The Future is Indigenous Women

What The Future is Indigenous Women does

The Future is Indigenous Women (TFIIW) is a nonprofit initiative established in 2021 as a strategic partnership between New Mexico Community Capital (NMCC, founded 2004) and Native Women Lead (NWL, founded 2017) to create economic pathways for Indigenous women entrepreneurs in the United States. Headquartered in Albuquerque, New Mexico, TFIIW provides a suite of economic empowerment programs including the Matriarch Creative Fund and Matriarch Restorative Fund (low-interest loan programs offering $5,000-$10,000), the Circle of Support technical assistance and mentorship program, the Business and Marketing Essentials course, and the Rematriating Economies Apprenticeship for asset management careers. Over three years, the organization has served 2,429 Indigenous women entrepreneurs, reached 480 tribes, nations, and pueblos, and disbursed $2.3 million in low-interest loans.

TFIIW's programmatic model centers on the "Waterway" theory of change — a relational, restorative economic ecosystem designed to circulate capital within Indigenous communities rather than extract value outward, supported by the "Ancestral Ledger" framework. The organization is not a technology company; it operates primarily through in-person workshops, trainings, summits, one-on-one coaching (500+ hours delivered), cohort-based program delivery, and storytelling initiatives including the Tiny Yucca Room Sessions video series and the annual TFIIW Zine publication. A physical Resilience Hub in downtown Albuquerque serves as community gathering space. The upcoming Seedling Loan Fund, launching June 2026 through NWL, will extend accessible, character-based capital to aspiring Native women entrepreneurs.

The organization's revenue is derived from grants, challenge awards, and donations rather than commercial sales. The foundational funding was a $10 million award from the Equality Can't Wait Challenge (won in 2020, awarded by Melinda French Gates), supplemented by individual donations, large-donor partnerships, and direct partnership inquiries. Strategic partners include Community Credit Lab, Common Future, Nusenda Credit Union, and Roanhorse Consulting LLC. TFIIW operates without a traditional product-based pricing model, reinvesting all capital into Indigenous women entrepreneurs through grants, loans, and programmatic services delivered at no cost to beneficiaries.

Name

The Future is Indigenous Women

Legal name

The Future Is Indigenous Women

Website

https://thefutureisindigenouswomen.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2021

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Future is Indigenous Women is a nonprofit initiative delivering low-interest loans, mentorship, and community programs to Indigenous women entrepreneurs across the United States, having served 2,429 entrepreneurs and 480 tribes through a partnership between NMCC and Native Women Lead.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Economic Empowerment Services

NAICS

Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Dropout Prevention, Alternative Education & Re-Engagement Nonprofits (BPAGADAL)

Keywords

• Indigenous women empowerment
• Small business loans
• Entrepreneurship programs
• Community development
• Nonprofit microlending

Headquarters

HQ city

Albuquerque

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: The organization accepts individual donations through its website, with stated focus on community support where every donation goes toward serving Indigenous women entrepreneurs.
2. Grants and Challenge Winnings: TFIIW won the Equality Can't Wait Challenge which awarded $10 million to help expand women's power and influence. The organization seeks investments and partnerships with funders, organizations, businesses, and individuals.
3. Large Donations and Partnership Inquiries: The organization accepts large donations and partners with businesses and organizations that can benefit their community through direct contact inquiries.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

TFIIW is a nonprofit economic empowerment initiative that supports Indigenous women entrepreneurs through low-interest loan programs (Matriarch Creative Fund, Matriarch Restorative Fund, Seedling Loan Fund), mentorship and coaching (Circle of Support), business education courses, and a financial asset management apprenticeship (Rematriating Economies Apprenticeship). Programs are led by Native women for Native women and are funded primarily by grants and donations.

Product overview

The Future Is Indigenous Women (TFIIW) is a non-profit initiative providing a suite of economic empowerment programs for Indigenous women entrepreneurs. The core offerings include the Matriarch Creative Fund and Matriarch Restorative Fund (low-interest loan programs of $5,000-$10,000 each), supported by the Circle of Support mentorship and coaching program and the Business and Marketing Essentials course. Additional programs include the Rematriating Economies Apprenticeship for asset management careers, the Seedling Loan Fund for aspiring entrepreneurs, and storytelling initiatives including the Tiny Yucca Room Sessions video series and annual TFIIW Zine publication. The organization operates as a partnership between New Mexico Community Capital and Native Women Lead.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Matriarch Creative Fund: Low-interest loan program for Native women creative entrepreneurs ranging from $5,000 to $10,000, accompanied by Circle of Support technical assistance.
• Matriarch Restorative Fund
• Circle of Support
• Waterway
• Ancestral Ledger

