Philanthropy-backed impact fund pioneers unique financing model to help 156 public school campuses in 19 states access affordable facilities - directing $250M in savings back into classroomsNEW YORK, June 15, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Equitable Facilities Fund (EFF), a nonprofit social impact fund, today announced it crossed the billion-dollar threshold in low-cost loans to high-performing public charter schools. Since its launch in 2017, EFF has successfully closed four bond issuances totaling over $800 million in proceeds backed by the fund's 'A' credit rating from S&P Global Ratings.EFF's philanthropy-backed investment model provides the most affordable financing option, regardless of market conditions, for public charter schools, which receive significantly less funding than traditional school districts. The model has also generated $250 million in savings that are invested back into schools. Within EFF portfolio schools, 90% of students outperform their district peers, 80% identify as people of color and 70% qualify as economically disadvantaged.The financing model has helped 156 public school campuses in 19 states access affordable facilities that have been used to purchase previously leased facilities, refinance existing debt, construct new buildings and undertake improvements at existing facilities."Reaching this milestone demonstrates the unprecedented scale and measurable success of the sustainable model we built to help our nation's highest-performing public charter schools access equitable funding," said Anand Kesavan, founder and chief executive officer of the Equitable Facilities Fund. "In just six years, the fund has supported more than 150 school campuses serving 75,000 students and forecasts rapid growth to meet the community need in the coming years as it seeks to achieve equity self-sustainability."To date, EFF has raised over $350 million in grants from 17 funders. Contributions are leveraged with low-cost debt issued to more than 70 municipal bond investors, including JPMorgan, Goldman, UBS, Vanguard, Wilmington Trust, and Alliance Bernstein, among others

Five analysts represent the next generation of mission-driven finance professionals in education.NEW YORK, April 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Equitable Facilities Fund, Civic Builders and Afton Partners today announced their selections for the second cohort of the Education Finance Analyst (EFA) Program.From a pool of 530 applications, five analysts were selected to join the EFA Program, a collaborative effort between Equitable Facilities Fund, Civic Builders and Afton Partners to recruit, train and employ early-stage professionals from underrepresented backgrounds – preparing them to succeed in financial services roles across the education sector.Five analysts represent the next generation of mission-driven finance professionals in education. Tweet this"This new class of analysts represents what the future of education finance can and should look like—professionals who reflect the communities we are trying to better serve," says Anand Kesavan, CEO of Equitable Facilities Fund. "I'm particularly excited that we have a number of public charter school students and staff alums joining our effort to improve access to equitable education. They understand better than most what our portfolio schools mean to students and families everywhere.""Congratulations to these dynamic young professionals on their accomplishments to date and their decision to join the EFA program," says Carrie Stewart, managing partner of Afton Partners. "Afton and our client partners will be better for the talent and lived experience of our newest colleagues.""We are thrilled to launch the second and expanded Education Finance Analyst cohort, a program which advances the common thread of our organizations' missions to ensure all students have access to a high-quality public education," shared CEO of Civic Builders, David Umanksy. "We know this diverse and talented group of professionals will bring tremendous insight and passion to our work."Meet EFA's 2023 class:Rennic Liverpool joins Civic Builders from Babson College , where she plans to graduate with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration in May