Memphis Rise Academy, Tennessee
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We empower high-impact public charter schools to grow and thrive.
Learn More About Us Watch Our VideoEquitable Facilities Fund is a nonprofit social impact fund for high-performing public charter schools. We offer low-cost, short-term and long-term financing for a variety of facility projects.
Across the United States, a key piece of the American Dream is missing.
At Equitable Facilities Fund, we support schools that are creating educational opportunity for communities that need it most. We provide our partner schools with low-cost, short-term and long-term, fixed-rate loans at the best terms available outside of government-enhanced programs.
We seek to disrupt the traditional barriers to capital access that schools, families, and communities face across America.
$1 Billion
To date, EFF has committed $1B in high-impact funding to support schools serving more than 75,000 students across 20 states.
$240 Million
Our loans have saved schools over $240million - funds that go back into the classroom where they belong.
5x Impact
For every $1 of philanthropic funding received, EFF provides $5 of low-cost loans to excellent schools.
Meet Some of Our Partner Schools
We are proud to partner with high-performing schools that are making the biggest difference for students and families.
Memphis Rise Academy
Read the full case study of our Memphis Rise partnership here.
View Memphis Rise’s S&P Ratings Report Here.
Founded in 2013, Memphis Rise Academy (“MRA”) serves 766 students in grades 6-12 in Memphis, Tennessee. The school’s mission is to provide all of its students with an education that will prepare them to be successful in the nation’s most competitive colleges and universities, by serving any student who has the determination to rise to meet and exceed his or her most ambitious goals through the attainment of an excellent education. MRA has created a robust academic program and school model that is heavily influenced by school founder Jack Vuylsteke’s participation in the Building Excellent Schools fellowship. The dedicated faculty and staff at MRA not only work hard to prepare their students for college, but also empower them to be self-motivated by working with students to create personalized benchmarks for their academic success. This model is utilized in all grades with a particular emphasis in high school when students participate in advisory programs that focus equally on academic goals and college preparatory counseling. The success of this rigorous, well-balanced program is evident in ELA and Math proficiency rates that far exceed district levels. MRA services racially and ethnically diverse communities, as 82% of students were from low-income families, and 93% are students of color.
EFF provided a $11.6 million loan to refinance debt that was used to acquire and build the Middle School and High School facilities, and fund costs associated with the installation of a new traffic signal. The 30-year fixed-rate loan will produce over $1.5 million in savings compared to alternative financing options.
“Memphis Rise Academy was honored to be able to partner with Equitable Facilities Fund on our facility refinancing. Because of that partnership, we now know that our school’s financial future is far more secure, and that our ability to serve our students adequately because of that future is stronger than ever before. As our school has now graduated its first class and is preparing to send more students off to bright futures, we are extremely grateful to have an amazing flagship facility to house all of our grade levels and support the greater needs of the vibrant northeast Memphis community.”
-Jack Vuylsteke, Executive Director, Memphis Rise Academy
Blackstone Valley Prep Mayoral Academy
Read the full case study of our BVP partnership here.
View BVP’s S&P Ratings Report Here
Blackstone Valley Prep (BVP) opened its doors in 2009 to 26 kindergarten scholars and has since grown to serve 2,112 students across three elementary schools, two middle schools, and one high school. BVP teachers and staff live by the mantra that “college begins in kindergarten” and have implemented a rigorous curriculum that has produced some of the strongest academic results in Rhode Island. The network utilizes a “diverse-by-design” model, enrolling students from four racially and socioeconomically diverse communities. Its culturally responsive curriculum aims to reflect and incorporate the range of experiences and backgrounds of its students. During the 2017-2018 school year, BVP juniors and seniors earned SAT scores that placed them in the top 10% in the state in Math and top 20% in Reading.
In 2019, EFF provided a $16.0 million, 30-year, fixed-rate loan to finance the acquisition of the high school facility that BVP had previously leased from Civic Builders.
In 2021, EFF provided BVP with an additional $15.9 million loan to finance the acquisition of an elementary school building leased from Civic Builders, refinance debt used to purchase another elementary school facility, and refinance multiple loans associated with the acquisition and improvement of other network campuses..
In aggregate, financing from EFF will save BVP over $8.0 million to re-purpose to high-quality teaching and learning.
“Equitable Facilities Fund has been an incredible partner for Blackstone Valley Prep. As a relatively young and growing organization, our ability to access facilities funding was limited. The EFF team, however, not only provided us with very favorable financing terms, but also provided sage strategic advice and counsel. As a result of this project, we are able to reallocate tens, if not hundreds of thousands of dollars into classrooms.”
– Jeremy Chiappetta, CEO
Scuola Vita Nuova Charter School
Read the full case study of our SVN partnership here.
View SVN’s S&P Ratings Report Here.
Founded in 1999, SVN serves 308 students in grades K-8 and has a mission to “provide a safe, healthy, collaborative community of engaged learners who are inspired academically while fostering a supportive network for its families.” The school’s committed teachers and leaders provide an exceptional educational option for families throughout Kansas City. 85% of SVN’s students are Black or Hispanic and 95% come from low-income backgrounds. They consistently outperform their wealthier peers throughout the district and state and, in 2019, SVN was recognized as Charter School of the Year by the Missouri Charter Public School Association.
EFF provided an $8.8 million loan to refinance existing debt and fund the construction of a new, state-of-the-art facility that will allow SVN to serve an additional 106 students. The school locked in a 30-year fixed-rate loan that will save them over to $3.2 million compared to alternative financing options.
“I can’t say enough how appreciative the SVN team is of the opportunity given to us by EFF and the Walton Family Foundation to complete this facility project for our students, family and community! It allows us to provide learning opportunities for our students on a more even playing field.”
–Mary Pittala, Director of Finance and Operations, SVN Charter School
