Native CDFI Practitioner Certification Program

Strengthening Native CDFIs

Oweesta Corporation offers a Native CDFI Practitioner Certification Program uniquely adapted to the cultural context of Native CDFIs. This training provides an overview of all areas of Native CDFI operations, including basic financial management, lending, development services, impact tracking, marketing, capitalization, and more. The Certification Program offers four tracks (with additional options for Native CDFI Board members) to specialize in Lending, Executive Management, Development Services, and/or Financial Management; each of which include a series of trainings.

This training program is unmatched. It was developed following extensive key information interviews with Native CDFI practitioners, consultants, and Oweesta partners and teaches on activities specific to Native CDFI practitioners, such as performing collateral perfection on Indian trust land or leveraging resources available only to Tribal nations.

To learn more about the Certification Program, contact Director of Programs Heather Rademacher Taylor at heather@oweesta.org.

Certification Program Brochure

Download a one-page overview of the Certification Program.

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Fundamentals Week – Option to Test Out

Fundamentals Week is a required foundational training for each track. For seasoned professionals who already have the fundamentals down, we have an option to test out of this training. Requirements are:

  • 3 years of experience in the industry, assessed via the registration survey
  • Pass a 30-minute, proctored test with at least 70%
  • $50 exam registration fee

Tracks

Executive Specialization Track

Training ProgramTentative DatesLocation
Fundamentals WeekMarch 2023TBD
Effective Fundraising and CapitalizationAugust 30 – September 1, 2022San Francisco, CA
Financial Management II –
Asset/Liability Management, Financial Statement Analysis & Reporting, Budgeting
April 2023TBD
Executive TrainingNovember 2023TBD

Financial Management Specialization Track

Training ProgramDates
Fundamentals WeekFebruary 6-10, 2023
Financial Management I –
Accounting Principles, Nonprofit Financial Statements, Fund Accounting
February 21-23, 2023
Financial Management II –
Asset/Liability Management, Financial Statement Analysis & Reporting, Budgeting
April 25-27, 2023

Lending Specialization Track

Training ProgramDatesLocation
Fundamentals WeekFebruary 6-10 2023Virtual
Underwriting – Consumer, Business, HousingSeptember 27-29, 2023In-person, TBD
Loan Portfolio ManagementOctober 31-November 2In-person, TBD

Development Services Specialization Track

Training ProgramDatesLocation
Fundamentals WeekFebruary 6-10, 2023Virtual
Two of the following Building Native Communities (BNC) trainingsDatesLocation
BNC CoachingMarch 28-30, 2023Sacramento, CA
BNC YouthJuly 18-20, 2023Missoula, MT
BNC Financial SkillsAugust 21-25, 2023Virtual
BNC Financial SkillsSeptember 26-28, 2023Norman, OR