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Charter School Loans


Charter School Financing for Quality, Equitable Education

Self-Help offers mission-focused, sophisticated lending that helps your school succeed. We support public charter schools that create and expand quality educational opportunities for students who are poorly served by existing options, especially students of color, English language learners, students with learning differences, and those in low-income and rural communities. In our lending, we keep equity at the forefront to ensure that the most vulnerable students have access not just to a high-quality education, but also to appropriate social and emotional support. 

Program Details

  • Financing available up to $20 million per project.
  • Loans available for schools at any stage of operation. Loan size may be limited for early-stage schools. 
  • Loans available to independent schools and charter management organizations.
  • National footprint: loans available across the U.S.

Typical Loan Types and Terms

  • Acquisition loans: 25-year max
  • Construction loans: 36-month max
  • Mini-permanent loans: 5 years
  • Permanent loans: 25-year max
  • Leasehold loans: 3 years

Let Us Be Your Lender

    • In-house legal and construction teams.
    • Expert support during every stage of your facilities project.
    • Below market origination fee and no legal fees
    • Access to USDA Rural Development Program, CDFI Bond Guarantee Program, U.S. Department of Education Charter School Enhancement program and more.
    Charter School Map Oct 21

    Sugar Creek Charter School for Charter School

    Three-time Self-Help borrower Sugar Creek Charter School is a high-performing public charter school in Charlotte, North Carolina. Sugar Creek outperforms both district and state averages for Black and economically disadvantaged student groups and maintains a 100% college acceptance rate among graduating seniors. In 2021, Sugar Creek used a Self-Help loan to build a new high school facility, creating 276 new student seats.

     
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