Sequoyah Fund

What Sequoyah Fund does

Sequoyah Fund, legally The Sequoyah Fund, Inc., is a private nonprofit Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) founded in 1998 and headquartered at 810 Acquoni Road in Cherokee, North Carolina. It provides direct lending, credit-building, housing rehabilitation financing, and small business training to enrolled members of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians (EBCI) and small businesses operating on the Qualla Boundary and the seven westernmost counties of North Carolina (Haywood, Jackson, Macon, Swain, Graham, Clay, and Cherokee). Its core lending products include business loans ($500–$150,000 at 5–12%), small dollar consumer loans (up to $2,500 at 10% fixed), credit builder loans (up to $2,500 at 10% fixed for 2 years, paired with counseling), and housing rehabilitation loans (up to $50,000 at 4% fixed for up to 7 years). All-time cumulative impact through the website disclosure totals 921 investments and $29,085,539 deployed across 576 business loans, 263 housing loans, and 82 other loans.

The organization is supported by a diversified funder base — CDFI Fund, Cherokee Preservation Foundation, SBA, USDA Rural Development, First Nations Development Institute, and Wells Fargo among others — which supplements net interest margin with grant revenue and underwrites non-lending programs. These non-lending programs include financial literacy and credit counseling (delivered with OnTrack and ONAC), small business start-up training courses, youth entrepreneurship camps and the Kituwah Savings Program, and cultural-preservation initiatives such as Hidadelogwa (Cherokee language training for businesses), Authentically Cherokee (artist branding and marketplace), and Kananesgi (art/fashion platform on its own dedicated site). Distribution is multi-channel: in-person consultations at Cherokee headquarters, fixed monthly outreach through the Sequoyah Far West program to Franklin, Hayesville, and Andrews, an online application portal at sequoyahfund.commongoalsapp.com, and referrals from SCORE, SBTDC, EBCI Enterprise Development Center, and community college Small Business Centers. The organization employs 8 staff, including CEO Russ Seagle (since 2009), COO Hope Huskey (since 2013), and CFO Ashford Smith (since 2023). Revenue is not publicly disclosed; the operating model is nonprofit CDFI, with governance by an EBCI-inclusive Board of Directors.

Name

Sequoyah Fund

Legal name

The Sequoyah Fund, Inc.

Website

https://sequoyahfund.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1998

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Sequoyah Fund is a nonprofit CDFI founded in 1998 in Cherokee, NC, providing small business, consumer, credit-builder, and housing rehabilitation loans to enrolled Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians members and small businesses across western North Carolina.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Development Lending

NAICS

Educational Services (611), Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Personal Credit Institutions (6141)

akta.pro primary industry

Impact Investing & Social Finance (Funds, CDFIs, Microfinance) (BPAGALAA)

Keywords

• Community development lending
• Small business loans
• Consumer lending
• Housing rehabilitation loans
• Financial literacy education

Headquarters

HQ city

Cherokee

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Business Loan Interest: Interest income from small business loans ranging from $500 to $150,000. Loans are made to startups (up to $50,000) and expanding businesses (up to $150,000) with interest rates ranging from 5% to 12% depending on creditworthiness and risk factors.
2. Housing Rehabilitation Loans: Interest income from housing rehab loans up to $50,000 at 4% fixed interest rate for up to 7 years (84 months), available to enrolled EBCI members for energy efficiency and home improvement projects.
3. Consumer/Small Dollar Loans: Small dollar consumer loans up to $2,500 at a low fixed rate of 10%, repayable in three per capita cycles. Also credit builder loans up to $2,500 at 10% fixed for 2 years.
4. Grants and Funded Programs: Funding from CDFI Fund, Cherokee Preservation Foundation, USDA, SBA, and other partners to support operations and specific programs like Hidadelogwa (language/culture training for businesses) and youth entrepreneurship.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Sequoyah Fund is a nonprofit Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) that lends to enrolled members of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians (EBCI) and small businesses in western North Carolina. It offers business loans ($500–$150,000), small dollar consumer loans (up to $2,500), credit builder loans (up to $2,500), and housing rehabilitation loans (up to $50,000), complemented by training, financial literacy, credit counseling, youth entrepreneurship, and Cherokee cultural preservation programs.

