Seed Grant Opportunity

The Charter School Growth Fund (CSGF) administers the Seed Grant, a private funding opportunity aimed at supporting the growth of early-stage charter school networks in the United States. Since 2013, CSGF has invested over $80 million through its Seed strategy, funding more than 100 charter school leaders to expand their impact. The Seed Grant is designed to help organizations that are either launching new schools or replicating high-performing charter schools, ensuring that more students and families have access to high-quality educational opportunities within their communities. The purpose of the Seed Grant is to strengthen the foundations of early-stage charter school organizations and provide them with catalytic resources for expansion. Funding may be used for operational, non-facility expenses that support school planning, leadership development, and sustainable scaling. The grant is specifically directed toward nonprofit charter school operators or founding teams preparing to open or replicate schools by Fall 2026 or Fall 2027. Eligible schools must be designed to serve at least 250 additional students once fully operational. Seed Grant funding typically ranges from $250,000 to $750,000, depending on the organization’s stage of development and growth plan. Planning-year grantees receive $250,000, while those in replication phases may receive larger awards up to $750,000. There is no matching requirement, and awardees have discretion to allocate funds according to their organization’s strategic needs. The funder emphasizes academic excellence, strong leadership, and a deep commitment to underserved communities as key traits of successful applicants. The application process for the 2026 cycle opens on October 1, 2025, and closes on December 4, 2025. Applicants must complete a multi-part online application, which includes downloadable templates and essay responses that allow school leaders to share their vision and leadership story. The essays are intended to be written by the school leader themselves, ensuring authenticity and alignment with the organization’s mission. Applicants are encouraged to begin the process early, as the application requires significant data compilation and narrative preparation. Applications are evaluated based on leadership quality, readiness to scale, financial sustainability, and alignment with CSGF’s mission. Interested applicants can access office hours or direct inquiries to seed@chartergrowthfund.org. The program does not restrict eligibility by state and is open to U.S.-based charter schools and operators in U.S. territories. The Charter School Growth Fund’s headquarters are located at 1390 Lawrence Street, Suite 300, Denver, Colorado. The Seed Grant program recurs annually, with future cycles following a similar fall application window.

Begin early; essays should be written by the school leader; read all template instructions carefully; contact CSGF for clarification via email or office hours.