The CDFI Fund contracts for the provision of training and technical assistance to Tribes, tribal programs, Native nonprofits and community development practitioners interested in developing Native CDFIs through the Native Communities Financing Initiative. NCFI is an intensive series of workshops and follow up technical assistance conducted over a 12 month period to help Native communities develop and expand Native CDFIs.

Since 2003, nearly 235 Native Communities and organizations have participated in a NCFI workshop. The CDFI Fund has expanded the training to provide technical assistance to existing Native CDFIs and launched a new Native Credit Union development program.

The Opportunity Finance Network (OFN), in partnership with Oweesta, provides this training. Contact Mamata Datta (OFN) at mdatta@opportunityfinance.net or Stewart Sarkozy-Banoczy (Oweesta) at stewart@oweesta.org.