To provide opportunities for Native people to develop financial assets and create wealth by assisting in the establishment of strong, permanent institutions and programs contributing to economic independence and strengthening sovereignty for all Native communities.
Oweesta Corporation’s grantmaking is built around Native CDFIs and Native communities, with a strong emphasis on capital access, housing stability, and the infrastructure Native lenders need to operate. The organization describes itself as the longest standing Native CDFI intermediary, and its recent grants show that role in practice through large subgrants, technical assistance, and matching support for Native lending organizations. Among the most distinctive recent awards is a $2,621,943 USDA subgrant to the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes in Pablo, Montana, a grant that stands out for its scale and program structure. Other large awards point to a broader intermediary strategy: $500,000 to Homestead Community Development Corp in Anahola, Hawaii, and $250,100 to Hawaii Community Assets in Hilo, Hawaii. The foundation also supports Native housing and lending organizations such as Cook Inlet Lending Center Inc in Anchorage, Alaska, alongside several Native Hawaiian organizations in 2024. Its program portfolio includes Building Native Communities: Financial Empowerment for Teens & Young Adults, the Native CDFI Capital Access Initiative, and the Native CDFI Practitioner Certification Program, showing an approach that combines direct funding with curriculum, training, and capacity building.
Housing and mortgage-related work is a recurring thread. Oweesta Corporation gave $81,000 to Northwest Native Development Fund in Coulee Dam, Washington for a mortgage grant, and it also made a $114,757 WORTH subgrant to Native American Youth & Family Center in Portland, Oregon, indicating support that connects housing stability with community services. Capital formation is another clear area. The $2,621,943 USDA subgrant to the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes supports a rural/agricultural funding channel, while a $101,667 matching grant to People's Partner for Community Development in Lame Deer, Montana fits Oweesta’s pattern of pairing money with local leverage. Technology and operating capacity also appear in the grant list. White Earth Investment Initiative in Ogema, Minnesota received two tech grants of $125,176 and $101,850, and Mazaska Owacaso Otipi Financial in Pine Ridge, South Dakota received a $78,467 tech subgrant. Those awards fit the foundation’s focus on Native CDFI development and practitioner support.
$2.1M
$117.8M
$19.1M
$11.1M
Most grants fall between $20K and $101K, with a median of $51K.
25th Percentile
$20K
Median
$51K
75th Percentile
$101K
About 0% of grants go to recipients in HI.
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Oweesta Corporation’s typical grant size sits in a middle band: the 25th percentile is $20,100, the median is $51,123, and the 75th percentile is $101,458. The recent list includes a wide spread above that range, from six-figure capacity grants to a multi-million-dollar USDA subgrant. The pattern is not limited to one-time support. White Earth Investment Initiative appears twice in 2023 with separate tech grants, and Homestead Community Development Corp appears again in 2024 after a 2023 tech subgrant. The portfolio also mixes grant types, including matching grants, tech subgrants, mortgage grants, worth subgrants, and USDA subgrants. Oweesta is a public charity, does not fund individuals, and does not make program-related investments.
Grant dollars go entirely to U.S. recipients, with Alaska appearing most often by grant count. Recent awards also cluster in Hawaii, Montana, Wisconsin, South Dakota, and Minnesota. Specific recipient cities include Anchorage, Honolulu, Hilo, Waianae, Kapolei, Anahola, and Waimea in Hawaii; Pablo and Browning in Montana; and Eagle Butte and Pine Ridge in South Dakota. The distribution reflects a Native-serving network spread across multiple regions rather than the foundation’s headquarters in Colorado.
Oweesta Corporation supports Native CDFIs and Native communities. Its programs include Native CDFI development, financial education for youth and adults, lending and loan products, housing counseling, capital access and capitalization, and training and certification programs.
Recent grants are centered in the middle range: the 25th percentile is $20,100, the median is $51,123, and the 75th percentile is $101,458. The recent grant list also includes larger awards, including a $2,621,943 USDA subgrant and several grants at or above $250,000.
No. The foundation’s profile indicates that it does not fund individuals. Its recent grants go to organizations such as Native CDFIs, Native housing and lending groups, and tribal or community development entities.
Its stated focus areas include Native CDFI development, financial education for youth and adults, lending and loan products, housing counseling, capital access and capitalization, and training and certification programs. The program list also includes building financial empowerment curricula, Native CDFI capital access work, and practitioner certification.
By grant count, Alaska is the top state in the recent grants data. The recipient locations also include multiple sites in Hawaii, Montana, Wisconsin, South Dakota, and Minnesota, with all listed grants going to U.S. recipients.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Current and upcoming funding from Oweesta that your nonprofit may be able to apply for.
