Charter School Growth Fund

Overview

The Charter School Growth Fund (CSGF) is a non-profit venture capital firm committed to expanding high-performing charter schools throughout the United States. Their mission is to identify and support the nation's best public charter schools by providing multi-year, philanthropic investments to education leaders building networks of excellent schools. CSGF has funded over 1,600 schools serving more than 725,000 students in 32 states, Washington D.C., and Puerto Rico. CSGF's investment strategy focuses on nurturing educational leaders who demonstrate strong academic performance, financial sustainability, and a commitment to serving underserved communities. They offer two primary funding strategies: Seed and Scale. The Seed strategy supports early-stage growth, providing grants ranging from $250,000 to $750,000 to help leaders open one to three new schools within two years. The Scale strategy offers grants and low-interest loans of $750,000 or more to support leaders aiming to serve an additional 1,000+ students over three to five years. Both strategies include strategic partnership, community building, and support in key practice areas such as academics, talent, finance, and college access. Through these initiatives, CSGF aims to increase access to high-quality public education, particularly in historically underserved communities. Their portfolio schools serve a diverse student population, with 89% of students being people of color and 77% from low-income families. By investing in innovative educational approaches and supporting leaders of color, CSGF strives to create equitable educational opportunities and improve student outcomes nationwide.

Investment Focus

• Nonprofit organizations operating high-performing charter schools
• Commitment to serving underserved communities
• Demonstrated academic excellence and financial sustainability
• Ambition to expand and serve additional students

Portfolio Companies