure federal policies support—not weaken—economic development and capital access across Native communities.
https://loom.ly/Mn31eXI
There are about 65 certified Native CDFIs in the U.S. – roughly the same number as a decade ago. But that’s starting to change.
Across the country, more than 30 emerging Native CDFIs are working to get off the ground – building financial institutions in places where capital hasn’t shown up.
In this episode, Brian Edwards talks with leaders in Oklahoma, Hawai‘i and the Northeast who are doing exactly that.
Different places. Different approaches. Same work: building access to capital from the ground up.
Link in bio to listen to the podcast episode!
During next week's session, “Growing the Pathway: Inside the Yellowbird Fellowship Program,” panelists will highlight the impact of a transformative initiative led by NACDC Financial Services in partnership with the Mountain | Plains Regional Native CDFI Coalition.
The Yellowbird Fellowship is a one-year program designed to build a pipeline of Native professionals in community finance—offering training in accounting, lending, and financial services while strengthening leadership and community development skills. Through coaching, training, and relationship-based mentorship, the program supports Native individuals in advancing their careers and contributing to the growth of Native CDFIs.
In this session, speakers share how the fellowship has shaped their professional journeys and is helping develop the next generation of leaders in Native finance.
