Lakota Funds
Lakota Funds is a 501(c)(3) non-profit and the country's first Native American CDFI, founded in 1986 on the Pine Ridge Reservation in Kyle, South Dakota. It provides business loans ($500-$2M), matched savings, financial coaching, and workforce development to enrolled tribal members on or within 50 miles of the reservation.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1986
- HeadquartersKyle, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Lakota Funds does
Lakota Funds is a 501(c)(3) non-profit and U.S. Treasury-certified Native Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI), established in 1986 on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in Kyle, South Dakota, as the country's first Native American CDFI. It provides business loans ranging from $500 to $2,000,000 to enrolled tribal members on or within 50 miles of the Pine Ridge Reservation exterior boundaries, with an active loan portfolio exceeding $27 million and cumulative deployment of nearly $58 million across more than 1,600 business loans since inception. The core product suite includes Business Loans, Credit Builder Loans (up to $2,500), Art Builder Microloans (up to $1,000), Business Lines of Credit (1-year term), Agriculture and Food Sovereignty Loans (including FSA-guaranteed mortgages), Construction and Contracting Loans, and Artist Loans. Rates start at 6% APR on the lending side, with investor capital deployed at an average 2.5% interest rate over a 3-year term. Asset Development includes Matched Savings Accounts (2:1 standard, 4:1 for Veterans), personal and business finance coaching, Pathways Home homebuyer education, and free Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA). Workforce Development is anchored by the Construction Internship Program (275+ interns since 2017, ~50% conversion to employment or business launch), a Tribal Contractor Capacity Building Program, and a Residential Inspection Certification Program, in partnership with the South Dakota Native Homeownership Coalition. The Opportunity Ecosystems pillar extends reach through Lakota Federal Credit Union (the only depository institution on the reservation), the Oglala Lakota Arts Center (with First Peoples Fund and ArtSpace), and the South Dakota Native Homeownership Coalition. Technology is non-proprietary: a Squarespace website, Formstack-hosted online loan applications, and Omnicommander back-office. The organization operates with approximately 8 staff plus an 8-member board led by Executive Director Tawney Brunsch and Deputy Director Ellen White Thunder, funded through a mix of government grants ($5M EDA Good Jobs Challenge 2022, $2.3M CDFI Fund 2023), foundation grants (Kellogg, Ford, Mott, Bush, Walton, NAAF, etc.), corporate support (Citi, Wells Fargo, Starbucks, HP), and below-market impact investor capital.
Lakota Funds firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Lakota Funds
- Legal name
- Lakota Funds
- Website
- https://lakotafunds.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1986
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Lakota Funds is a 501(c)(3) non-profit and the country's first Native American CDFI, founded in 1986 on the Pine Ridge Reservation in Kyle, South Dakota. It provides business loans ($500-$2M), matched savings, financial coaching, and workforce development to enrolled tribal members on or within 50 miles of the reservation.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Lakota Funds industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Native Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) Lending
- NAICS
- Educational Support Services (611710)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Tribal Four-Year Colleges & Universities (Bachelor’s–Granting) (EDAHANAB)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Tribal Technical & Workforce Development Colleges (Trades/Applied Programs) (EDAHANAE)
Keywords
Where Lakota Funds is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Kyle
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Lakota Funds business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Loan Interest Income: Primary revenue stream from interest on business loans, credit builder loans, microloans, and lines of credit originated to Native borrowers. Loan portfolio exceeds $27 million with maximum loan size of $2 million and competitive rates starting at 6% APR.
- Investor Capital & Repayments: Investments from institutions and individuals at flexible rates and terms, typically repaid within a 3-year period with an average interest rate of 2.5%. Capital is deployed into Native business loans.
- Grants and Tax-Deductible Donations: 501c3 non-profit status allows receipt of grants and tax-deductible donations from foundations (Kellogg, Ford, Mott, Bush, etc.), federal agencies (USDA, HHS/ACF, EDA), and corporate funders (Citi Foundation, Starbucks, Wells Fargo, Hewlett Packard).
