Nonprofit and Community Platforms
Montana Native Growth Fund
Custom website and Sanity CMS platform for Montana Native Growth Fund, a Native-led CDFI on the Fort Belknap Indian Reservation. Supports community lending, financial education, and homeownership programs for Tribal members and Native families across Montana.
Context
Client or organization background
MNGF is a Native-led Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) based on the Fort Belknap Indian Reservation in Montana. Their mission is to support financial growth, financial education, and economic sovereignty for Native people through lending, mentorship, and responsible homeownership programming.
The situation
The challenge
MNGF needed a modern digital presence that could reflect their values and serve their community — in a context where rural access, cultural representation, and non-technical staff self-sufficiency all had to be considered simultaneously. A lack of an accessible, mobile-ready platform was limiting their ability to reach community members and communicate their lending programs effectively.
Success criteria
Project goals
- Build a culturally grounded, professional website rooted in the MNGF brand identity
- Deliver a self-service CMS so non-technical staff can manage content independently
- Optimize for mobile and low-bandwidth access common on the reservation
- Create a resource hub with loan application, educational content, and downloadable forms
- Provide a scalable foundation ready for the organization's continued growth
Recommended approach
Strategy
Innonative Solutions took a community-first approach — using MNGF’s brand colors (Pantone 330 teal and 124 gold) and typography to ground the design in cultural identity and trust. A modern JAMstack architecture (Next.js + Sanity + Vercel) was chosen to ensure performance, content flexibility, and long-term maintainability without ongoing developer dependency.
InnoNative responsibilities
Scope and services delivered
- Web Design
- Web Development
- CMS Implementation
- Mobile Optimization
Implementation
Technical solution
The site was built with Next.js for a fast, server-rendered frontend, Sanity CMS for fully customizable content management, Tailwind CSS for design consistency, and deployed on Vercel for reliability and scalability. A Salesforce-integrated loan application portal was embedded as part of the resource hub.
Communication
Content and messaging work
Content was structured to guide community members through MNGF’s programs — including loan resources, financial education blog posts, and downloadable forms — in a clear, approachable format.
Capabilities
Key features
- Salesforce-integrated loan application portal
- CMS-managed blog and financial education resources
- Resource and document download hub
- Mobile-first responsive design
- Culturally branded UI using MNGF brand colors and typography
Connected systems
Integrations
- Salesforce
How the work moved
Delivery process
Discovery & Brand Alignment
The project began with a focused discovery phase to understand MNGF’s mission, community context, and organizational goals. This included aligning on the cultural significance of the work — building a digital presence for a Native-led CDFI on the Fort Belknap Indian Reservation — and establishing clear priorities around cultural representation, accessibility, and staff self-sufficiency. MNGF’s brand identity (Pantone 330 teal and 124 gold) was documented and carried forward as the foundation for all design decisions.
Design
With brand and goals aligned, design focused on a mobile-first, culturally grounded UI. Layouts were built to be responsive and optimized for the rural and low-bandwidth access conditions common on the reservation. Typography and color choices were grounded directly in MNGF’s established identity, ensuring the site felt professional, welcoming, and distinctly Native.
Development
The frontend was built with Next.js for fast, server-rendered performance. Tailwind CSS was used to maintain design consistency across components. Sanity CMS was configured as a fully customizable content management layer, with a staff-friendly studio designed so non-technical team members could manage content without developer involvement.
Salesforce Integration
A loan application portal connected to Salesforce was embedded within the site’s resource hub. This integration allows community members to apply for loans directly through the website, with submissions flowing into MNGF’s existing Salesforce environment.
CMS Setup & Staff Training
The Sanity studio was configured specifically for MNGF’s team — with clear content structures for blog posts, financial education resources, downloadable forms, and program updates. Staff training was provided to ensure the MNGF team could manage and publish content independently, without ongoing technical support for routine updates.
Handoff & Launch
The site was deployed to Vercel for reliable, scalable hosting. Final QA was completed across devices and connection speeds before handoff. The production site launched at nativegrowthfund.org, with the MNGF team fully equipped to manage their digital presence going forward.
Handoff
Launch deliverables
- Production website at nativegrowthfund.org
- Sanity CMS studio for staff content management
- Loan application resource hub with Salesforce integration
Supported outcomes
Results and project impact
The site launched and expanded visibility for Native-led finance in Montana. MNGF staff gained full control over their content without technical involvement. The platform supports community members in accessing lending, financial education, and organizational resources directly online.
After launch
Current status and ongoing support
The site is live and active. The infrastructure is designed to grow with MNGF’s expanding mission, with Sanity CMS enabling the team to continue publishing resources, blog content, and program updates independently.
Montana Native Growth Fund (MNGF) is a Native-led Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) based right here on the Fort Belknap Indian Reservation — the same community I’m from. Their mission is to support financial growth, education, and sovereignty for Native people through lending, mentorship, and responsible homeownership.
So when it came time to launch a modern digital presence that could reflect their values and vision, I was honored to collaborate with them through my business, Innonative Solutions.
This wasn’t just another client project — it was a chance to build something for home.
What We Created Together
🌐 A Website Rooted in Community
From the start, we aimed to create a site that feels professional, welcoming, and distinctly Native — something that reflects who we are at Fort Belknap. MNGF’s brand colors (Pantone 330 teal and 124 gold) and typography choices help ground the design in culture and trust. It’s clean, accessible, and true to their message.
🧠 A CMS Designed for Their Team
We built a Sanity CMS that puts the MNGF team in full control of their content — no technical experience needed. They can easily manage blog posts, upload new resources, and keep the community informed as they grow.
📱 Mobile-First & Rural-Ready
Knowing that many people on the rez access the web through mobile or limited connections, we built the site to be fast, responsive, and easy to navigate from any device.
💸 Tools That Empower
The website features a full resource hub where users can:
- Apply for loans through a Salesforce-integrated portal
- Read blog posts and financial education resources
- Download forms and learn about upcoming opportunities
It’s a one-stop platform built for impact.
🧱 Built to Grow with the Mission
Using modern tools like Next.js, Tailwind, Sanity, and Vercel, the infrastructure is solid, scalable, and ready for whatever comes next.
Why This Work Matters
CDFIs like MNGF are vital — especially for Native communities like ours where access to fair lending, financial literacy, and economic support is often limited. Their work creates real opportunity, right here in our homelands.
This project helps:
- Expand visibility for Native-led finance
- Support Native business owners and families
- Strengthen Tribal economic sovereignty
As someone from Fort Belknap and a Native software engineer, this project meant a lot to me. It’s one of the most meaningful builds I’ve had the chance to work on — because it’s for our people, our future.
Final Thoughts
This site is live, but it’s only the beginning. MNGF is doing powerful work for Fort Belknap and beyond — and I’m proud to help make their impact more visible online.
There’s a lot more I can do for your organization, too. But first, let’s celebrate this one getting out into the world.
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