The impetus for NFEC started in 1999 and the organization developed over the last decade because of the critical need to address financial education in Native communities.  NFEC became dormant over the past three years but the need for coordinated efforts to address financial education and build financial capability in Indian Country has only increased.  Financial education efforts at the tribal and community level are increasing and evolving and other circumstances are demonstrating that the time is right to again discuss a broader national effort.    The purpose of this meeting is to bring together those working in Native financial education and those interested in working in this area to cooperatively build financial capability in Indian Country and forge a new path.

OVERVIEW
The Native Financial Education Coalition (NFEC) is a group of local, regional and
national organizations and government agencies working together to achieve its
common goal of promoting financial education in Native communities. Started by
the U.S. Department of the Treasury in 2000, the now independent Native Financial
Education Coalition seeks to exchange information, forge partnerships, develop and
implement strategies to institutionalize outreach and training, and identify gaps in
information about financial education needs of American Indians, Alaska Natives and
Native Hawaiians.

The NFEC membership is open to any organization working on or interested in
improving personal finance skills in Native communities. Members meet via
conference calls. First Nations Oweesta Corporation (Oweesta) serves as the
fiscal agent and employs a part-time coordinator.

NFEC MISSION
The Native Financial Education Coalition’s mission is to:
• Increase the awareness of the need for adequate personal finance skills in
Native communities;
• Build the capacity of Native governments and organizations to provide financial
education; and
• Support each other’s efforts to promote financial management skills through
information sharing and collaboration.

NFEC COMMITTEES
NFEC conducts its activities through five committees:
• Training – promotes instructor opportunities for financial education instructors
serving Native communities, including with the Building Native Communities:
Financial Skills for Families curriculum;
• Tribal Colleges and Universities (TCUs) Initiative – Provides a forum for
TCUs to network and coordinate their efforts to develop and implement financial
education programs;
• Youth Initiatives – Promotes classroom- and community-based financial
education programs for Native youth;
• Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) – Promotes access to EITC and free tax
preparation services in Native communities and encourages the use of tax
refunds as part of an individual asset building strategy; and
• New Assets – Seeks to meet the financial education needs of Native
communities with higher incomes through gaming or other tribal distributions.