Products and services

• Matriarch Creative Fund Loan program providing low-interest loans of $5,000 to $10,000 to Native women creative entrepreneurs in fields such as culinary arts, photography, fashion, beauty, and consulting, accompanied by technical support and mentorship through the Circle of Support program.
• Matriarch Restorative Fund Loan program designed to increase access to equitable capital, small business sustainability and growth, economic safety nets, successful repayment, and credit enhancement for Native women entrepreneurs. Led by Native women for Native women.
• Circle of Support Technical assistance and mentorship program providing 1:1 coaching, mentorship opportunities, and access to the Business and Marketing Essentials course for Indigenous women entrepreneurs receiving Matriarch fund support.
• Business and Marketing Essentials Course Course that teaches participants how to effectively conceptualize, plan, and implement their business ideas and financial goals through hands-on learning experiences within a community of peers and mentors.
• Rematriating Economies Apprenticeship (REA) Five-month apprenticeship funded by TFIIW encouraging greater representation of US-based Indigenous women in professions related to asset and fund management. Apprentices learn foundational financial asset management content, work with trauma-informed facilitators, and develop post-apprenticeship career blueprints.
• Seedling Loan Fund Accessible, flexible capital program designed for aspiring Native women entrepreneurs and Native women in business, focused on character, relationships, culture, and community impact rather than credit scores.

Quantifiable outcome

• 2,429 Indigenous women entrepreneurs served over 3 years
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and flagship.

• Roanhorse Consulting LLCcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023In 2023, TFIIW partnered with Roanhorse Consulting LLC to launch the Rematriating Economies Apprenticeship (REA), a 5-month program encouraging greater representation of US-based Indigenous women in professions related to asset and fund management. Apprentices learn foundational financial asset management from industry experts, work with trauma-informed facilitators, and develop post-apprenticeship career blueprints. Vanessa Roanhorse is CEO.
• Community Credit LabflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Partnered with TFIIW to officially launch the Matriarch Restorative Fund Cohort and Matriarch Creative Fund Cohort in year one, disbursing $420,000 total funds invested.
• Common FuturecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Financial partner providing support for the Matriarch funds and loan programs. Jamie Gloshay (Navajo/White Mountain Apache/Kiowa) serves as Managing Director of Impact Investments at Common Future and is a TFIIW collaborator.
• New Mexico Community Capital (NMCC)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020NMCC is one of two co-founding organizations of TFIIW, established in 2004. NMCC offers Native-owned businesses tailored mentorship, financial literacy and digital skills programs, and specialized technical assistance for tribes and tribal enterprises. NMCC provides program management team members (Hillary Frost and Jake Foreman) who spearhead the Circle of Support mentorship program.
• Native Women Lead (NWL)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2017NWL is the other co-founding organization, founded by eight Native women entrepreneurs dedicated to revolutionizing systems and inspiring innovation by investing in Native women in business and leadership. NWL launched the Seedling Loan Fund (June 2026) and manages the Matriarch Creative Fund.

Scale indicators8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Native Women Lead: Co-founding organization of TFIIW and direct operator of the Seedling Loan Fund and Matriarch Creative Fund. Serves the same Indigenous women entrepreneur segment with similar loan-plus-coaching model, making it the most directly comparable peer.
• New Mexico Community Capital (NMCC): The other co-founding organization of TFIIW, providing program management, financial infrastructure, and Circle of Support delivery. Operates the broader Native-owned business mentorship and technical assistance model that TFIIW extends.
• First Nations Development Institute: Long-standing Native-led nonprofit focused on economic development in Native communities, providing grants, capacity building, and direct financial support to Native entrepreneurs and tribes. Comparable in mission, beneficiary base, and grantmaking model.
• Running Strong for American Indian Youth: National nonprofit serving Native American communities through programs in youth development, cultural preservation, and economic self-sufficiency. Comparable as a Native-focused, community-driven nonprofit delivering services to tribes and individuals across the U.S.
• Common Future (formerly NDN Collective's impact investing arm equivalent): Existing TFIIW financial partner (Jamie Gloshay, Navajo/White Mountain Apache/Kiowa, is Managing Director of Impact Investments). A Native-led impact-investing organization supporting Indigenous economic self-determination, directly comparable on the capital-deployment-plus-coaching model.
• Community Credit Lab: Existing TFIIW partner that co-launched the Matriarch funds. Focused on building credit and capital access for underserved entrepreneurs, directly comparable on alternative-credit lending and small-dollar capital deployment.

Emerging players

• Center for Native American Youth (CNAY): Native youth-focused nonprofit with economic opportunity programs for young Native Americans. Compares to TFIIW on beneficiary demographic (Native community) and on combining community programs with advocacy and capacity building, though focused on youth rather than women entrepreneurs specifically.
• Native Forward Scholars Fund (formerly American Indian Science and Engineering Society): Native-led nonprofit providing scholarships, fellowships, and capacity-building for Indigenous students and professionals. Comparable as a Native-serving organization with both direct program delivery and a growing emphasis on workforce/economic mobility.

Broad incumbents

• Grameen America: Large-scale U.S. microfinance nonprofit providing small loans, financial education, and peer support to low-income women entrepreneurs. Comparable business model (micro-loans + coaching to underserved women entrepreneurs), though focused on poverty rather than Indigenous identity.
• Kiva U.S. Global crowdfunding-based microlender that has expanded into U.S. small-business lending. Comparable on small-dollar, character-based, community-supported lending to underserved entrepreneurs, but operates at much greater scale and via different mechanics.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about The Future is Indigenous Women