Integrated Asset-Building Strategies

In 2007, First Nations Development Institute published a 27-year retrospective which provides an overview of First Nations' development philosophy and original research on asset building strategies such as financial education, CDFIs, IDAs, Native philanthropy, and entrepreneurship development.

The full report is available for download along with individual chapters.


		Integrated Asset Building Strategies for Reservation-Based Communities: A 27 Year Retrospective of First Nations Development Institute (2007) (5.3 MB)

		*Chapter 2: Financial Education* (3.25 MB) Chapter 2 begins with two introductory sections that demonstrate the importance of both developing financial management skills and increasing research related to the potential effects of increasing financial education opportunities in Native communities. The chapter is then broken into three sections focused on topics seen as essential for developing greater financial management and investment skills in Native communities

		Chapter 3: Native IDAs (2.7 MB) This chapter provides an overview of IDA programs in Native communities.

		*Chapter 4: Native Philanthropy* (2.8 MB) This chapter focuses on Native grantmaking institutions, discusses grantmaking models, and attempts to provide a road map through the sometimes confusing field of Native grantmaking organizations. Regardless of the model chosen for the philanthropic program, a large and growing number of tribes and Native nonprofits are using philanthropy to protect Native financial assets, capitalize economic development programs in their communities, and protect and support their cultures. As part of an integrated asset-building program, Native-controlled grantmaking entities are supporting institution building through capitalizing nascent nonprofits in Native communities, and through funding innovative asset-building strategies.

		Chapter 5: Earned Income Tax Credit (3.1 MB) This chapter addresses the current and potential economic power related to the receipt of the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) in Native communities.

		Chapter 6: Native Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs) (3.0 MB) This chapter discusses Native Community Development Financial Institutions (Native CDFIs) which offer a locally controlled, community-responsive resource for credit and other financial services to support asset-based development in Native communities.

		Chapter 7: Native Entrepreneurship (3.3 MB) Approaches to entrepreneurship and enterprise development in Native communities are as diverse as the communities themselves. This chapter addresses the complex and multifaceted opportunities and challenges associated with entrepreneurship development in Native communities.