The Charter Schools Development Corporation (CSDC) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation and Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI). CSDC provides a critical service for new and expanding charter schools which, unlike traditional schools, have neither a ready source of capital for facilities, nor the taxing or bonding authority to address capital funding requirements. Because public charter schools’ per-pupil funding is often inequitable compared to that of traditional public schools (about 75-80% on average when compared to traditional schools nationwide), virtually all charter schools must use operational funding – money which otherwise would go towards educational purposes and classroom teaching and learning – to cover capital budget shortfalls. CSDC helps charter schools with the twin challenge of finding and financing facilities and closing the funding gap so that they can keep their focus on their educational mission and student achievement gains. CSDC specializes in working with newly formed and early stage charter schools in their first few years of operation, with a priority of schools in low-income communities and/or communities with a significant number of underperforming district schools.