Oweesta

Date: 2022

Asset Class: Private Debt, CDFI - Subcommercial

Description:  As a CDFI and loan fund intermediary, Oweesta redirects capital into and creates wealth in Native communities by lending to Native CDFIs and non-CDFI loan funds. These institutions provide Native communities with the tools and capital required for real and sustainable job creation, small business development, commercial real estate development, and affordable home ownership. These Native CDFIs and non-CDFI loan funds possess a deep contextual understanding of the communities that they serve and have strong relationships with end-borrowers due to their small size and local focus. These characteristics help the CDFIs and non-CDFI loan funds build trust, cater to the specific needs of their communities, and foster sustainable economic development and empowerment within Native communities.

Why We Invest: Native Americans faced centuries of genocide, dislocation, segregation and discrimination leading to a wealth and income gap that persists today. Native communities presently face high barriers to accessing capital and financial services. This lack of access to credit and exclusion from the financial mainstream has been a key barrier to these communities’ ability to grow and thrive financially. Native CDFIs and loan funds address this issue by increasing Native communities’ access to credit, capital, and financial services, thereby promoting economic development and community health. We believe access to capital on attractive terms is a much more effective way to address these long-term systemic economic issues rather than pure charity. 100% of Oweesta investors have been paid back in full since the organization’s incorporation in 1999. In the past ten years, over $13.5m has been paid back to 99 investors.