Lakota Funds is the only commercial lender based on the expansive 7000 square miles of the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation.

Lakota Funds provides services in five areas: technical assistance, financial literacy, housing, financial capital and market access.

Wawókiye Business Institute (WBI)

The Wawókiye Business Institute is an award-winning program of small business facilitation and success coaching focused on the needs of our clients. Most of our clients are first generation entrepreneurs, working to overcome enormous obstacles.

The Wawókiye Business Institute creates a nurturing environment for community businesses and aspiring entrepreneurs by providing trained business success coaches. The coaches work in the community helping each business and potential entrepreneur to remove barriers and achieve their dreams and goals.

Wawókiye is the Lakota concept of generosity, helping without expecting rewards or payment. Wawokiye Business Institute feels that one component of a strong nation is a strong sovereign economy.

More information on WBI

Individual Development Accounts (IDA)

The Lakota Fund started the Lakota Tiwahe (Family Savings) IDA program in 2001. The first Native IDA in the state of South Dakota. The program was awarded a grant in 2001 from the Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families. The funding will be used to assist thirty low- to moderate- income families acquire an asset and build a path towards self-sufficiency.

Each client sets a goal to save enough money to make a down payment on a home, start a business or go to school. Each dollar that is deposited into an IDA account is matched 2:1, up to $1800.

More information on IDA

Housing

In 1997 Lakota Funds made history again by creating the first Native American, tax credit-financed, low-income housing project in America designed as a rent-to-equity project.

The goal is to turn tenants into homeowners of the two, three and four bedroom homes through the IDA program and classes on homeownership and financial literacy.

We intend to begin turning the ownership of these homes over to the tenants as the tax credits mature.

Lending Services

Lakota Funds started as a micro lender in1987, and has since helped over 1600 craft people and artists. Over $4 million has been invested in our community, and our loan size has grown from $500 to $200,000, for everyone from small artists to resorts, contractors and stores. In addition to lending capital, Lakota Funds packages loans with off reservation banks in order to assist small businesses. We estimate that the current demand for small business capital is over $10,000,000 in non-agricultural lending. The goal of the 1000 Arrows Campaign is to fill this demand through donations, investments, grants and leveraged capital.

Oyate Woableza Otipi Project (The place of understanding the people)

Oyate Woableza Oitpi will develop and implement two new loan products customized to fit community needs to be offered by Lakota Funds in 2006. The project will develop and improve Lakota Funds loan and investment policies, and general the community.

More information on OWOP