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Financial advice column points readers in right direction

By Leilana McKindra

STILLWATER, Okla. – Ever wonder how to set up a budget or better control your spending habits? If so, consider checking out Ask Dr. Per Cap, a financial advice column aimed at answering these and other money related questions.

“The more we understand money management principles, the more control we have over our finances. The Ask Dr. Per Cap column provides some great advice that will help you find and stay on the path to financial wellness,” said Eileen St. Pierre, Oklahoma State University Cooperative Extension personal finance specialist.

The column was originally designed for tribal citizens who receive per capita payments. However, only about 20 percent of the Native American population in the United States receives these payments, primarily from gaming revenues and dividends from natural resources leases.

The column not only tackles issues unique to the Native American community, but also explores topics that apply to a broader general audience.

The main website is www.firstnations.org/askdrpercap.

Ask Dr. Per Cap offers advice to per capita recipients on topics such as how to avoid financial scams and the best ways to turn down friends and family members looking for “loans.”

“Some of the lessons specific to per capita recipients also could be helpful to anyone who received funds as part of recent federal court settlements with the Native American community,” St. Pierre said.

Other columns deal with general financial topics such as the best strategies for building up your savings and avoiding payday loans and overdraft fees.

Recent entries explored the risks associated with high-interest refund anticipation loans, ways of taking control of your finances and tactics for successfully managing your credit.

Readers can submit questions to the column by emailing askdrpercap@firstnations.org.

The Ask Dr. Per Cap column is funded by the First Nations Development Institute with assistance from the FINRA Investor Education Foundation.

For more information about sound money management practices and related classes, contact your local county Extension office.

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Oklahoma State University, U.S. Department of Agriculture, State and Local Governments Cooperating: The Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service offers its programs to all eligible persons regardless of race, color, national origin, religion, gender, age, disability, or status as a veteran, and is an equal opportunity employer.

 

REPORTER/MEDIA CONTACT:
Leilana McKindra
Communications Specialist
Agricultural Communications Services
140 Agriculture North
Oklahoma State University
Stillwater, OK 74078
Phone: 405-744-6792
Fax: 405-744-5739
Email: leilana.mckindra@okstate.edu

The first webinar will be held on Tuesday, September 11th, from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. CDT.  "During this webinar, business owners will learn how to find and secure government contracts."  The presenter will be Ronald DeGiacomo, Bid Assistance Coordinator for Kiamichi Technology Centers.  To register for that webinar, please go to: https://cc.readytalk.com/cc/s/showReg?udc=7vs8g16ighym.

The second webinar will be held on Thursday, September 13th, from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. CDT. "This webinar will help business owners find and secure tribal and local contracts."  The presenter will be Mackie Moore, Bid Assistance Coordinator for Indian Capital Technology Center. To register for that webinar, please go to: https://cc.readytalk.com/cc/s/showReg?udc=pjswxrlrkqc1.

For further information, please contact Choctaw Asset Building at 866-933-2260 or go to their website at www.choctawcab.com.

Grant Overview

The Oklahoma Native Assets Coalition (ONAC) is pleased to announce this 2014 request for proposals (RFP) to help fund Native asset building projects in Oklahoma.   First Nations Development Institute (First Nations), a national Native nonprofit, is the fiscal sponsor for ONAC.   Thus, ONAC, in collaboration with First Nations, will award a total of $10,500 in mini grants to Oklahoma grantees.  Depending upon the projects (financial education curriculum supplies may cost less than seed money to open Children’s Savings Accounts), the mini grants will average $3,500 each.  Some awards may be slightly higher or lower than this average.  The grant period will begin March 3, 2014.   The average grant period is six months to a year.   

Grants may be used to fund existing or new Native asset building programs in Oklahoma.   Examples of how mini grants may be used for such programs include funding for:

• Financial education curricula materials for your financial education programs
• A computer for your Voluntary Income Tax Assistance site (such sites help eligible tribal members prepare their tax returns for free and claim their  tax credits)
• Match funds for your tribal Individual Development Account program
• Initial deposit money for your Children’s Savings Account program (to help youth build a nest egg of savings)
• Stipends/payments for youth employees working in your tribal employment program, so they so they have earned income to deposit into Individual Development Accounts
• Training for your staff to be able to provide foreclosure intervention services to clients/tribal citizens
• Loans made to customers through your Native nonprofit credit builder loan program

If you would like to talk through any of your asset building program ideas, please contact Christy Finsel, Coordinator of the Oklahoma Native Assets Coalition, at (405) 401-7873 or email her at cfinsel@oknativeassets.org.

Deadline

The grant applications are due by February 7, 2014.  ONAC will review the grant applications and make the award determinations, awarding up to $10,500 total, among the 2014 grant recipients. First Nations, as ONAC’s fiscal sponsor, will send the award notifications by March 3, 2014. A list of awardees will be posted on the ONAC website. ONAC will work with First Nations as First Nations processes the grant agreements and sends the grant payments to the grant recipients.

Eligibility

Eligible applicants include:

• Tribal governments based in Oklahoma;
• Tribal programs based in Oklahoma; or
• Native organizations based in Oklahoma.

If applicants are not a tribal government, 501(c)(3), a 7871, or Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI), they must have a fiscal sponsor. We do not require federal recognition for tribal governments; however, you must have, at a minimum, proof of state recognition.

Application

All applicants must fully complete the ONLINE Grant Application, made avaliable thorough First Nations (ONAC’s fiscal sponsor).

Please also complete Attachment A: An Estimated Budget for the Proposed Project (examples of line items include: books for financial education program, 15 books x $20.00 per book = $300.00; funds to open Children’s Savings Account programs for 25 youth x $100.00 per account= $2,5000, etc.).

Application Closed

Help

If you need technical assistance with the online grant application, please contact Catherine Bryan, Senior Program Officer, First Nations, at cbryan@firstnations.org or (303) 774-7836, ext. 12.   If you have specific questions about the grant or your project, please contact Christy Finsel, Coordinator, Oklahoma Native Assets Coalition, at cfinsel@oknativeassets.org or (405) 401-7873.

 

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The deadline for applications is February 7, 2014 at 5:00 p.m. Mountain Time. 

Note: The online system automatically closes at 5:00 p.m. MST and applications not completely submitted by that time will be rejected by the system.  Please allow plenty of time for submitting online.  Proposals that are incomplete or are received after the deadline will not be considered.  No exceptions will be permitted.