The Native CDFI Network is excited to offer our Native CDFI members a valuable online platform designed to enhance the success of your Native small business owners, which in turn, adds value to your investments in communities you serve.

What is Initiate Prosperity?

Initiate Prosperity is an extensive collection of online business resources tailored to support independent Native business owners. Initiate Prosperity blends resources, methods of delivery, and content to allow for greater collaboration. This concept benefits the Native entrepreneurs that your Native CDFI serves. The comprehensive platform includes approximately 150 videos, tools, and other resources covering crucial topics such as marketing, web design, e-commerce, finance, and management aimed at helping entrepreneurs improve and grow their businesses.

Pete Upton, Executive Director for Native360 has offered the Initiate Prosperity resources to Native business customers and has this to say about the platform:

“Entrepreneurs’ most valuable resource is their time. Having access to this online business development platform 24/7 provides support when our clients need it. Clients can access the resources remotely, eliminating travel time and expense, increasing the likelihood they will use the technical assistance and coaching services available to them. This method of training not only reached more of our Native entrepreneurs; they were also able to participate across our broad service area and connect with Native entrepreneurs across several Midwest regions.”

In partnership with Northern Initiatives and sponsored by BMO Harris Bank, NCN Members and their Native small business clients can access this program for free.

Resources for Native Entrepreneurs

  • Roughly 150 resources in categories that include: business, marketing, money, and management
  • Most resources take 2 to 15 minutes to complete; the longest is 23 minutes
  • Topics include creating a business plan, pricing, legal structures for business, ecommerce, marketing, etc.
  • Formats include guides, videos, business templates, a pricing calculator and a few other interactive tools

 Benefits for Native CDFIs

  • 24/7 Technical Assistance Services
  • CDFI coaches/advisors can invite learners to participate
  • Ability to assign and review progress towards action items for your learners
  • Shared custom resources can be added as needed
  • Accountable collaboration: Usage and progress reports available for your learners

Watch the videos below to see how your clients/Native entrepreneurs and Native CDFI Advisors are able to interact and learn in the program.

Introduction for Learners

Introduction for Advisors

 What’s Next?

  • Identify Your Coach/Advisor: Start considering who, among your team members will serve as the coach/advisor for the program. You will be prompted to identify this individual on the sign-up form.

  • Complete the Sign-Up Form: Once you have selected your coach/advisor, fill out the sign-up form to secure your spot in the platform.

  • Onboarding Sessions: Upon receiving your sign-up form, we will provide you with all the information needed to participate in the onboarding sessions. These sessions will be conducted over three weeks, commencing on May 21 and continuing on May 28 and June 4.

Sign up for NCN’s weekly newsletter to be notified about the next onboarding cohort!

Who is Eligible?

This resource is available to NCN’s Native CDFI members only. All memberships are now based on the calendar year beginning on January 1. If you have not renewed your membership for 2024, please log into your membership portal to renew your account. Or if you need assistance renewing your membership, please email Shauntel Hogan, NCN’s Communications Director, at [email protected].

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