NAFOA

08/18/2026

🍊 The Orange Brief podcast is back with another episode!

NAFOA Executive Director Cory Blankenship breaks down the latest policy developments shaping Tribal economies from the Tribal Regulatory Reform Implementation Act of 2026 and proposed changes to the Uniform Guidance, to what’s ahead at the next Treasury Tribal Advisory Committee meeting.

Plus, hear highlights from NAFOA’s “Leading People” executive leadership program at Harvard Business School and get an update on the long-awaited return of the Orange Book.

🎙️ Listen, subscribe, and stay in the know: https://ow.ly/noyF50ZB0TG

The Orange Brief is available wherever you listen to podcasts. Don’t miss the next episode!

08/17/2026

Here are the 5️⃣Things You Need to Know This Week: https://nafoa.org/august-17-5-things-you-need-to-know-this-week/

1️⃣ Conference: Session Highlight: Tribal Policy Across Administrations
2️⃣ Policy: SBA Finalizes 8(a) Rule Change: Entity-Owned Tribal Firms Unaffected, Individual Native American Applicants Face New Evidentiary Test
3️⃣ Must Read: Underinvestment in Indian Country: How Federal and Philanthropic Funding to Native Americans Falls Short, and How to Fix It
4️⃣ Listening Session: Fostering the Future Initiative
5️⃣ Job Opportunity: TCDC Portfolio Manager, YDSP Economic Development/Tigua Community Development Corporation

📸 Photo of the week: Former U.S. Treasurer Lynn Malerba, Chief Mutáwi Mutáhash (Many Hearts) of The Mohegan Tribe, will join current U.S. Treasurer Brandon Beach on stage for a wide-ranging discussion on Tribal finance and economic sovereignty, a unique opportunity to hear from past and present leadership this September at in Santa Fe.

08/13/2026

Join us during the General Session on Monday at as former US Treasurer Lynn Malerba, Chief Mutáwi Mutáhash (Many Hearts) of The Mohegan Tribe, and current US Brandon Beach sit down with Chairman of NAFOA and President of the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation, Rodney Butler for a candid discussion on federal collaboration with Indian Country. This session will be moderated by Fatima Abbas, Director of the Office of Tribal and Native Affairs, and covers what’s been accomplished, what’s been learned, and why a sustained, bipartisan commitment to Tribal Nations and economies remains essential.

Learn more about in Santa Fe here:

NAFOA hosts our Annual Conference (Spring) and the Fall Finance & Tribal Economies Conference to collaborate, share practical insights, and collectively define a path toward stronger Tribal economies and sovereignty.

08/11/2026

🚨Policy Alert: The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) has issued a Final Rule amending the regulations in 13 CFR Part 124 for the 8(a) Business Development Program. This rule formally removes the rebuttable presumption of social disadvantage for individuals belonging to certain designated groups, including Native Americans. This regulatory change was made to comply with the 2023 federal court ruling in Ultima Servs. Corp. v. United States Department of Agriculture. The rule establishes a new, race-neutral test for individually owned firms to establish social disadvantage.

Importantly, this final rule does not apply to or affect entity-owned firms, including those owned by Indian Tribes, Alaska Native Corporations (ANCs), and Native Hawaiian Organizations.

While Tribal entities are exempt, small businesses owned by Native American individuals will experience significant changes.

Read the full policy alert here: https://nafoa.org/sba-finalizes-8a-rule-change/

08/10/2026

Here are the 5️⃣Things You Need to Know This Week: https://nafoa.org/august-10-5-things-you-need-to-know-this-week/

1️⃣ Policy: Senate Funding Bill Blocks Immediate Implementation of OMB Uniform Guidance Overhaul
2️⃣ Conference: Go all in at the Casino Night Closing Reception
3️⃣ Must Read: Senate Panel Puts Tribal Gaming and Prediction Markets Under the Microscope
4️⃣ Grant Opportunity: Economic Advancement Grants for Local Empowerment (EAGLE)
5️⃣ Job Opportunity: Investment RFQ, Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians

📸 Photo of the week: In late July, NAFOA Executive Director Cory Blankenship (far right) and President Rodney Butler, Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation Chairman (far left), guest lectured at Dartmouth's Tribal Leadership Academy. This year's cohort included three NAFOA Institute alumni.

