If you are looking for a way to try to incentive tax time savings among tribal citizens, one option is to promote the Doorways to Dreams (D2D) Fund SaveYourRefund campaign.  D2D is a nonprofit that works nationally to help people save their money at tax time. 

What is the D2D Fund SaveYourRefund promotion? 

SaveYourRefund is a national tax-time savings promotion that encourages consumers to save a portion of their refund through cash prize drawings. The SaveYourRefund promotion is available to anyone (over 18) who splits and saves at least $50 of their federal tax refund.  Promotion participants can save their $50.00 in a savings account or CD, IRA, savings bond, prepaid card, 529 college savings account, or in an Individual Development Account.  

For 10 weeks, during the tax season, there will be weekly drawings where participants could win $100.00 each.  The drawings will occur every Friday from February 6th through April 10th.  D2D will also award one grand prize winner from their photo contest (the award is $25,000).  Winners are chosen through random selection.  (Information courtesy of D2D Fund).

Why is tax time an important time to promote savings? 

Tax-time savings are powerful for low- and middle-income (LMI) consumers.  Tax refunds represent up to 20% of household income for LMI families. (Information courtesy of D2D Fund).

What if your tribe or Native nonprofit wants to work with Doorways to Dreams to share information about this promotion? 

It is easy and free to sign up as a partner.   Training and marketing resources are available to all at SaveYourRefund.com.  Through January 15th, sites are able to sign up directly with D2D Fund using this link. Marketing material is available at: https://saveyourrefund.com/promotional-materials-2/.  (Information courtesy of D2D Fund). 

What else is ONAC doing to try to promote tax time as asset building time? 

Beyond sharing information about this D2D Fund promotion, ONAC has partnered with the IRS and has agreed to post a link to MyFreeTaxes on the ONAC website homepage (http://www.oknativeassets.org).  If an individual is filing a simple return, and has a gross adjusted income level of $60,000 or less, they are invited to file their state and federal returns for free by using the MyFreeTaxes link.  Please note: ONAC is not in a position to answer tax filing questions or to prepare returns for taxpayers. 

As an additional resource, here is a list of Voluntary Income Tax Assistance (VITA) sites in Oklahoma.   

During this busy tax season, ONAC wishes all of our constituents, who are administering VITA sites and/or promoting tax time savings, the best!  For those who are newer to sharing such information with those you serve, we hope that the information above may be useful to you. 

PolicyLink recently interviewed ONAC for a partner profile.  To view the full profile visit: http://accesstofinancialsecurity.org.

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The Oklahoma Native Assets Coalition (ONAC) represents a consortium of Oklahoma tribes and partners interested in establishing asset-building initiatives and programs in Native communities, for the purpose of creating greater opportunities for economic self-sufficiency of tribal citizens.

1. We know that ONAC is a coalition working to build- assets and increase economic self-sufficiency of tribal citizens in Oklahoma. Can you tell us more about your asset-building work?

The Oklahoma Native Assets Coalition (ONAC) represents a consortium of Oklahoma tribes and partners interested in establishing asset-building initiatives and programs in Native communities.

ONAC is working to develop more local and national partnerships; offer mini grants; garner administrative guidance about the use of federal sources of funding for Native asset building programs; provide training and technical assistance for asset building program design and implementation; and generate and gather research and best practices for our constituents so they will continue to build assets in Native communities.

2. What are your current policy priorities?

ONAC constituents are interested in providing asset-building programs to citizens of Oklahoma tribes. Barriers to implementation of asset building programs are the lack of funding and need for some administrative policy guidance from the Administration for Children and Families, for example, about using federal sources of funding for Native asset building programs. More recently, our policy work has been focused on seeking administrative guidance about the use of federal funds in relation to Tribal TANF-funded IDA programs and how Children's Savings Accounts would affect the benefits of a parent receiving Tribal TANF.

In terms of state policy efforts, we are trying to raise awareness/provide education about the need for statewide funding for tribes and Native nonprofits for Individual Development Account and Children’s Savings Account programs.