Product overview

Sequoyah Fund operates as a Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) providing a portfolio of financial products and services focused on serving enrolled members of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians (EBCI). The core offerings center on loan products: Business Loans (up to $150,000 for start-ups and expansion), Small Dollar Consumer Loans (up to $2,500), Credit Builder Loans (up to $2,500 with counseling program), and Housing Rehab Loans (up to $50,000 for energy efficiency). These are accessible through an Online Loan Application Portal and Sequoyah Far West outreach service. Supporting non-lending programs include Financial Literacy Programs, Credit Counseling (via ONAC), Small Business Training Courses, and Youth Entrepreneurship Programs (Youth Camp, Kituwah Savings, Youth Fundraising). Cultural programs include Hidadelogwa (Cherokee language training for businesses), Authentically Cherokee (artist marketplace), and Kananesgi (art market platform). The organization serves the Qualla Boundary and seven western North Carolina counties.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Business Loans Small business loans ranging from $500 to $150,000 for start-ups (up to $50,000) and expanding businesses (up to $150,000) on the Qualla Boundary and in seven westernmost NC counties; interest rates 5%–12%, terms up to 120 months, fully amortized monthly payments, no pre-payment penalty.
• Small Dollar Consumer Loans Consumer loans up to $2,500 at a 10% fixed interest rate, repayable within three per capita cycles, available to enrolled EBCI members on the Qualla Boundary or in western NC counties; not usable for debt consolidation, auto purchases, or combined with other loans.
• Credit Builder Loans Loans up to $2,500 at 10% fixed interest over a 2-year term, bundled with a year-long program that includes one-on-one credit counseling, group education, and credit score improvement; for enrolled EBCI members with credit scores below 650.
• Housing Rehabilitation Loans Loans up to $50,000 at a 4% fixed interest rate for up to 7 years (84 months), available to enrolled EBCI members on the Qualla Boundary or in western NC counties for energy efficiency upgrades and home improvements such as insulation, appliances, HVAC, windows, doors, and remodels; requires 450+ credit score and proof of employment.
• Small Business Training Courses Small Business Start-Up course offered multiple times per year in partnership with the EBCI Department of Commerce at the Ginger Lynn Welch Complex; includes course materials and instruction on business planning, mission statements, and business plan development; priced at $65 per participant.
• Financial Literacy Programs Personal budgeting assistance, credit report analysis, and credit score improvement services delivered through confidential counseling and education sessions for community members.
• Credit Counseling Free, confidential credit counseling and money management coaching for Native Americans, provided in coordination with ONAC (Oklahoma Native Assets Coalition).
• Youth Entrepreneurship Programs Youth-focused offerings including the Youth Entrepreneurship Camp for ages 10-14, the Kituwah Savings Program at Kituwah Language Academy, and Youth Fundraising using the REAL Entrepreneurship curriculum, aimed at building financial literacy, savings habits, and entrepreneurship skills.

Quantifiable outcome

• 921 total investments made
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• EBCI Division of CommercecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint delivery of Small Business Start-Up courses and Enterprise Development Center services for tribal entrepreneurs.
• OweestamajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNative CDFI support organization providing technical assistance and resources for Native community development financial institutions.
• SCOREmajorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerService Corps of Retired Executives provides expert business mentoring, confidential counseling, and specialized industry experience for Sequoyah Fund clients.
• Western Carolina University SBTDCmajorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerSmall Business & Technology Development Center provides consulting and resources for high-tech startups and businesses needing import/export expertise.
• OnTrack Financial Education & CounselingmajorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerProvides financial education and credit counseling services for individuals seeking to build credit, improve scores, and manage debt.
• ONABENminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNative American Business Network providing resources and support for tribal business development.
• Opportunity Finance Network (OFN)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational network of CDFIs providing peer learning, advocacy, and resources for community development lenders.
• Mountain BizWorksminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLocal small business support organization serving western North Carolina entrepreneurs.
• EBCI Enterprise Development CentermajorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerProvides business development services and resources for EBCI tribal members seeking to start businesses on Qualla Boundary.
• Community College Small Business CentersmajorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerPartnerships with Haywood, Southwestern, and Tri-County Community College SBCs provide business planning and counseling for local entrepreneurs.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Regional players

• Mountain BizWorks: Western North Carolina-based CDFI providing small business loans, coaching, and education to small businesses in the same geographic region as Sequoyah — overlapping target geography and SMB lending model.

Direct peers

• Wind River Development Fund: Tribal CDFI on the Wind River Reservation serving Eastern Shoshone and Northern Arapaho with small business and consumer loans. Directly comparable mission, products, and tribal CDFI structure.
• Cook Inlet Tribal Council (CITC): Alaska Native tribal nonprofit providing lending, business development, and workforce services to Alaska Native/American Indian people. Comparable CDFI-aligned lending plus wraparound community programs.
• NDN Fund: Native-led CDFI deploying capital to Native communities and enterprises across the U.S. Comparable impact-lending model with grant-funded technical assistance.
• Lakota Fund: Native CDFI serving the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota with small business loans, housing loans, and credit-builder products. Closest operational peer — same loan products, similar target population, similar scale.
• Four Directions Community Development Financial Institution: Native CDFI offering small business, consumer, and mortgage lending to Native American borrowers across multiple states. Closely comparable product suite and community-development mission.
• Oweesta Corporation: Native CDFI intermediary providing capital, training, and technical assistance to Native CDFIs across the U.S. Most direct peer given its near-identical mission of supporting tribal community development lending, including Sequoyah as a client.
• Northwest Native Development Fund: Native CDFI serving Pacific Northwest tribes with small business loans, credit builder products, and financial education. Comparable product mix and tribal community-development focus.

Broad incumbents

• Native American Bank: Tribally-owned national bank offering commercial, consumer, and mortgage lending to Native American communities. Broader incumbent with depository capabilities Sequoyah lacks but serving overlapping Native borrowers.

Others

• Cherokee Nation Businesses: Tribal-owned holding company of the Cherokee Nation (Oklahoma) operating diverse businesses including financial services. Same tribal nation ethos but broader commercial scope; relevant ecosystem player rather than direct competitor.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/sequoyahthe
• Facebookfacebook.com/sequoyahfund
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/sequoyah-fund-inc-

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 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 Sequoyah Fund