News & Insights
Guiding towards financial stability and self-reliance
We are excited to welcome you back to another great event of golf and fundraiser for our Nimiipuu Community Development Fund, Native CDFI. This event is one of our highlights to bring our community, funders, and local businesses together. We thank you for your interest in participating as a volunteer or player of our 18-hole scramble at the beautiful Nez Perce Tribe’s Red Wolf Golf Club, Clarkston, Washington. For the past few years, we found that our sponsors elevate this event that helps raise funds for our nonprofit that assists with our Vision – “A better financial life by advancing individual self-determination and self-sufficiency for every community member” by offering services and affordable loan products to individuals and businesses. Walkup…
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Opens June 6, 2022 | Closes July 14, 2022 @ 5pm PST | Awards of $5,000 Na’ah Illahee Fund and Potlatch Fund have partnered in a collective giving campaign to bring forward the Power of Ceremony & Healing Grant to help bring unity to our people by providing support to those that lift up our people culturally and spiritually. Ceremony is vital to Native health, the seed for healing the people: spiritually, socially, emotionally, physically and mentally. It plays a critical role in Native people’s lives by connecting us to our traditions, languages, songs, beliefs, ancestors and healing ways. Since, Na’ah Illahee Fund and Potlatch Fund support the development of strong, positive Indigenous identity, this grant will support work led…
Read MoreTiny Tots Learning Center, a Nimiipuu Fund client located in Lapwai, Idaho, local business selected for a $20k, Native Small Business Award grant and Turtle Island Gifts – the winners of our inaugural Small Business Awards hosted at the 7th Annual Capital Access Convening. They both exemplify resilient in light of the challenging past two years and hold Indigenous culture throughout their business model.Join us in congratulating them, and in thanking them for being pillars of culture in today’s economy! Tiny Tots Learning Center, co-owned by Bobbie and Santee Penney, is a childcare center serving the Nez Perce Reservation. Since receiving initial seed funding from Nimiipuu Community Development Fund, Bobbie and Santee have been able to expand their operations and…
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Akiptan is collecting survey responses from Native Ag producers all over Indian Country. The results of this survey will contribute to a national Native Agriculture market study to determine what the unmet financial need is for Native procure that, if addressed, would lead to greater prosperity and sustainability for Native Agriculture. Complete the survey at www.akiptan.org/survey to help determine the financial need for Native Agriculture and for a chance to win a pair of Muck Chore Work Boots among other prizes up to $500 in cash.
Read MoreThe Native CDFI Network (NCN) developed the “Native CDFIs: Difference Makers for Indian Country” interview series to cast a much-needed spotlight on the many positive benefits that Native community development financial institutions (CDFIs) create for tribal communities and the leaders who help make Native CDFIs the transformational success stories they are. Jonelle Yearout, Nimiipuu Fund Executive Director In this latest edition of “Difference Makers,” NCN sat down with Jonelle Yearout, Executive Director of Nimiipuu Fund, a federally certified Native CDFI that serves the Nez Perce Reservation and traditional territories of Nez Perce in Idaho, Oregon, and Washington. Jonelle also was recently appointed Northwest Regional Delegate on NCN’s Policy Committee. An enrolled member of the Nez Perce Tribe, Yearout is passionate about solving challenging…
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Through generous sponsorships, Oweesta is offering two Native Small Business Awards recognizing small businesses and owners. Nimiipuu Fund is seeking applicants to submit a proposal for one of our local entrepreneurs for an opportunity to be awarded a $20,000 grant. This grant is competitive as it competes with other Native CDFIs in the United States. The grant awards celebrate the entrepreneurial spirit and perseverance of local business owners and their outstanding business ingenuity, contributions to cultural preservation, and community impact. It is through the successes and prosperity of Native small businesses that Native Nations can realize their self-determination. Join us in honoring local entrepreneurs by nominating a small business that exemplifies these qualities. Two awardees will be invited to speak at the…
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The Idaho Women’s Business Center announced its plan to help bring a new online curriculum to small businesses across Idaho:Verizon Small Business Digital Ready. In partnership with Next Street and Local Initiatives Support Corp (LISC), the Verizon Small Business Digital Ready online curriculum is designed to give small businesses the tools they need to thrive in today’s digital economy, including access to personalized learning plans, coaching from experts and networking opportunities with diverse, industry-specific businesses. More than 100,000 small businesses closed due to the pandemic, with a disproportionate impact on Latinx and Black-owned small businesses. Verizon Small Business Digital Ready offers businesses support, aiming to enable digital readiness and drive digital transformation through a customized curriculum that accounts for industry, size and interests.…
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Umpqua Bank Charitable Foundation awarded a $15,000 grant contribution to Nimiipuu Community Development Fund. Through their efforts to take great pride in our commitment to serving and supporting our communities, we appreciate and recognize Umpqua Bank as a partner in our community. This funding will specifically support Credit and COVID – Financial Education beyond the pandemic. Our organization is doing important work that benefits our community greatly, and we are proud Umpqua Bank supports our efforts. The grant funds will be used for developing virtual and in person financial education and coaching through Nimiipuu Fund.
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Idaho Hispanic Foundation, a grant recipient of the Community Navigator Pilot Program, and the Idaho Women’s Business Center’s team hosted nonprofits to launch Idaho Connect, an ecosystem of community organizations committed to supporting underserved entrepreneurs on the path to economic recovery. Natalie Madeira Cofield, Assistant Administrator for the Office of Women’s Business Ownership, provided the keynote address. Idaho Connect Community Navigator Partners include: Idaho Small Business Development Centers Idaho Hispanic Chamber of Commerce South Central Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Idaho Veterans Chamber of Commerce Veteran Entrepreneur Alliance Idaho Black Community Alliance Shoshone-Bannock Tribe Nez Perce Tribe Coeur d’Alene Tribe Jonelle Yearout, NCDF Executive Director, was in attendance and gave remarks on behalf of the Nez Perce Tribe for their Small Business Administration Community Navigator Grant. What…
Read MoreOweesta has been awarded one of eight Tier-1 national grants of $5 million as part of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) Community Navigator Pilot Program aimed at reaching small businesses for stronger economic recovery efforts. Following a hub-and-spoke model, Oweesta is partnering with twenty-seven Native Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs) to serve Native businesses and entrepreneurs on reservations and urban environments across seventeen states (spokes are listed below). Acting as a “hub,” Oweesta will serve as a centralized, lead organization and leverage our long-standing relationships with grassroots Native CDFIs as “spokes.” Oweesta will be partnering with the regional CDFI, MoFI, to provide training and peer-to-peer learning opportunities for Native CDFIs participating in the program. Through this model, government resources will be…
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