The Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Reservation has established a Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) to serve Tribal Members, reservation residents, and Tribal employees. CDFI’s are specialized financial institutions that serve geographically defined low-income communities and/or populations that lack access to financing.

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The Tribes were methodical in preparation for this new entity with a significant community survey and feasibility analysis conducted in 2015 and a Business Plan completed in August 2016. In 2019, Dave Tovey was named Executive Director and led the way in establishing the policy foundation of the NCFS, finalizing the membership of the board of directors, and working out operational details.

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Non-profit corporation status was secured from the IRS on February 11, 2020.  The CTUIR Board of Trustees formally approved the NCFS business plan on February 24, 2020, by Tribal resolution 20-015.  That resolution called for the consolidation of the WRC Business Development Services, the Housing Department’s Homeownership Program, and the Tribal Credit Program under the new NCFS organization.

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Start-up support and funding were secured through the Community Development Financial Institute, grants from Northwest Area Foundation and Spirit Mountain Community Fund, and technical support from the Oweesta Corporation.