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Business Loans: Up to $2,000,000 with competitive rates starting at 6% APR |
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Credit Builder Loan: Up to $2,500 to repair credit |
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Art Builder Microloan: Up to $1,000 for artists |
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Agriculture Loans: Equipment, inventory, real estate, FSA-guaranteed |
| Usage-based | Pay-as-you-go | Business Lines of Credit: 1-year term |
| Other | Multi-year contract | Investor returns: ~2.5% average interest, 3-year repayment |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels7 records
Lakota Funds product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Lakota Funds is a Native CDFI non-profit that originates business loans (up to $2,000,000), credit builder loans (up to $2,500), microloans for Native artists (up to $1,000), business lines of credit, and agriculture/construction loans to enrolled tribal members on or within 50 miles of the Pine Ridge Reservation. It complements lending with matched savings accounts (2:1 and Veterans 4:1), financial coaching, free VITA tax preparation, and a Construction Internship Program that places Native youth with local contractors.
Product overview
Lakota Funds operates a unified CDFI (Community Development Financial Institution) service platform rather than a single product, organized around four interconnected program pillars: the Lending Program (core, including Business Loans up to $2M, Credit Builder Loan, Art Builder Microloan, Business Lines of Credit, Agriculture & Food Sovereignty Loans, Construction & Contracting Loans, and Artist Loans); Asset Development (Matched Savings Accounts including the Veterans Matched Savings Program, Personal & Business Finance Coaching, Homeownership Support, and the VITA free tax preparation service); Workforce Development (the Construction Internship Program, Tribal Contractor Capacity Building Program, and Residential Inspection Certification Program); and Opportunity Ecosystems (a partnership umbrella coordinating with Lakota Federal Credit Union, the South Dakota Native Homeownership Coalition, and the Oglala Lakota Arts Center). All programs interlock—lending is anchored by the matched-savings and homeownership pathways, while workforce development is paired with matched savings accounts to convert earned income into long-term community assets, and the Opportunity Ecosystems layer extends the CDFI's reach through external depository, housing, and arts partners.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Lakota Funds Lending Program Core lending program for Native entrepreneurs on or within 50 miles of the Pine Ridge Reservation. Supports business loans from $500 to $2 million, with over 1,600 deployed loans and nearly $58 million in cumulative business financing since 1986. Loan portfolio exceeds $27 million.
- Business Loans General-purpose business loans up to $2,000,000 supporting various Native-owned businesses on the Pine Ridge Reservation, with competitive rates starting at 6% APR.
- Credit Builder Loan Loan product up to $2,500 designed to help borrowers repair or establish credit history. Application is hosted on Formstack.
- Art Builder Microloan Microloan product up to $1,000 targeted at Native artists for materials and start-up needs, paired with Art Equity Grants up to $2,500.
- Business Lines of Credit 1-year revolving line of credit for business operating expenses, available to Native entrepreneurs in the Lakota Funds service area.
- Agriculture & Food Sovereignty Loans Financing for Native farmers and ranchers covering equipment, inventory, real estate, and operating needs. Lakota Funds was the first lender in the region to offer Farm Service Agency (FSA) guaranteed loans, and partners with FSA to provide traditional mortgages to Native agricultural producers.
- Construction & Contracting Loans Targeted loan products for Native contractors enabling them to take on larger projects, hire workers, and purchase equipment. Includes business loans and a Tool Builder Loan product.
- Artist Loans Microloans providing emerging Native artists with materials and start-up capital, complemented by Art Equity Grants up to $2,500 for existing art-based businesses.
- Matched Savings Accounts
- Veterans Matched Savings Program Specialized matched savings program for Native veterans: Lakota Funds contributes an additional $8,000 to a veteran's $2,000 savings, providing $10,000 in total capital for ventures such as launching a business, purchasing a home, or pursuing advanced education.
- Personal & Business Finance Coaching One-on-one coaching and group training covering financial literacy (credit scores, budgeting, saving, investing), business planning, and homebuyer education delivered via Pathways Home. Classes held twice monthly in two communities on the reservation.
- Homeownership Support Suite of services supporting tribal members toward homeownership, including twice-monthly homebuyer education classes and mortgage support delivered in partnership with Lakota Federal Credit Union. Down payment assistance currently marked unavailable.
- Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) Free IRS-certified tax preparation and e-filing service for community members, with rotating sites across the reservation. Averages $250 in commercial tax preparation costs. Includes support for maximizing tax credits and direct deposit of refunds.
- Construction Internship Program (CIP) Workforce development program pairing young Native interns with local contractors (including Native-owned firms like Murdock Electric and Sod's Mechanical Contracting) for on-site construction training. Has placed more than 100 interns to date, leading approximately 50% to full-time employment. Includes OSHA 10, First Aid, CPR certifications, financial literacy training, and Matched Savings Accounts.
- Tribal Contractor Capacity Building Program Business development training program for local Native contractors, developed in partnership with the South Dakota Native Homeownership Coalition. Covers financial management, bidding/estimating, tax preparation, and critical safety certifications to reduce worker's compensation costs.
- Residential Inspection Certification Program Certification pathway for tribal members to become certified residential inspectors, launched alongside the South Dakota Native Homeownership Coalition to open construction-sector employment opportunities.
Quantifiable outcome
- Over 1,600 business loans deployed totaling nearly $58 million since 1986
- +6 more outcomes
Companies that use Lakota Funds
Customer profileNamed customers8 records
Segments7 records
Ideal customer profiles7 records
Lakota Funds technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration1 record
Feature3 records
Lakota Funds partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered flagship / core partner, core partner and minor partner.
- Lakota Federal Credit Unionflagship / core partnerLakota Funds helped spearhead the creation of the Lakota Federal Credit Union, the only depository institution on the Pine Ridge Reservation. The credit union provides checking and savings accounts, mortgage origination, and auto loans. The two organizations partner on one-stop homeownership services and on opening bank accounts for Construction Internship Program interns.
- South Dakota Native Homeownership Coalition (SDNHOC)flagship / core partnerCo-created with Lakota Funds and other organizations to create pathways to Native homeownership. Operates the Construction Internship Program (CIP) since 2017, the Tribal Contractor Capacity Building Program, the Residential Inspection Certification Program, and the Building Jobs, Building Homes project supported by a $5 million EDA Good Jobs Challenge grant.
- First Peoples Fundcore partnerLakota Funds partnered with First Peoples Fund to launch the Oglala Lakota Arts Center on Pine Ridge, supporting artists as entrepreneurs and culture bearers with studio/gallery space, business development training, and access to financial services.
- Oglala Lakota Arts Center (OLA) / ArtSpacecore partnerHub launched jointly by Lakota Funds, First Peoples Fund, and ArtSpace to provide local artists with studio and gallery space, computers for digital work, and electronic marketplace access.
- South Dakota School of Mines (via EDA Good Jobs Challenge)core partnerPartnership with the South Dakota School of Mines to deliver the Lakota Funds Scholarship - Good Jobs Challenge, providing civil engineering scholarships to Native women students. Supported by a $5 million EDA Good Jobs Challenge grant through the Building Jobs, Building Homes project.
- NeighborWorks Americacore partnerNeighborWorks logo displayed on Lakota Funds homepage as an affiliated network partner providing capacity and training support to community development organizations.
- First Nations Development Instituteflagship / core partnerCo-founding partner that helped establish Lakota Funds in 1986 with Oglala Lakota College. Continued institutional supporter.
- Oglala Lakota Collegeflagship / core partnerCo-founding partner that helped establish Lakota Funds in 1986 with First Nations Development Institute.
- Opportunity Finance Network (OFN)minor partnerCDFI industry association; institutional supporter/network partner.
- South Dakota Governor's Office of Economic Developmentminor partnerState government economic development partner/funder.
- Murdock Electric Inc.core partnerLongstanding, Native-owned and operated business based on Pine Ridge Reservation. Hosts Construction Internship Program interns (Aubrie, Charles Mercado); has hired multiple CIP graduates full-time.
- Sod's Mechanical Contractingcore partnerLocal contractor hosting Lakota Funds Construction Internship Program interns (Kaden and Autumn Zimiga); converted interns to full-time employees in plumbing and HVAC.
Scale indicators9 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Lakota Funds competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Four Bands Community Fund: Native CDFI on the Cheyenne River Reservation offering business loans, credit builder loans, and matched savings to Native entrepreneurs. Lakota Funds and Four Bands co-funded the record $2M Wicked Wrenches loan in 2025, demonstrating direct operational comparability.
