Celebrating Native American Heritage Month: Tax Help NM’s Impact in Tribal Communities
Of the more than 9,000 tax returns prepared annually, 30% of those are for Native families. Indigenous peoples make up just 9% of the population in Tax Help NM’s service area, underscoring the vital role the program plays in supporting Native communities.
Tax Help NM has a decades-long partnership with Navajo United Way and operates multiple VITA sites on the Navajo Nation, including Ramah, Church Rock, and Chinle (Apache County, AZ). Longstanding, trusting relationships are the foundation of successful programming.
“Everything we do with Native communities is about trust,” explains Jeffrey Ledbetter, Director of Tax Help NM. “It’s not about doing it for them, it’s about helping them do it in their space.”
Through partnerships with tribal chapters, housing authorities, and community organizations, Tax Help NM ensures services are accessible where families feel most comfortable. Cultural understanding, community presence, and representation are central. Volunteers often speak the local language and create a welcoming environment.
Breaking Barriers for Native Families
Native communities face unique challenges in accessing tax assistance, including rural isolation, limited technology, and transportation barriers. Older adults often bring family members to interpret during tax preparation. By embedding sites within the community and partnering with trusted organizations, Tax Help NM helps families overcome these challenges.
One powerful example comes from a volunteer at Montoya Clinic from Zia Pueblo who prepared a tax return entirely in her native language, demonstrating the program’s commitment to trust and culturally responsive service.
Impact by the Numbers
Tax Help NM seeks to increase service provision each year, and in the past tax season, its six sites in Native and tribal communities generated over $7.2 million in returns. These results highlight the program’s effectiveness in supporting Native families and returning critical funds to communities that need them most.
Expanding Beyond Tax Season
The program is also addressing financial literacy and coaching. Tax Help NM’s Money Matters program helps families build long-term financial stability through education about credit, budgeting, and other key financial topics. Plans are underway to expand financial education into high schools as well.
How the Community Can Support
Tax Help NM thrives on community support. Donations help sustain free services, and volunteers are always needed. “Anybody can be a Tax Help volunteer,” says Ledbetter. “No experience is required. All training and resources are provided.” Volunteers range from retirees looking to give back to high school students gaining career experience.
For more stories and educational content, visit Tax Help NM’s YouTube page.
This Native American Heritage Month, United Way of North Central New Mexico celebrates the resilience of Native communities and the partnerships that make this work possible. With trust, cultural understanding, and community presence at its core, Tax Help NM continues to break barriers and promote financial equity for generations to come.