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Native Finance Development Corporation

EIN 83-1499750 · Vista, CA

Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak21 out of 100GovernanceFair54 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

Emerging Native CDFI(Community Development Finance Institution)

Income
$347,112
Spending
$405,652
Spent on programs
100%
Reserves
0.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 99%
Employees
3
Volunteers
5
Highest pay
$82,888, project manager

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Weak: 21 out of 100. Higher than 1% of charities in its peer group (human services, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    4 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 0.1 months of spending.

  • Debt

    2 of 20

    It owes 82% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 17% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 37% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    100% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Fair: 54 out of 100. Higher than 24% of charities in its peer group (human services, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    18 of 25

    3 of 3 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    0 of 7

    Reports no written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    0 of 5

    Reports that it does not keep minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    0 of 10

    Did not give the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • Independent check of accounts

    6 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Impact evidence

Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.

Programs described in its return (1)
  1. $405,652 spent. Project Update:Timeline:Project Duration: 36 monthsCurrent Stage: 18.5 months (as of 3/31/2025) Progress Summary:Year 2 Goals: On track. Between October 1, 2024, and March 31, 2025, we made 13 presentations to 102 community members from seven tribes (Campo, Jamul, La Jolla, La Posta, Manzanita, Pauma, and Viejas) and one Native community organization (Southern Indian Health Council). Not only are they now aware of our Native CDFI project, but all of them also signed a statement of support to build one in our community. Though we had anticipated 20-40 participants for our financial development services when we wrote our proposal in 2023, we actually have 51 participants, 5 of whom were referrals from the people who attended our presentations.Hired all key personnel including project manager, coordinator, financial planner, finance manager, program evaluator, and program reviewer.Community Engagement:Recruitment: Achieved 170% of target population for program development through presentations at 7 tribes and an Indian health clinic.Institutional Support: Secured support from three Tribal education committees (La Jolla, La Posta and Pauma) and the Jamul Casino with 1,300 employees.External Contributors:Secured ongoing technological support and introductions to Fortune 1000 insiders from Salesforce volunteers,a human-centric product design expert to assist with program design and delivery.Data Collection:Culturally Sensitive Interviews: Designed and vetted culturally sensitive, digitally secure quantitative information in collaboration with an Institutional Review Board certified consultant.Data stored in a secured and customized Salesforce cloud with assistance from a Salesforce volunteer.Marketing Strategy:Grassroots Approach: Employed a successful word-of-mouth strategy targeting individual tribal members based on banking status (fully banked, underbanked, unbanked).Social Media Outreach: Created content with videos and short posts for Linkedin, Tiktok, Instagram, and Facebook, in addition to our website.Stakeholder Engagement:Individual and Institutional Outreach: 7 tribes and an Indian health clinic as stated above.Grant Applications Though unsuccessful in obtaining additional grant funding, we have applied to San Manuel Cares (San Manuel Band of Mission Indians), and San Diego Chinese Womens Association.Awards: Selected as one of 36 semi-finalists among 1,600 global entrants in the 2024 MIT Solve Indigenous Communities Challenge.Financial Industry Recognition: Invited into and joined Save-On San Diego, a national Coalition of banks, financial institutions, and nonprofits committed to safe banking products and services.Staff Development:Staff strengthened their expertise in social impact investing, thought leadership, public relations, scaling growth, and digital marketing through Harvard Alumni Entrepreneur Academy programs.?Leveraged these programs to build relationships with international experts, strategically positioning Native Finance as a leading CDFI partner for Indian Country.Oweesta: Board Chairman, staff, and volunteer attended Native CDFI Practitioner trainings to enhance internal knowledge. Opportunity Finance Network: Board received training to strengthen the understanding of ethics and business model for CDFIs.Landmark Worldwide: Board and staff received training and development in communication and professional growth to sharpen listening and interpersonal skills.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Legitimacy checks

  1. Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.

    Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  2. Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.

    Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.

    Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated November 6, 2026.

  3. Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.

    On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.

    Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2025.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since August 2018.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  6. Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.

    Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.

    Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated November 4, 2026.

Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.