About

Our Mission

Lakota Funds is a community development financial institution (CDFI) leading an economic resurgence of the Oglala Lakota Oyate on the Pine Ridge Reservation through culturally appropriate strategies reigniting the traditional Lakota spirit of productivity, commerce, and trade.

Our History

In the 1980's a group of visionary community leaders assembled and realized that in order to break the cycle of poverty on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, they needed to focus on the key roadblocks to economic development: access to capital, access to technical assistance, access to business networks, and access to infrastructure. With assistance from Oglala Lakota College and First Nations Development Institute, Lakota Funds was established in 1986 as the first Native American CDFI and began working to break through these roadblocks. Read our Best Practices Guide for insight to the Lakota Funds history, products and services, and strategies for success as never seen before.

Starting out as a micro lender modeled after the Circle Banking Project in Bangladesh, we began little by little helping entrepreneurs on the Pine Ridge Reservation realize their dreams through $500 loans. At this time there were only two Native American-owned businesses on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation. Eighty-five percent of our clients never had a checking or savings account; seventy-five percent never had a loan; and ninety-five percent had no business experience.

Today, Lakota Funds continues plays a vital role in improving life for Oglala Lakota people by placing capital with new and growing businesses on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation. Our loan portfolio now exceeds $4.4 million and our maximum loan size has grown to $200,000. Since 1986, we have helped thousands of artists and aspiring entrepreneurs, created over 1,000 permanent jobs, and helped establish hundreds of businesses.

While these accomplishments may seem great, Lakota Funds has only begun our journey of transforming the economic landscape on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation. There are still only 13 businesses per 1000 reservation residents, compared to 83 businesses per 1000 people in the rest of South Dakota. Unemployment is estimated in the 80% range, and Shannon County maintains one of the highest poverty levels in the nation. With the help of valued funders, investors, and community members we continue to strive towards a thriving economy.