Investment Policy Arena

Rather than viewing tribal business costs as one annual appropriation, tribes can take an investment view of feeding and growing businesses.  The earnings of tribal businesses can be divided into payment to the tribe (like dividends to be used for tribal services, tribal investment, and per capita distributions), money saved for reinvestment into the business, and money to be used for long-term growth.  The long-term growth piece might include investment in economic diversification and growth vehicles to fund additional tribal services long-term like an endowment (ex. social security, scholarships, etc.).  By looking at the different uses of tribal business proceeds, tribes can take a proactive stance on deciding how to grow the community.  This is accomplished by articulating the choices and tribal goals for use of business earnings by forming an investment policy.  Then, this investment policy can be implemented and made to work for the tribe.