Partners

CHARTER SCHOOLS DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION

Columbia, Maryland

The Charter Schools Development Corporation (CSDC) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation and Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI). CSDC provides a critical service for new and expanding charter schools which, unlike traditional schools, have neither a ready source of capital for facilities, nor the taxing or bonding authority to address capital funding requirements. Because public charter schools’ per-pupil funding is often inequitable compared to that of traditional public schools (about 75-80% on average when compared to traditional schools nationwide), virtually all charter schools must use operational funding – money which otherwise would go towards educational purposes and classroom teaching and learning – to cover capital budget shortfalls. CSDC helps charter schools with the twin challenge of finding and financing facilities and closing the funding gap so that they can keep their focus on their educational mission and student achievement gains. CSDC specializes in working with newly formed and early stage charter schools in their first few years of operation, with a priority of schools in low-income communities and/or communities with a significant number of underperforming district schools.

HOPE ENTERPRISE CORPORATION

Jackson, Mississippi

Formerly Enterprise Corporation of the Delta, HOPE Enterprise Corporation is a private, nonprofit community development financial institution (CDFI), that provides commercial financing, mortgage loans and technical assistance to support businesses, entrepreneurs, home buyers and community development projects. HOPE’s mission is to strengthen communities, build assets and improve lives of people in economically distressed areas of Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Memphis, Tennessee. HOPE also sponsors Hope Credit Union, which provides a range of financial products and services that meet the needs of low- and moderate-income residents in its four-state service area.

NEW PLAN LEARNING

New Plan Learning (NPL) is a non-profit organization that specializes in collaborative project management & construction, innovative financial solutions and turnkey development. With over 20 years of experience transforming communities, NPL has developed and constructed over 1,000,000 SF of school space, totaling more than $100 million in projects. NPL supports the charter school movement and believes that all children deserve access to a high-quality free and public education within their community. NPL understands the challenges charter school leaders face when securing school facilities that provide a safe and secure learning environment. NPL provides charter school leaders with the market research and financial solutions necessary to make property development and construction difficult decisions. NPL creates facilities with unique layout design elements aligned with each charter school’s mission and vision.