LONGMONT, Colo. (December 3, 2024) – Oweesta Corporation, a national Native CDFI intermediary helping to strengthen the foundation in Native communities for sustainable, equitable growth and prosperity, has been named the winner of a Gold Stevie® Award in the Nonprofit Organization of the Year category at the 21st annual Stevie Awards for Women in Business.
“Oweesta is deeply honored to receive this award, as it reflects the remarkable achievements of Native communities across the nation in their journey toward economic sovereignty,” said Chrystel Cornelius, CEO of Oweesta Corporation. “We are proud to facilitate access to financial tools, resources, and opportunities that enhance the lending efforts of Native CDFIs and drive sustainable economic growth. This award is a testament to the collective power of Native communities and the resilience they demonstrate in empowering their communities with financial tools and resources. By fostering economic independence and inclusion, we hope to inspire future generations while amplifying our impact and supporting the shared vision of prosperity for all Native communities.”
As one of the largest facilitators of capital to Indian Country, Oweesta offers financial products and services to Native CDFIs and provides expert technical assistance and training to propel Native people with the knowledge and skills to support strategic financial decision making. This empowerment is key to advancing economic growth and independence and contributes to the resilience and prosperity of Native communities.
Since July 2022, Oweesta has achieved significant milestones in supporting Native communities by launching comprehensive training and certification programs. These include the Native CDFI Practitioner Certification program, covering all aspects of Native CDFI operations, and the Building Native Communities Curriculum (first published in 2001), designed to help Indigenous organizations establish financial education programs. In 2024, Oweesta introduced specialized courses, such as Financial Coaching with Families Next Level, Coaching for Credit Building, Trauma-Informed Financial Practitioner and Financial Confidence for Elders, addressing unique community needs. Additionally, Oweesta expanded its capital base to over $90 million in total assets and $58 million in lending and secured $156.4 million in Solar for All funding from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to further its impact.
The Stevie Awards for Women in Business honor the achievements of women executives, entrepreneurs, employees, and the companies they run worldwide. The Stevie Award is nicknamed the Stevies for the Greek word for “crowned.” Gold, Silver, and Bronze Stevie Award winners were determined by the average scores of more than 200 business professionals around the world, working on seven juries.
Maggie Miller, president of the Stevie Awards, said, “In its 21st year, the Stevie Awards for Women in Business received an outstanding body of nominations. We are gratified by how meaningful it is to women to win a Stevie Award, and how impactful it can be on the futures of their careers and their organizations. We congratulate all of this year’s Grand, Gold, Silver, and Bronze Stevie Award winners for their achievements.”
More than 1,500 entries from organizations and individuals in 36 nations and territories were submitted this year for consideration in more than 100 categories, including Executive of the Year, Entrepreneur of the Year, Company of the Year, Startup of the Year, Women Helping Women, and Women Run Workplace of the Year. Gold, Silver, and Bronze Stevie Award winners were determined by the average scores of more than 200 business professionals around the world, working on seven juries. Details about the Stevie Awards for Women in Business and the list of winners in all categories are available at www.StevieAwards.com/Women.