(Fort Washakie, WY) The Wind River Sage Fund Inc. (WRSF) announced today that it has received official 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). The Wind River Development Fund (WRDF) established WRSF as a new nonprofit organization to lead and support large-scale economic development initiatives on the Wind River Reservation and across the region.
WRSF is currently leading more than $40 million in economic development projects on the Reservation, focused on long-term community growth, infrastructure, and regional economic opportunity.
“We are very pleased to receive our tax-exempt designation for the newly created Wind River Sage Fund,” said Paul F. Huberty, Executive Director. “Together with the Wind River Development Fund – our Native Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) – we are now well positioned to advance both small business development and larger-scale economic projects. This dual-organization structure allows us to pursue distinct and complementary missions and funding opportunities.”
Wind River Sage Fund is governed by a five-member Board of Directors that includes Roy Brown (Northern Arapaho), Roxanne Friday (Eastern Shoshone/Seneca), Alejandra Robinson, Karen Snyder (Eastern Shoshone), and Vanessa Sorrels (Eastern Shoshone).
WRSF shares executive leadership with the Wind River Development Fund. Paul F. Huberty (White Earth Ojibwe) serves as Executive Director; Erika Warren-Yarber (Northern Arapaho) as Chief Operating Officer; Leslie Shakespeare (Eastern Shoshone) as Chief Implementation Officer; and Lisa Wagner as Chief Financial Officer, with each holding dual appointments across both organizations.
Erika Warren-Yarber talked about the advantages of the unique organizational structure and relationship between WRDF and WRSF. “This dual, yet independent organizational structure makes us incredibly dynamic. The Wind River Development Fund’s established work in supporting small businesses, paired with the Wind River Sage Fund’s capacity to lead major, large-scale economic projects, creates a powerful combination that drives immediate growth and sets the stage for generational prosperity across the Wind River Reservation.”
Wind River Sage Fund Inc. is a nonprofit organization focusing on Indigenous-led economic development initiatives on the Wind River Indian Reservation and across Wyoming. For more information, please visit the Wind River Sage Fund at wrsagefund.org.
