Partnership bridges the gap for Tribal Nations to access a capital stack they’ve historically been unable to access.
WASHINGTON DC, Dec 11, 2024 - The U.S. Department of Interior’s Office of Strategic Partnerships (OSP), Native CDFI Network, and Syncurrent today announced a historic, 10-year partnership to gift Syncurrent to all 574 Tribal Nations free of charge. The partnership aims to increase Tribal Nations’ capacity to pursue and secure funding for Indian County through the use of artificial intelligence. The Syncurrent technology dramatically reduces the time it takes tribal governments to find and obtain the external funding they need to support tribal programs and services and capitalize the development of critical infrastructure such as roads, utilities, schools, and hospitals.
More than a trillion dollars are made available to local, Tribal and State governments annually, although many Tribal Nations are staff- and resource-constrained in navigating the overwhelming complexities of pursuing this grant funding. To address this challenge, the Syncurrent version 2 platform consolidates federal, state, and philanthropic funding data onto one unified platform. Through artificial intelligence, the platform then matches Tribal Nations with relevant funding opportunities using publicly available data, cutting down the labor-intensive grant searching process from months to minutes. Future versions numbered in consecutive order (V3, V4, etc) will have AI-Auto grant write and compliance features built into it.
“Supporting Tribal Nations is and always will be a main priority for Syncurrent,” said Dhruv C. Patel, Co-Founder and CEO of Syncurrent. “Through our efforts, we’re taking a group of people that have always been pushed to the back of the line and moving them all the way to the front. We are so incredibly grateful for our partners in sharing and promoting our mission to increase access to capital across Indian Country.”
Native Americans In Philanthropy reports that although Native American populations make up 2% of the U.S. population, they receive only 0.4% of philanthropic dollars explicitly benefiting them. The formation of this partnership addresses this inequity as it relates to access to capital in the form of grants, loans, and funding opportunities to Tribal Nations. Increasing the visibility and accessibility of funding opportunities is the first step in creating a paradigm shift for Indian Country.
“Tribal Nations have long faced systemic barriers to accessing capital and securing their fair share of federal, state, and philanthropic dollars,” said Pete Upton, CEO of Native CDFI Network. “This partnership is a testament to the power of collaboration, innovation, and an unabiding commitment to equity. Syncurrent’s AI technology will enable tribal governments to identify and secure critical funding much more quickly, efficiently, and effectively, empowering them to build stronger, healthier, and more prosperous communities. This partnership demonstrates our collective resolve to not only bridge the funding gaps in Native communities, but to position them at the forefront of innovation. With Syncurrent V2, Tribal Nations will have a vital tool to take charge of their futures, and the Native CDFI Network stands ready to support them in using that tool.”
"We've been utilizing Syncurrent's AI platform since last spring. I’ve loved the simplicity of the platform and their timely responses to questions.” Said Eugene Sommers the District II Representative for The White Earth Nation of Ojibwe. “The platform's simplicity has allowed us to identify and collaborate on critical funding to meet our community's needs. It's awesome that Syncurrent will be providing all U.S. tribes with free access to their platform. This is a historic step forward for all of Indian Country."
Tribal Nations are invited to begin using Syncurrent immediately by visiting Syncurrent.com directly to learn more and sign up for free access to the platform.
About Syncurrent:
Syncurrent is an AI technology startup bridging the funding access gap for Tribal Nations and rural communities. Through its innovative platform, Syncurrent connects these Nations and communities with customized federal, state, and philanthropic funding opportunities, empowering communities to pursue financial investments with greater ease while harnessing their data sovereignty.
About the Native CDFI Network:
The Native CDFI Network is a nonprofit organization focused on strengthening Native community development financial institutions to create jobs, increase access to capital, and build stronger tribal economies.
About the Department of the Interior:
The U.S. Department of the Interior works to uphold federal trust responsibilities to Tribal Nations, manage public lands, and promote economic opportunities for Native American communities. The Office of Strategic Partnerships - Department of Interior supports the development and implementation of public-private partnerships to leverage federal and private resources and promote innovative solutions for Indian Country. The office provides a platform for Tribal Nations and Native-led and owned businesses and nonprofits to work with philanthropy, non-profits, and the business community to build greater understanding of the unique history and culture of Tribal Nations and works to support and foster long-term relationships.
For more information, please contact
Dhruv C. Patel
