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Thanks for hosting the Social Media Marketing Webinar, I enjoyed it!  --Karl

Welcome to the New Year!

Financial Education Survey 

Oweesta is conducting a Financial Education and Asset-Building survey.  This survey is to help us effectively meet your needs in the field, to give us tools to advocate on behalf of your communities, and to provide information on best practices that your organization can use in program design and implementation.  The survey is designed to only take about 10 minutes and the results will be published and distributed for free this spring. Please fill it out by January 31 and be automatically entered to win a Samsung Galaxy Tablet!

Click here to begin the survey.  
 

Building Native Communities

Oweesta is pleased to be collaborating with Cook Inlet Tribal Council and KeyBank to host the next certified instructor training. This training will offer a three-day, state-of-the-art instructor training and certification program to help Native CDFIs, tribes and other Native organizations establish and sustain financial education programs in their communities.  This training will take place February 26-28 at The Rasmuson Conference Center in Anchorage, Alaska.  

For more information, visit Oweesta's website.  We will be accepting a registration application for each participant until January 31 or until filled.  Register NOW! 
 

 

Doorways to Dreams (D2D) Fund

SaveYourRefund is an incentive-based promotion that encourages tax filers to save a portion of their refund and potentially win cash prizes.  D2D Fund is a nonprofit that works nationally to help Americans overcome financial crises with new approaches to managing day-to-day finances.  For the tax season, they are offering this program geared to those who are 18 years or older, due a federal tax refund, and willing to save at least $50.  D2D will award 100 weekly prizes worth $100 each and a $25,000 grand prize to tax filers who split and save at least $50 of their federal tax refund using IRS Form 8888.  You can enter to win weekly prizes by filling out an online entry form. Then, upload a photo that represents your savings goal to the D2D Fund $25,000 Grand Prize photo contest. Not sure how to split and save your refund to qualify? Please see their FAQs to find out. 
 

2014 Native Convening

This October will be Opportunity Finance Network's 30th Annual Conference and the 11th Annual Native Convening In Denver, Colorado.  One new way Oweesta is looking to gather your insights is through a Brainstorming Committee.  In addition to sharing your ideas through OFN's online call for ideas, take it a step further and join us in brainstorming.  Share your creative concepts!  

This is not a planning committee. No one will be required to assist with the details of building the Native Convening. It is a way to share, build, and gather insights from practitioners.  If you are interested or have questions, please email Chasity at:  chasity@oweesta.org

Set your sights for Denver!  
 

 

2014 Native EITC Outreach Tools

Don't leave millions of federal dollars on the table!  

Earned Income Tax Credit refunds can help working families in Native communities jump start their financial goals, including saving for home-ownership, starting a small business or just paying off their debt.  It has the potential to bring hundreds of millions of dollars to Native communities annually, but a large portion of that has gone unclaimed or has been skimmed off by high-cost fees. 


Visit Oweesta's website to download Native EITC Outreach Tools to help get the word out to eligible families about free tax preparation sites in or near your community.  Each of these items includes a space in which you can insert your contact information and the location and hours of the nearest free tax preparation site.  
 

Upcoming Events

Jan. 20-23
Anishinaabe Worldview
Accredited training in cultural competency
Click here for information

Jan. 21
Capitalization:  Raising Debt and Equity for CDFIs
OFN-hosted webinar
Click here for information

Jan. 31
EITC Awareness Day
National Partner Team
Click here for information

Feb. 3-6
Anishinaabe Worldview
Accredited training in cultural competency
Click here for information

Feb. 4
Tribal Consultation
Department of Treasury-CDFI Fund
Click here for information

Feb. 5
Leading Organizational Change
OFN-hosted webinar
Click here for information 

Feb. 6
2014 OFN Kickoff meeting
Denver Branch of the Kansas City Federal Reserve

Feb. 17-20
Anishinaabe Worldview
Accredited training in cultural competency
Click here for information

Feb. 24
Value-Added Producer Grant (VAPG) Program 
USDA RD NOFA 

Feb. 24-25
ANA Pre-Application Training
Alaska Region TTA Center

Feb. 26-28
Building Native Communities
KeyBank Sponsored
Click here for information
*Oweesta-hosted training*

Mar. 5-6
2014 CDFI Coalition Institute
CDFI Coalition
Click here for information
*Oweesta attending*

Mar. 19
Financial Education Products
Click here for information
*Oweesta-hosted webinar*

Apr. 1-3
Building Sustainable Communities in Indian Country
Native Learning Center
Click here for information
*Oweesta Speaking*

May 14-16

Annual Conference - Financial Inclusion in Focus: From Vision to Reality
National Federation of Community Development Credit Unions
Click here for information
 

Employment Opportunities

Executive Director
Nimiipuu Loan Fund 
Nez Perce Tribe (emerging NCDFI)
contact:  annm@nezperce.org 
 

 

 

Do you have any opportunities, announcements, or programs you would like to highlight?  Please send those to me at:  chasity@oweesta.org.  Thanks!

To ensure you are getting these and other updates from Oweesta, please add us to your "safe sender" list.  
 
Copyright © 2014 First Nations Oweesta Corp, All rights reserved.

Our mailing address is:
2432 Main Street, 2nd Floor | Longmont, Colorado 80501
(P) 303.774.8838  | (F) 303.774.7841
www.oweesta.org