- Lakota Federal Credit Union: Federally insured depository institution serving the Oglala Lakota community on Pine Ridge, co-spawned by Lakota Funds. Offers checking, savings, mortgages, and auto loans — directly comparable products to Lakota Funds' lending products, but delivered via a depository charter.
- South Dakota Native Homeownership Coalition: Statewide Native homeownership coalition co-created with Lakota Funds. Operates the Construction Internship Program and homeownership pathways — directly comparable programmatic activities on a broader South Dakota footprint.
Broad incumbents
- Oweesta Corporation: The leading Native CDFI intermediary providing capital and capacity-building to Native CDFIs including Lakota Funds. Operates broadly across the Native CDFI sector with a wider portfolio role than Lakota Funds' single-reservation focus.
- First Nations Development Institute: National Native-led nonprofit focused on strengthening Native economies through grantmaking, capacity building, and direct lending. Co-founded Lakota Funds in 1986 and remains a strategic peer across the Native CDFI and asset-building ecosystem.
- NeighborWorks America: National CDFI network and capacity-builder supporting community development organizations, including Lakota Funds. Operates broadly across housing and community development, making it a thematic incumbent rather than a direct competitor.
Emerging players
- NDN Collective: National Indigenous-led organization providing grants, capacity-building, and direct capital (e.g., Collective Abundance down payment assistance) to Native communities. Partial overlap with Lakota Funds' homeownership and wealth-building programs.
- First Peoples Fund: Native-led nonprofit supporting Native artists and culture bearers through grants and capacity-building. Partnered with Lakota Funds to launch the Oglala Lakota Arts Center, providing overlapping cultural-economic development services.
Others
- Native American Agriculture Fund (NAAF): Major institutional funder of Native agricultural programs, including agricultural lending to Lakota Funds. Operates as an adjacent funder/grantmaker rather than a competing lender, but provides overlapping agricultural-loan capital across Native communities.
- AEO (Aspen Institute Economic Opportunities Program): National funder and capacity-builder for community development financial institutions and under-resourced entrepreneurs. Listed among Lakota Funds' institutional supporters; comparable mission alignment though not a direct competitor.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Lakota Funds social profiles
Digital presenceLakota Funds compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance3 records
Lakota Funds financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Lakota Funds leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles15 records
Lakota Funds subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
Lakota Funds funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors1 record
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Lakota Funds M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Lakota Funds
What does Lakota Funds do?
Lakota Funds is a Native CDFI non-profit that originates business loans (up to $2,000,000), credit builder loans (up to $2,500), microloans for Native artists (up to $1,000), business lines of credit, and agriculture/construction loans to enrolled tribal members on or within 50 miles of the Pine Ridge Reservation. It complements lending with matched savings accounts (2:1 and Veterans 4:1), financial coaching, free VITA tax preparation, and a Construction Internship Program that places Native youth with local contractors.
Is Lakota Funds a public or private company?
Lakota Funds is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Lakota Funds founded?
Lakota Funds was founded in 1986. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Lakota Funds based?
Lakota Funds is headquartered in Kyle, United States, in the North America region.
How does Lakota Funds make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Loan Interest Income is the primary driver. The others are investor Capital & Repayments and grants and Tax-Deductible Donations.
Who are Lakota Funds's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Four Bands Community Fund, Lakota Federal Credit Union and South Dakota Native Homeownership Coalition. Broad incumbents are Oweesta Corporation, First Nations Development Institute and NeighborWorks America. Emerging players are NDN Collective and First Peoples Fund. Others are Native American Agriculture Fund (NAAF) and AEO (Aspen Institute Economic Opportunities Program).
Does Lakota Funds have an API?
No public API is recorded for Lakota Funds.
What industry is Lakota Funds in?
Lakota Funds's product category is Native Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) Lending. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAHANAB, Tribal Four-Year Colleges & Universities (Bachelor’s–Granting), with a secondary code of EDAHANAE, Tribal Technical & Workforce Development Colleges (Trades/Applied Programs). Its NAICS code is 611710 and its SIC code is 8200.