At a glance
From its website, read 2 Nov 2026Chi Ishobak, Inc. is a loan fund based in Dowagiac, Michigan. Its website describes auto loans, personal loans and small-business loans. It says it considers borrowers with low or no credit history. You can start an application online.
Each point is backed by a quote further down this page. Terms change: confirm with the lender.
How to reach them and apply
| Main | (269) 783-4157 source |
|---|---|
| info@chiishobak.org source | |
| Apply online | Page with the application link |
| Website | www.chiishobak.org |
| Office (official list) | P.O. Box 766, Dowagiac, MI 49047 |
What their website says about applying
Complete the PDF and email the filled-out form to
source
Phone numbers and addresses are the ones on the lender's own site and the CDFI Fund list. CDFI Atlas does not take applications.
Who qualifies, in their words
- Low or damaged credit considered
Even if you’ve had credit issues in the past, Chi Ishobak wants to guide you toward financial independence.
source
Only rules the lender's own pages state. Other requirements may apply.
Official record
CDFI Fund list, 21 Oct 2026| Institution type | Loan fund |
|---|---|
| Native CDFI | Yes |
| Date certified (as listed) | 30 Jul 2026 |
| RSSD ID | — (none listed) |
| Address | P.O. Box 766, Dowagiac, MI 49047 |
| Website | www.chiishobak.org |
Head officeBranch or officeApproximate (ZIP code area)
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors, © OpenMapTiles, tiles OpenFreeMap. Head-office points: U.S. Census Bureau geocoder.
Loans and eligibility
Verified from lender site on 2 Nov 2026Read from 7 pages of the lender's website on 2 Nov 2026. Quotes are verbatim. Extracted with AI help from the pages listed below and checked automatically against them. Not reviewed by a person. Confidence: medium. No service area geography is stated on the pages fetched; the auto and personal loan pages are thin. Terms change — confirm with the lender before applying.
| Product | Amount stated | Text on the lender's site (verbatim, incl. menu labels) | Page |
|---|---|---|---|
| Auto / vehicle loans | — | Loan funds may be used for the purchase, | source |
| Personal / consumer loans | up to $5,000 | expenses up to $5,000. | source |
| Small-business loans | from $1,000 | Chi Ishobak’s loans start at $1,000 | source |
Service area
Not stated on the pages we read.
Borrower focus
- Native American / Alaska Native / Native Hawaiian
We specialize in providing financing to tribal business owners and entrepreneurs who are unable to obtain traditional financing through banks and credit unions.
source
Languages
- No non-English service found on the pages we read.
Online application
Yes — the site links to an application. Start Your Application
source
Pages read (7)
- https://chiishobak.org/
- https://chiishobak.org/consumer/
- https://chiishobak.org/commercial-loan-program/
- https://chiishobak.org/financial-wellness-program/
- https://chiishobak.org/financial-wellness-workshops/
- https://chiishobak.org/chi-ishobak-to-participate-in-10-million-capital-pool-for-tribal-communities/
- https://chiishobak.org/chi-ishobak-inc-partners-with-womens-business-center-at-cornerstone-alliance-to-assist-tribal-entrepreneurs/
Questions to ask when you contact them
Based on what their website said when we read it on 2 Nov 2026, and what it left out. Something missing here does not mean they don't offer it: ask.
- Do you lend where I live, or where my business is?
Their website does not say which area they serve. - What are the smallest and the largest loans you make?
No loan amounts are stated on their website. - What is the APR, including fees, on your auto loans and personal loans?
Their website does not state an APR. The APR includes fees, so it is the number to compare. - What interest rate and fees should I expect on your small-business loans?
Their website does not state a rate for this. - Do you need collateral, a business plan or a minimum time in business?
Their website does not say what they require. - How long can I take to repay?
No repayment terms are stated on their website. - What documents will you need from me, and how long does a decision usually take?
Their website describes some application steps (above); ask for the full document list.
Write down the answers, who you spoke to and the date, and ask for the terms in writing before you sign.