Who can apply: Borrowers must be Native-controlled and have a primary mission of serving Native communities.
Deadline: Accepting inquiries; no fixed deadline stated. Loan applications are accepted year-round.
Who can apply: Designed for Native CDFIs and loan funds facing delays in grant disbursements or contractual payments; borrower must be Native-controlled and serve Native communities.
Deadline: Accepting inquiries; no fixed deadline stated. Loan applications are accepted year-round.
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Create a free accountDeadlines and eligibility are summarized from public sources and may change — always confirm the details on the funder's official application page before applying.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ST CROIX CHIPPEWA OF INDIANS | WEBSTER, WI | $452,615 | 2025 | HVAC GRANT |
| TOLOWA DEE-NI' NATION | SMITH RIVER, CA | $452,605 | 2025 | YEAR 1 SUBGRANT |
| ALUTIIQ TRIBE OF OLD HARBOR | OLD HARBOR, AK | $343,360 | 2025 | SUBGRANT |
| CONFEDERATED SALISH AND KOOTENAI | PABLO, MT | $219,771 | 2025 | GRANT |
| VILLAGE OF SOLOMON | NOME, AK | $182,674 | 2025 | GRANT |
| TIWA LENDING SERVICES | ISLETA, NM | $69,689 | 2025 | WF WORTH GRANT |
| PONCA TRIBE OF NEBRASKA | NIOBRARA, NE | $60,787 | 2025 | GRANT |
| NATIVE AMERICAN YOUTH AND FAMILY | PORTLAND, OR | $40,852 | 2025 | NHCN SUBGRANT |
| HAWAIIAN LENDING AND INVESTMENTS | ANAHOLA, HI | $40,750 | 2025 | WF WORTH GRANT |
| COUNCIL FOR NATIVE HAWAIIAN | KAPOLEI, HI | $37,782 | 2025 | NHCN SUBGRANT |
| WISCONSIN NATIVE LOAN FUND INC | LAC DU FLAMBEAU, WI | $30,463 | 2025 | NHCN SUBGRANT |
| LAKOTA FUNDS | KYLE, SD | $25,000 | 2025 | WF WORTH GRANT |
| CEDAR GROWTH (FNCF) | BLACK RIVER FALLS, WI | $19,419 | 2025 | NHCN SUBGRANT |
| CHANGE LABS | TUBA CITY, AZ | $17,000 | 2025 | GRANT |
| WARM SPRINGS COMMUNITY ACTION TEAM | WARM SPRINGS, OR | $16,710 | 2025 | NHCN SUBGRANT |
| WHITE EARTH INVESTMENT INITIATIVE | OGEMA, MN | $16,296 | 2025 | NHCN SUBGRANT |
| FOUR DIRECTIONS DEVELOPMENT CORP | ORONO, ME | $14,062 | 2025 | NHCN SUBGRANT |
| NORTHERN SHORES COMMUNITY | PETOSKEY, MI | $10,000 | 2025 | GRANT |
| WESTWATER FINANCIAL INC | SANTA ROSA, CA | $5,500 | 2025 | TRAINING STIPEND |
| CONFEDERATED SALISH AND KOOTENAI TRIBES | PABLO, MT | $2,621,943 | 2024 | USDA SUBGRANT |
| HOMESTEAD COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CORP | ANAHOLA, HI | $500,000 | 2024 | GRANT |
| HAWAII COMMUNITY ASSETS | HILO, HI | $250,100 | 2024 | GRANT |
| HI HOME RESOLUTIONS INC | HONOLULU, HI | $250,000 | 2024 | GRANT |
| DYNAMIC COMMUNITY SOLUTIONS | WAIANAE, HI | $250,000 | 2024 | GRANT |
| COUNCIL FOR NATIVE HAWAIIAN ADVANCEMENT | KAPOLEI, HI | $250,000 | 2024 | GRANT |
| KUMANO I KE ALA O MAKAWELI | WAIMEA, HI | $250,000 | 2024 | GRANT |
| COOK INLET LENDING CENTER INC | ANCHORAGE, AK | $151,100 | 2024 | GRANT |
| NATIVE AMERICAN YOUTH & FAMILY CENTER | PORTLAND, OR | $114,757 | 2024 | WORTH SUBGRANT |
| TANKA BAR | RAPID CITY, SD | $100,000 | 2024 | GRANT |
| ST CROIX CHIPPEWA OF INDIANS | WEBSTER, WI | $76,000 | 2024 | GRANT |