3. Have you had any policy-related success so far?

ONAC requested and received administrative policy guidance from the Tribal TANF Central Office regarding whether or not Children’s Savings Accounts, (the child’s money) would negatively affect a family’s eligibility in the Tribal TANF program. We received a response that if the parent is a Tribal TANF customer, their child could have a savings account in the his/her name and the parent would still be eligible for participation in their Tribal TANF program. The parent would just have to check that the tribe has noted that children’s income is disregarded in their Tribal TANF plan. We have been sharing this guidance when we have spoken with our constituents about their interest in piloting Native CSAs in Oklahoma.

4. We know you recently held a Community Roundtable on culturally competent best practices. What were 2 key takeaways from your event?

We learned that there is much potential for Native asset building partnerships between the various attendees (Tribal Child Support Directors, Tribal TANF Directors; the Oklahoma Tribal Child Care Association, Native researchers, Tribal Planning Coordinators, ONAC, Administration for Children and Families, Region VI, Health and Human Services, and the Oklahoma Association of Community Action Agencies, etc).

During the Roundtable, ONAC noted that Native communities may think about assets broadly (and not just as money). Native asset building programs, such as Individual Development Account programs, can be designed in such a way that they help build a number of assets at the same time. For example, including Native language in the financial education classes and allowing IDA participants to purchase assets such as homes, post-secondary education, dance regalia, or commonly-held assets for small business, would provide the cultually competent flexibilty needed.

5. How is dance regalia important to asset building?

By designing asset-building programs, such as an Individual Development Account, IDA, program for high school students, that help our youth pay for dance regalia items (assets that can be used now and handed down) our citizens can more easily afford to participate in community events. It can be expensive to pay for such materials (blouses, shirts, beaded feather fans, shawls, moccasins, etc.-regalia varies by tribe). While we support Native IDA participants having options to purchase dance regalia materials (as an example of a culturally-relevant asset purchase), we also continue to promote Native youth saving for post secondary education, small business development, etc.

St. Louis’s Christy Finsel and Pete Coser, Jr. named as 2014 Native American “40 under 40” award recipients

Oct 30, 2014 | Native American National News, NCAIED.org News, News

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BY ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH / STLTODAY.COM / 03 OCTOBER 2014

Finsel, of the Osage Nation, and Coser, of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation, among honorees for prestigious award from the National Center for American Indian Enterprise Development

MILWAUKEE, WI – Emerging Native American leaders from across the country will be honored for their outstanding leadership during the National Center for American Indian Enterprise Development’s upcoming Reservation Economic Summit (RES) in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The “Native American 40 under 40” is a prestigious award that is bestowed upon individuals under the age of 40, nominated by members of their communities, for showing initiative and dedication to providing significant, positive contributions to business or in their respective communities. Christy Finsel, a member of the Osage Nation, and Pete Coser, Jr., a member of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation, are among the 2014 award winners to be honored during a gala at the leading Native American business event in the country, taking place at the Potawatomi Hotel and Casino in Milwaukee.

“The 40 under 40 award showcases the accomplishments of both current and future Native American leaders,” said Gary Davis, President and CEO of the National Center for American Indian Enterprise Development. “The future of Indian country will be shaped by exceptional leaders such as Christy and Pete who have proven their unrelenting dedication to enhancing the lives of those around them. It is truly an honor to bestow this award on such a deserving group of young leaders.”

Christy Finsel is the Executive Director of the Oklahoma Native Assets Coalition and an independent consultant. As Executive Director, she works with 39 tribes across Oklahoma in an effort to build Native assets. Finsel graduated from Saint Louis University with both a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Theology; she then went on to earn her Masters in Social Work from Washington University. She is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Religious Studies, Religion and Culture from the Catholic University of America.

Pete Coser, Jr. is the Program Manager at the Buder Center for American Indian Studies at Washington University in St. Louis. Previously, he was an adjunct instructor at the College of the Muscogee Nation in Oklahoma. He was also a Morris K. Udall and Stewart L. Udall Foundation Native American Congressional Intern in the Office of Senator Jon Tester of Montana. Coser is an Oklahoma State University graduate.
Award winners will be officially honored during the 39th Annual Indian Progress in Business Awards (INPRO) Gala, which will take place during RES Wisconsin on Wednesday, October 8th. For more information about Reservation Economic Summit, please visit http://res.ncaied.org.