CDFI Fund awards
CDFI Fund database, 3 Nov 2026$10.1 million in 14 awards from the U.S. Treasury's CDFI Fund, 2011–2024 (4 programs).
| Round year | Program | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Native American CDFI Assistance (NACA), Financial Assistance | $2,000,000 |
| 2022 | CDFI Equitable Recovery Program | $2,065,699 |
| 2022 | Native American CDFI Assistance (NACA), Financial Assistance | $975,000 |
| 2021 | CDFI Rapid Response Program | $1,278,385 |
| 2021 | Native American CDFI Assistance (NACA), Technical Assistance | $125,000 |
| 2020 | Native American CDFI Assistance (NACA), Financial Assistance | $700,000 |
| 2019 | Native American CDFI Assistance (NACA), Financial Assistance | $930,000 |
| 2018 | Native American CDFI Assistance (NACA), Financial Assistance | $616,000 |
| 2017 | Native American CDFI Assistance (NACA), Financial Assistance | $562,000 |
| 2015 | Native American CDFI Assistance (NACA), Technical Assistance | $149,612 |
| 2014 | Native American CDFI Assistance (NACA), Financial Assistance | $240,000 |
| 2013 | Native American CDFI Assistance (NACA), Technical Assistance | $135,236 |
| 2012 | Native American CDFI Assistance (NACA), Technical Assistance | $145,962 |
| 2011 | Native American CDFI Assistance (NACA), Technical Assistance | $139,620 |
These are awards and investments made to the institution itself to build its capital and capacity. They are not loans to borrowers, and an award does not mean the lender has money available for a particular loan today.
Source: CDFI Fund Searchable Awards Database, all 12,628 award records (1996–2025), read 3 Nov 2026. Years are the award round as the database lists it. Matched to the official CDFI list by exact name and state; see the method on the About page.
Size of the fund (IRS Form 990)
Fiscal year ending Dec 2023| Total assets | $13M |
|---|---|
| Total liabilities | $1.6M |
| Net assets | $11.4M |
| Total revenue | $4.1M |
| Notes and loans receivable, net (Part X line 7) | $5.4M |
End-of-year figures from the Form 990 this organisation filed with the IRS for the fiscal year ending December 2023 (tax year 2023; EIN 35-2372805, filed as “CHI ISHOBAK INC”), taken from the IRS Annual Extract of Tax-Exempt Organization Financial Data (returns processed in 2024). Figures are self-reported to the IRS, not audited by us, and lag one to two years behind today. The lender’s own annual report may show newer numbers. This organisation’s filings on ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer
Filings over time
| Fiscal year ending | Total assets | Net assets | Revenue | Notes and loans receivable |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 2021 (990) | $9.2M | $6.8M | $2.5M | $3.9M |
| Dec 2022 (990) | $9.8M | $7.9M | $1.9M | $4.8M |
| Dec 2023 (990) | $13M | $11.4M | $4.1M | $5.4M |
Total assets grew 41% from Dec 2021 to Dec 2023; notes and loans receivable rose 39%. One row per fiscal year in the IRS extracts of returns processed in 2022, 2023, 2024; “—” = the line was empty or zero on that return (a fund can book its loans on other lines).
How it compares
Computed from public data| Measure | This lender | Compared with |
|---|---|---|
| Total assets, latest IRS Form 990 | $13M | Larger than 69% of the 16 other certified loan funds and venture funds in Michigan with a matched Form 990 (median $6.6M). |
How these comparisons were worked out
| Measure | Peer group (this lender left out) | Peers | Where this lender sits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Form 990 total assets | certified loan and venture funds with a Form 990, in Michigan | 16 | larger than 69% |
“Larger than X%” = the share of the peer group with a smaller value. Ranks count from the largest. Peer groups use the lender's home state when it has at least 5 peers, otherwise the whole country. Full definitions: methodology.
For comparison, not an offer and not a rating. Past records show what this lender did, not what you would be offered. Peer groups and sources: methodology. Form 990 figures: IRS annual extracts (see the Form 990 section).
Other certified CDFIs in Dowagiac and Michigan
- American 1 Credit UnionCredit union · Jackson, MIAuto / vehicle loans, Home mortgages, Personal / consumer loansVerified
- Awakon Federal Credit UnionCredit union · Onaway, MIAuto / vehicle loans, Commercial real estate loans, Equipment loans, Home mortgages…Verified
- BlueOx Credit UnionCredit union · Battle Creek, MIAuto / vehicle loans, Commercial real estate loans, Credit-builder loans, Equipment loans…Verified
- CASE Credit UnionCredit union · Lansing, MIAuto / vehicle loans, Commercial real estate loans, Equipment loans, Home repair / improvement loans…Verified
- COMMUNITY FIRST FEDERAL CREDIT UNIONCredit union · Lakeview, MIAuto / vehicle loans, Home mortgages, Personal / consumer loansVerified
- CORE Community PartnersLoan fund · Bingham Farms, MIAffordable housing development loansVerified
Work at Chi Ishobak, Inc.? Link to this page
Paste this into your website to show you are listed. If anything here is wrong, tell us first (how).
Something wrong or out of date on this page? Use the contact page or email contact@cdfiatlas.com and name the page.
CDFI Atlas is not a lender and does not give financial advice. Inclusion is not an endorsement, and lenders have not reviewed or approved these pages. Disclaimer.