08/05/2026

🚨Policy Alert: The U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee has released the Continuing Appropriations Act, 2027, a continuing resolution (CR) designed to fund the federal government through December 11, 2026. Importantly for Indian Country, the Senate measure includes a critical provision in Section 157 that delays the Office of Management and Budget’s (OMB) proposed overhaul of the Uniform Guidance for federal awards.

This delay provides breathing room for Tribal finance departments, program managers, and leadership. It ensures that current Uniform Guidance rules remain in place as FY 2027 begins, preventing administrative confusion and allowing more time for Tribal nations to advocate for changes that respect Tribal sovereignty, self-determination, and administrative capacity.

Read the full policy alert here: https://nafoa.org/omb-proposed-rule-delayed/

08/03/2026

Here are the 5️⃣Things You Need to Know This Week: https://nafoa.org/august-3-5-things-you-need-to-know-this-week/

1️⃣ Event: TTAC Meeting September 11, 2026
2️⃣ Webinar: How ASAP.gov Recipients Enroll
3️⃣ Tribal Consultation: Interagency Implementation of ED 2027 Grantmaking Priorities and 2028 Budget Priorities
4️⃣ Member Tribe News: Yurok Tribe Regains 125 Acres of Ancestral Redwood Land
5️⃣ Job Opportunity: Attorney General, Catawba Indian Nation

📸 Photo of the week: In case you missed it, the agenda for is live! Plan out your sessions and register today if you haven’t already. See the full agenda at nafoa.org/conference/agenda.

07/27/2026

Here are the 5️⃣Things You Need to Know This Week: https://nafoa.org/july-27-5-things-you-need-to-know-this-week/

1️⃣ Conference: Agenda Available for
2️⃣ Policy: NAFOA Board Advances Policy Priorities in Washington, DC
3️⃣ Event: Financial Literacy and Education Commission Public Meeting Today
4️⃣ Must Read: Indigenous Governance 2026 Summer Reading List
5️⃣ Job Opportunity: Director of Finance, Robinson Rancheria Resort, Casino & Bingo

📸 Photo of the week: NAFOA's Board of Directors traveled to Washington, D.C. last week to advocate for the Tribal Tax and Investment Reform Act, meeting with member offices, including Rep. Gwen Moore (D-WI4). (Pictured left to right: Carolina Wasinger, Spirit Rock, LLC; Chairman Rodney Butler, Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation and NAFOA President; Rep. Moore; and Melanie Benjamin, NAFOA Secretary).

07/23/2026

Are you ready for NAFOA's Fall Conference? The agenda is live for happening September 21-22, 2026, at the Hilton Santa Fe Buffalo Thunder in Santa Fe, NM.

Check out the agenda at nafoa.org/conference/agenda and register today! Don't miss out!

07/20/2026

Here are the 5️⃣Things You Need to Know This Week: https://nafoa.org/july-20-5-things-you-need-to-know-this-week/

1️⃣ Advocacy: NACA Applauds Chair Cole for Spotlighting 8(a) Application Delays
2️⃣ Webinar: Tech Sovereignty: A Tribal Leader's Guide to the AI Era
3️⃣ Grants: Alliance for Tribal Clean Energy Office Hours
4️⃣ Must Read: Native CDFI Secures $2M Loan for Billings Health Clinic
5️⃣ Job Opportunity: Chief Financial Officer, Bois Forte Tribal Government

📸 Photo of the week: NAFOA welcomes Raylen Bark, a member of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians and is from Cherokee, North Carolina. She currently serves as NAFOA’s Policy Specialist. Prior to her role with NAFOA, she worked with the Ray Kinsland Leadership Institute as their Grants & Fundraising Specialist. She graduated from Dartmouth College with a B.A in Native American and Indigenous Studies and minored in Linguistics. Raylen is passionate about protecting and empowering indigenous sovereignty and looks forward to working with Tribal Nations.