Wells Fargo has announced the launch of a two-year, $20 million grantmaking initiative to advance economic opportunities, housing, small businesses, financial health, and sustainability in Native American communities.

The Invest Native initiative aims to work with Native-led organizations in Arizona, Montana, New Mexico, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wyoming to spur single- and multi-family housing construction, access to capital, and financial health programs; strengthen infrastructure for Native-led organizations; and invest in tools, training, and research to improve best practices. In support of the initiative, Enterprise Community Partners will provide thought leadership, strategic guidance, technical assistance, and evaluation.

Recipients of initial grants of $500,000 include Lakota Funds, which will work with the South Dakota Native Homeownership Coalition to expand housing access; Native Community Capital, which is partnering with the New Mexico Tribal Homeownership Coalition to strengthen homeownership; and Four Bands Community Fund, which will partner with Mountain | Plains Regional Native CDFI Coalition to increase capital to Native entrepreneurs.

“Invest Native is the latest chapter in Wells Fargo’s long-standing commitment to indigenous communities,” said Wells Fargo Foundation president Otis Rolley. “We are looking to build on relationships cultivated over many years and to strengthen the capacity of Native-led organizations so they can serve more people. We heard from many Native leaders that growing operational infrastructure was just as important as expanding essential programs that build economic stability and independence.”

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