About the National Center: The National Center for American Indian Enterprise Development (NCAIED) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. With over 40 years of assisting American Indian Tribes and their enterprises with business and economic development – we have evolved into the largest national Indian specific business organization in the nation. Our motto is: “We Mean Business For Indian Country” as we are actively engaged in helping Tribal Nations and Native business people realize their business goals and are dedicated to putting the whole of Indian Country to work to better the lives of American Indian people- both now… and for generations to come.

From the Northeastern State University Website: 

NSU employees named to 2014 Native American 40 under 40

By NSU Staff

(Tahlequah, Okla.)—Each year the National Center for American Indian Enterprise Development (NCAIED) names 40 recipients for the "Native American 40 Under 40" award.

These individuals are emerging leaders from across Indian Country who have contributed in business and/or their communities through leadership roles, initiatives and dedication.

This year's award recipients include a former NSU employee and a former NSU student who is currently employed at NSU.

Sedelta Oosahwee (Mandan, Hidatsa and Arikara Nation) served as the coordinator for Student Programs in the Center for Tribal Studies at NSU before transitioning into the position of associate director for the White House Initiative on American Indian and Alaska Native Education Office.

Oosahwee, a Tahlequah native, focused mainly on success strategies for students of color in the Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) fields. She explained that giving back has never been anything that has required extra thought for her.

“I am not sure I really know any other way than to give back to my community. I grew up watching my parents and other family members model this behavior,” Oosahwee said. “I grew up with the understanding that I represent not only my family, but my tribe. You take care of your elders and the youth. You always give back to those less fortunate.”

Although Oosahwee does not currently work for NSU, she explained that the invitation to apply for her current position was a dream come true and that she still has many ties to the NSU community. Her family has deep connections with the university, where her mother was employed until retirement, her father earned two degrees and currently teaches Cherokee language, and her sister graduated.

“I loved my time at NSU and met some people that have become mentors and family to me, like Dr. Amy Aldridge Sanford” Oosahwee said. “I also had the opportunity to work with the greatest and most important valuable people at the university, the students. I still keep in touch with many of them and have followed their progress as they continue their education in master’s programs and doctoral degree programs. I am so proud of them!”

Amber Fite-Morgan (Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma) earned a Bachelor or Arts in Communication from NSU and currently serves as NSU's General Counsel.

Fite-Morgan, a Muskogee native, also conveyed a message of the importance of a service-oriented lifestyle.

“I believe that giving back to your community is one of the most important things a person can do,” Fite-Morgan said. “I think many people have privileges that others can only dream of, such as education, public servants, running water, electricity, etc. One way we can show gratitude for what we have is by simply giving back.”

All award recipients will be presented at NCAIED's 39th Annual Indian Progress in Business Awards Gala (INPRO) on Oct. 8, 2014 at RES Wisconsin at the Potawatomi Hotel & Casino.

For a complete list of award recipients, visit ncaied.org.

Published: 10/2/2014 12:16:12 PM

On October 16, 2013, Christy Finsel, ONAC Coordinator, was a panel speaker at the National Congress of American Indians 70^th Annual Convention and Marketplace, in Tulsa, Oklahoma.  

View a copy of the presentation shared during the session.

Consumer Financial Protection Resources for Native Communities

Increased financial capability in Native communities is critical to build a better future. When Native individuals, families, businesses, and tribes make better financial decisions and know how to protect their financial interests, it benefits everyone and helps strengthen tribal economies. Consumer financial protection covers many issues including: identity theft protection; investment scams; payday lending; credit card fraud – to name a few. Recent financial settlements (Cobell and Keepseagle) and one time or on-going per capita payments can bring unwanted attention to the financial resources of tribal citizens. This workshop highlights resources available from Native Financial Education Coalition partners whose mission is to ensure that Native consumers and tribal leaders get the information they need to make the financial decisions they believe are best for themselves and their communities.

Moderator: Sherry Salway Black, NCAI

Panelists:
Elke Chenevey, Vice President, Merrill Lynch
Mark Widell, Tax Clinic Director, Oklahoma Indian Legal Services Christy Finsel, Coordinator, Oklahoma Native Assets Coalition Bill Dorris, Attorney, Kirkpatrick Townsend

On October 8, 2013, at the Northeastern Oklahoma Regional Alliance (NORA) Summit, Christy Finsel, ONAC Coordinator, was a speaker for a panel entitled, Rural Policies - Forward Thinking Policies to Address Poverty Cycles.

