{"id":262792,"date":"2025-10-20T10:04:25","date_gmt":"2025-10-20T15:04:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/?p=262792"},"modified":"2025-10-20T11:05:07","modified_gmt":"2025-10-20T16:05:07","slug":"nafoa-5-things-you-need-to-know-this-week-october-20-2025","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/2025\/10\/20\/nafoa-5-things-you-need-to-know-this-week-october-20-2025\/","title":{"rendered":"NAFOA: 5 Things You Need to Know this Week (October 20, 2025)"},"content":{"rendered":"\"NAFOA\"<\/a>
Last week, NAFOA participated in the Affiliated Tribes of Northwest Indians (ATNI) Annual Convention, where Executive Director Cory Blankenship, Second Vice President Celina Phair, Geoff Urbina of KeyBanc Capital Markets, and Telly Meier of Hobbs Strauss Dean Walker explored how the Tribal Tax and Investment Reform Act of 2025 supports stronger, more resilient Tribal economies. Photo courtesy NAFOA<\/a><\/figcaption>\r\n
5 Things You Need to Know this Week<\/div>\r\n
Virtual Courses, Webinars, and Internship Opportunities<\/div>\r\n
Monday, October 20, 2025<\/div>\r\n
Source: NAFOA<\/div>\r\n
nafoa.org<\/a><\/div>\r\n

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1. PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT:<\/em><\/div>\r\n
Priority Deadline Approaching: Leading People and Investing to Build Sustainable Communities<\/div>\r\nPriority Deadline: November 16, 2025, at 11:59 PM Hawaiian Standard Time.
\r\nUpcoming Program Dates: May 4-8, 2026\r\n

<\/P>\r\nLeading People and Investing to Build Sustainable Communities (LPIBSC) is an executive education program developed in partnership with NAFOA, Harvard Business School (HBS) Executive Education, and AFOA Canada. The program equips Tribal and Indigenous leaders and finance professionals from the United States, Canada, New Zealand, and Australia with the skills to strengthen innovative, high-performing communities and organizations.\r\n

<\/P>\r\nThrough interactive learning with world-class HBS faculty and Native guest speakers, participants gain diverse insights, build lasting connections, and earn a Harvard Business School Certificate of Program Completion.\r\n

<\/P>\r\nLimited financial assistance is available. Early application is highly encouraged.\r\n

<\/P>\r\nStart Your Application<\/a>\r\n\r\n

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2. WEBINAR:<\/em><\/div>\r\n
Cybersecurity Seminar for Tribal Leaders \u2013 Success Against Fraud Events<\/div>\r\nWednesday, Oct 29, 2025 at 3:00 PM ET\r\n

<\/P>\r\nThe Cybersecurity Seminar for Tribal Leaders \u2013 SAFE (Success Against Fraud Events), led by MGO and Columbia Bank, provides actionable insights into fraud prevention, incident response, and federal funding opportunities \u2014 tailored for Tribal leadership. \r\n

<\/P>\r\nKey Topics Covered: Cyber threats targeting Tribal financial; systems and gaming operations; Fraud prevention strategies for Tribal governments and enterprises; Incident response planning and cross-department coordination; Federal cybersecurity grants and funding opportunities; Building a culture of accountability and ethical leadership. \r\n

<\/P>\r\nWho Should Attend: Tribal council members, finance leaders, gaming executives, and IT\/security professionals involved in governance, compliance, and strategic planning.\r\n

<\/P>\r\nSource: MGO x Columbia Bank\r\nRegister to Join on October 29<\/a>\r\n\r\n

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3. MUST READ:<\/em><\/div>\r\n
Native CDFI Relending Program Expands Access to Affordable Homeownership in Indian Country<\/div>\r\nA U.S. Department of Agriculture demonstration program enables Native Community Development Financial Institutions to offer more low-cost mortgages to home buyers on reservations. \r\n

<\/P>\r\nIn 2018, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) launched a partnership with Native Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs) to increase Native home buyers\u2019 use of one of its cornerstone loan products: the affordable, long-term USDA 502 Direct Loan.1 Under this new partnership, called the Native CDFI Relending Demonstration Program, participating Native CDFIs borrow funds from the USDA and use them to originate 502 direct mortgage loans to Native borrowers.\r\n

<\/P>\r\nThe program provides Native CDFIs with long-term capital\u2014a resource that\u2019s typically challenging for them to access\u2014and leverages their deep ties to tribal communities. It\u2019s a departure from the standard 502 direct loan model, where applicants work directly with the USDA or a USDA-certified intermediary and the federal government originates the loan.\r\n

<\/P>\r\nSource: Center for Indian Country Development, Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis\r\nContinue Reading<\/a>\r\n\r\n

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4. FOR ORGANIZATIONS:<\/em><\/div>\r\n
Building Nonprofit Advocacy Capacity<\/div>\r\nBuilding Nonprofit Advocacy Capacity is a part-time, free virtual program designed to support US-based organizations working in the public interest \u2013 such as nonprofits, direct services providers, or university and research centers \u2013 who want to grow the policy and advocacy capabilities of their organization. Participants will learn how to educate and persuade potential partners on policy issues that impact the communities your organization serves, and how to obtain the resources \u2013 including staffing \u2013 to support having impact in the policy space. This course will include an overview of how to be strategic in advocating for policy changes at your organization with its current staff; and how to bring on additional staff to work on policy change. \r\n

<\/P>\r\nApplication Deadline: Sunday, November 16, 2025, at 11:59PM PT\r\n

<\/P>\r\nTimeline:\r\n

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