WELCOME Welcome to Nixyaawii Community Financial Services (NCFS), a Certified Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI), owned and operated by the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation. Native CDFIs build equitable economies in Native communities by opening doors to loans, extending credit to thriving businesses, generating good jobs, and expanding access to new opportunities. They build trust, strong community relationships, and self-determination to help Native communities overcome challenges of accessing credit and building assets created by economic systems that have harmed them or ignored their needs. Native CDFIs are engines of opportunity, offering accessible funding for resourceful and resilient communities in Indian County. They weave partners, funding, and networks together to create lasting prosperity and opportunities shared by all. Nixyaawii Community Financial Services has merged the services of the CTUIR Homeownership, Business Development, and Lending Programs to create a single full-service credit, loan, and financial management resource designed to serve tribal members, reservation residents, and Tribal employees. We look forward to serving you soon! Organization Nixyaawii Community Financial Services (NCFS) is a Native Community Development Financial Institution loan fund that provides loans, homeownership assistance, business development services, youth and adult financial education to members of the Umatilla Confederated Tribes, Reservation residents, and Tribal employees. NCFS is working to improve the financial well-being of individuals and families through safe and affordable loans and credit, and helping to build personal assets and wealth. Coaching, training, and asset-building services are available for new and existing small businesses to ensure sustainability and growth. History The Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Reservation has established a Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) to serve Tribal Members, reservation residents, and Tribal employees. CDFIâ_Ts are specialized financial institutions that serve geographically defined low-income communities and/or populations that lack access to financing. The Tribes were methodical in preparation for this new entity with a significant community survey and feasibility analysis conducted in 2015 and a Business Plan completed in August 2016. In 2019, Dave Tovey was named Executive Director and led the way in establishing the policy foundation of the NCFS, finalizing the membership of the board of directors, and working out operational details. Non-profit corporation status was secured from the IRS on February 11, 2020. The CTUIR Board of Trustees formally approved the NCFS business plan on February 24, 2020, by Tribal resolution 20-015. That resolution called for the consolidation of the WRC Business Development Services, the Housing Departmentâ_Ts Homeownership Program, and the Tribal Credit Program under the new NCFS organization. Start-up support and funding were secured through the Community Development Financial Institute, grants from Northwest Area Foundation and Spirit Mountain Community Fund, and technical support from the Oweesta Corporation.