About the Fund

The most effective authorizers are those that approach their work strategically and proactively to expand educational opportunities for children. NACSA provides essential financial support to these authorizers in cities and states across the nation through The Fund for Authorizing Excellence.

This grant making program represents NACSA's ongoing commitment to supporting authorizers in a way that will improve their practice and advance the overall charter school environment.

The Fund awards three types of competitive grants to authorizers and partnering organizations: Comprehensive Authorizer Evaluation; Strategic Planning; and Implementation. All grant activities must clearly and directly support the expansion or improvement of educational opportunities for children and must be aligned with NACSA's Principles & Standards for Quality Charter School Authorizing. Each grant requires local buy-in and investment. Grants are awarded three times per year through a competitive process.

Application Information and Deadlines

The Fund at Work
The Fund is "at work" in several authorizing offices across the nation. Read more about The Fund's work across the country:

The Fund at Work - Nevada Department of Education

The Fund at Work - Delaware Department of Education

The Fund at Work - Indianapolis Mayor's Office (Video)

To ensure that The Fund’s investments support NACSA’s intended impact of advancing high-quality charter school environments that lead to high student achievement, it is critical that grant applicants align strongly with The Fund’s guiding principles. These principles are as follows.

1. Authorizer leadership must have a vision for quality that is rigorous, consistent, and inspires key stakeholders to mobilize around its realization.  The policies are clear, processes are transparent, and both support the creation and maintenance of a new public market space for autonomous, accountable public schools of choice.
   
   
2. Authorizer leadership must demonstrate a commitment to improvement and be adamant about their decisions to create high-quality educational opportunities by developing a rigorous application process and monitoring protocol, closing low-performing schools, and advocating for necessary resources – all while building a coalition of external and internal stakeholders.  Although charter schools have created a new entrepreneurial education sector, the need for major and consistent improvement has never been so critical. 
   
   
3. Longevity is essential to advancing high-quality charter environments.  Potential for sustainability is demonstrated by collaborating with internal and external stakeholders, leveraging resources, and developing relationships with the philanthropic community to support the vision.