Panel Description:

Current rural policy increases rural poverty; a panel will discuss rural communities harnessing their political capital through grassroots networks to shape winnable policy objectives supporting alternative, asset-­‐based rural economies and targeted poverty prevention programs, including building family financial assets, and will discuss building grassroots leaders to maintain a consistent, sustainable policy voice.

View a copy of the ONAC presentation shared during the panel.

The Oklahoma Native Assets Coalition (ONAC) was a co-host for the webinar: How the Federal Tax Code is Driving Inequity and What You Can Do About It.  Here is a link to the archived webinar. 

 

Join the Asset Funders Network, PolicyLink, and co-hosts for a webinar:   How the Federal Tax Code is Driving Inequity And What You Can Do About It Thursday, November 7, 2013 11 a.m. - 12 p.m. PT / 2 p.m. - 3 p.m. ET The primary purpose of the U.S. tax system is to generate public revenue, but it also serves as a vehicle to advance public policy goals. For example, the tax code includes provisions that incentivize taxpayers to take certain action – like buying a home, or saving for higher education or retirement – by providing them with tax credits, deductions, exclusions, and preferential rates. These tax benefits, known collectively as “tax expenditures,” reduce government revenues, disproportionately benefit wealthier households, and provide limited benefits for low- and moderate-income families and households of color. Deliberations about reforming the federal tax code – including discussions about the cost and benefits of various tax expenditures – are underway in Congress. These discussions provide a unique window of opportunity for advocates to call for a more inclusive, progressive, and equitable tax code – one that provides fair benefits to all U.S. households.   Please join the Asset Funders Network, PolicyLink, and co-hosts (listed below) for this upcoming webinar about why tax reform matters and opportunities for change. This webinar is intended to prepare practitioners and advocates for critical windows of opportunity to engage in tax reform debates and advocate for policies that enable low- and moderate-income families to access a greater share of the benefits. Featured Speakers: Heather McCulloch, Manager, Asset Funders Network/Tax Policy Project (moderator) Jeremie Greer, Director of Government Affairs, CFED Solana Rice, Associate Director, PolicyLink Eugene Steuerle, Co-founder, Urban-Brookings Tax Policy Center REGISTER HERE. Webinar Co-hosts: CFED, The Center for Global Policy Solutions, Center for Social Development, ColorOfChange, The Greenlining Institute, Insight Center for Community Economic Development, Institute on Assets and Social Policy, Institute for Women’s Policy Research, National Coalition for Asian Pacific American Community Development, National Urban League, National Council of La Raza, New America Foundation, Oklahoma Native Assets Coalition, PICO National Network, and the UCLA Asian American Studies Center.   Forward this Email       View as Web Page

The Oklahoma Native Assets Coalition invited the Small Business Administration, SBA, to provide a webinar for Native small business owners regarding the Affordable Care Act, ACA, (commonly called ObamaCare).  The webinar was held on Tuesday, September 24, 2013, from 2:00-3:00 pm CDT. 

During the webinar, the SBA provided introductory information about the ACA from the perspective of small business.  Participants were welcome to bring any concerns or questions they had as a Native small business owner.  Discussion was encouraged.  

• View the Power Point presentation.

Who Attended: ACF grantees, American Indian Community members, early childhood providers, faith-based, health and wellness organizations, local, state, and federal governments. Emphasis: Focused on Program Sustainability, Underserved Populations, Collaborations & Partnerships & Asset Building This roundtable provided current information on the core family strengthening elements of fatherhood, marriage, and asset building. Additionally, the Roundtable included information on the Affordable Care Act, Human Trafficking and their impacts on safe and stable families. Attendees were able to network with other practitioners. View a copy of ONAC’s Presentation here.

Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) for Native Communities in Oklahoma

The Oklahoma Native Assets Coalition (ONAC) invited Gloria Reynolds, a Community Affairs Specialist with the FDIC, to share information about the Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) for Native Communities in Oklahoma.  On August 8th, 2013, Gloria presented such information during a webinar for ONAC and the Alliance for Economic Inclusion for Northeastern Oklahoma (AEI) constituents.  

For a copy of the PowerPoint presentation, click here.

To listen to the webinar recording, click here.