| WARM SPRINGS COMMUNITY ACTION TEAM | WARM SPRINGS, OR | $71,592 | 2024 | TECH GRANT |
| WISCONSIN NATIVE LOAN FUND | LAC DU FLAMBEAU, WI | $67,905 | 2024 | GRANT |
| FOUR DIRECTIONS DEVELOPMENT CORP | ORONO, ME | $60,750 | 2024 | GRANT |
| WHITE EARTH INVESTMENT INITIATIVE | OGEMA, MN | $51,123 | 2024 | TECH GRANT |
| WESTWATER FINANCIAL INC | SANTA ROSA, CA | $40,100 | 2024 | MATCHING GRANT |
| NACDC FINANCIAL SERVICES INC | BROWNING, MT | $31,330 | 2024 | NHHHCN SUBGRANT |
| HAWAIIAN LENDING & INVESTMENTS | ANAHOLA, HI | $29,230 | 2024 | WORTH SUBGRANT |
| BLACK HILLS CLF INC | RAPID CITY, SD | $26,830 | 2024 | EMERGING GRANT |
| FIRST NATIONS COMMUNITY FINANCE | BLACK RIVER FALLS, WI | $25,664 | 2024 | KEEPING PEOPLE HOUSE |
| LAKOTA FUNDS | KYLE, SD | $22,558 | 2024 | GRANT |
| TAALA FUND | TAHOLAH, WA | $20,100 | 2024 | GRANT |
| NORTHERN SHORES COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT GROUP | PETOSKEY, MI | $20,100 | 2024 | GRANT |
| NIXYAAWII COMMUNITY FINANCIAL SVCS | PENDLETON, OR | $20,100 | 2024 | TRAINING STIPEND |
| PAKINI LOAN FUND | WAIANAE, HI | $20,100 | 2024 | GRANT |
| NIMIIPU COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT FUND | LAPWAI, ID | $20,100 | 2024 | TRAINING STIPEND |
| FIVE RIVERS | HAPPY CAMP, CA | $20,000 | 2024 | GRANT |
| NPH | GALLUP, NM | $20,000 | 2024 | GRANT |
| PLACE TO BORROW MONEY | PAWHUSKA, OK | $20,000 | 2024 | GRANT |
| TIWA LENDING | ISLETA, NM | $9,826 | 2024 | TECH GRANT |
| TATANKA FUNDS INC | MISSION, SD | $9,330 | 2024 | GRANT |
ST CROIX CHIPPEWA OF INDIANS
$452,615HVAC GRANT
TOLOWA DEE-NI' NATION
$452,605YEAR 1 SUBGRANT
ALUTIIQ TRIBE OF OLD HARBOR
$343,360SUBGRANT
CONFEDERATED SALISH AND KOOTENAI
$219,771GRANT
VILLAGE OF SOLOMON
$182,674GRANT
TIWA LENDING SERVICES
$69,689WF WORTH GRANT
PONCA TRIBE OF NEBRASKA
GRANT
HAWAIIAN LENDING AND INVESTMENTS
$40,750WF WORTH GRANT
COUNCIL FOR NATIVE HAWAIIAN
$37,782NHCN SUBGRANT
CEDAR GROWTH (FNCF)
$19,419NHCN SUBGRANT
WHITE EARTH INVESTMENT INITIATIVE
$16,296NHCN SUBGRANT
NORTHERN SHORES COMMUNITY
$10,000GRANT
WESTWATER FINANCIAL INC
$5,500TRAINING STIPEND
CONFEDERATED SALISH AND KOOTENAI TRIBES
$2,621,943USDA SUBGRANT
HOMESTEAD COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CORP
$500,000GRANT
HAWAII COMMUNITY ASSETS
$250,100GRANT
HI HOME RESOLUTIONS INC
$250,000GRANT
COUNCIL FOR NATIVE HAWAIIAN ADVANCEMENT
$250,000GRANT
COOK INLET LENDING CENTER INC
$151,100GRANT
ST CROIX CHIPPEWA OF INDIANS
$76,000GRANT
WHITE EARTH INVESTMENT INITIATIVE
$51,123TECH GRANT
WESTWATER FINANCIAL INC
$40,100MATCHING GRANT
HAWAIIAN LENDING & INVESTMENTS
$29,230WORTH SUBGRANT
BLACK HILLS CLF INC
$26,830EMERGING GRANT
FIRST NATIONS COMMUNITY FINANCE
$25,664KEEPING PEOPLE HOUSE
TAALA FUND
$20,100GRANT
NORTHERN SHORES COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT GROUP
$20,100GRANT
PAKINI LOAN FUND
$20,100GRANT
NIMIIPU COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT FUND
$20,100TRAINING STIPEND
FIVE RIVERS
$20,000GRANT
NPH
$20,000GRANT
PLACE TO BORROW MONEY
$20,000GRANT
TIWA LENDING
$9,826TECH GRANT
TATANKA FUNDS INC
$9,330GRANT
