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Our Director of Finance, Darla Lawrence, is responsible for all accounting operations within Four Bands, including generating required reports, developing information for the annual audit, cash and investment management, budgeting, planning, and database management. Joining the Four Bands team in 2006, Darla has supported the continued growth of the organization from a small start-up to a nationally-recognized leader of the Native community development field. During her time at Four Bands, she has played an integral role in building internal capacity, developed innovative strategies for diversifying capital, and successfully managed larger funder cycles and an increasing number of funder relationships. In the last five fiscal years, she has guided the organization through a 257% growth in assets, reaching nearly $31 million by 2023 year end. Darla has also supported Four Bands in adopting new technologies and integrating them into our standardized processes. Under her leadership the financial integrity of Four Bands has remained impeccable, as evidenced with zero audit findings. As a financial leader in the Native CDFI space, Darla regularly coaches executives from other loan funds and nonprofits.
Darla has an Associate’s Degree in both Business and Computer Information from Sisseton Wahpeton Community College and is also a certified trainer in the Building Native Communities curriculum. Before coming to Four Bands in 2006, Darla worked for the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe for 12 years serving as the Payroll Director, Office Manager, and Business Technician. She is a member of the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe and was born and raised on the Cheyenne River Indian Reservation. Darla lives just outside of Eagle Butte and enjoys spending time with her family, especially her grandchildren.