Lakota Funds Celebrates 40 Years of Native-Led Economic Development

Past and present leaders reflect on four decades of innovation and community impact, including $57.7 million in business lending, 1,600 businesses supported, and more than 2,550 jobs created

Lakota Funds celebrated its 40th anniversary with a gathering of community members, partners, and supporters to honor four decades of expanding economic opportunity in Native communities.

Established in 1986 as the nation's first Native Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI), Lakota Funds was founded on a simple but powerful belief: Native people should have access to the capital, resources, and institutions needed to shape their own economic futures.

During the celebration, leaders from across Lakota Funds’ entire history reflected on the organization's evolution–from a small initiative on the Pine Ridge Reservation to a model for Native-led economic development that inspired a national network of more than 70 Native CDFIs across the country.

Lakota Funds directors and leaders past and present–including Elsie Meeks, Gerald Sherman, Dowell Caselli-Smith, Tawney Brunsch, and board chair Angie Eagle Bull–spoke about the impact of bringing financial services and support to deeply underserved communities. When Lakota Funds opened its doors, fewer than 50 Native-owned businesses were estimated to be operating on the Pine Ridge Reservation. There was virtually no access to capital, financial education, business development resources, and institutions committed to supporting Native economic growth.

Beginning with microloans as small as $500, Lakota Funds set out to change that reality. Over the past 40 years, Lakota Funds has:

• Deployed approximately $57.7 million in business loans

• Helped launch or expand 1,600 businesses

• Supported the creation of 2,555 jobs

But its impact extends far beyond lending. Through strong community relationships and partnerships, Lakota Funds has helped build economic infrastructure for Native communities, supporting the creation of institutions like the Pine Ridge Area Chamber of Commerce, Lakota Federal Credit Union, and South Dakota Native Homeownership Coalition, along with initiatives advancing financial education, homeownership, workforce development, and Native arts and culture.

“The impact we’ve had over the years didn’t just come through capital and financial services–it came through building trust and support from community members,” said current Executive Director Tawney Brunsch. “Behind any of our accomplishments are generations of entrepreneurs, families, artists, community leaders, and many other partners who came together around a shared vision of stronger, more self-reliant Native economies.”

Those relationships were evident at the gathering, which brought together supporters from near and far. From local artists whose businesses grew through Lakota Funds support, to longtime partners and funders–including Northwest Area Foundation Vice President Nikki Foster–were present to share their deep commitment to supporting Lakota Funds’ future. 

Looking Toward the Next 40 Years

As Lakota Funds celebrates this milestone, its leaders are also looking ahead. Across Native communities, entrepreneurs are ready to grow businesses, agricultural producers are investing in their operations, and local builders are creating jobs and meeting critical community needs. But to fuel that innovation and growth, more capital is needed.

With four decades of relationships, experience, and innovation behind it, Lakota Funds is working to bring that capital into Native communities, support the next generation of entrepreneurs, and help local economies grow—all in pursuit of its guiding vision of Sovereignty Through Self-Reliance. To learn more, visit www.lakotafunds.org.