named programs · 3 · from sources
What they call their work
Owner's Representative
Provides expert project management for charter schools managing their own development, ensuring projects are completed on time and on budget.
Purchase Option
Enables charter schools to buy their facilities at cost—well below market value—allowing long-term savings and reinvestment into education.
Turnkey Development
Full-service school development program that manages all aspects of construction from concept to completion, assuming financial and legal responsibility to reduce risk for charter schools.
activities · 1 group
What they do
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Charter School Facilities Support 6 activities
- Designs comprehensive, long-term facilities plans with charter networks and partnersCollaborates with charter school networks, cities, and philanthropists to design strategic facilities plans aligned with institutional goals and available resources.
- Develops charter school facilities from site identification through construction and occupancyProvides turnkey development services for charter schools, managing projects from site selection to occupancy, ensuring delivery on time and on budget. Has focused exclusively on charter school development for over two decades.
- Manages strategic facilities projects to ensure efficient capital useActs as project manager for charter school facilities initiatives, ensuring high-quality, affordable outcomes through effective oversight and capital efficiency.
- Provides affordable, cost-based purchase options for charter school building ownershipOffers a cost-based purchase option that enables charter schools to attain long-term ownership of their facilities, with demonstrated savings such as $2.5 million for one school’s building acquisition.
- Provides fixed-rate financing for charter school facilities via Facilities Investment FundOffers 5-year, fixed-rate loans through its Facilities Investment Fund to support charter school construction, acquisition, and renovation projects.
- Secures public subsidies and low-cost capital for charter school developmentAccesses public financial resources including New Markets Tax Credits and U.S. Department of Education Credit Enhancement programs to generate millions in savings for school development projects since 2020.
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financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$14.32M
Contributions & grants$1.46M10%
Program service revenue$9.71M68%
Investment income$3.15M22%
Other revenue$0
expenses
Total expenses$11.96M
Program expenses75%
Admin / overhead20%
Fundraising4%
Salaries & benefits$5.50M
Grants paid out$527K
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$114.85M
Cash$18.71M
Investments$27.02M
Liabilities$49.34M
Net assets$65.51M
Liquid reserves45.9 mo
5 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue +17.1%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
paid leadership · 6
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| DAVID UMANSKY | CEO | 39 | $560K |
| KATHRYN MCHUGH | CHIEF LENDING & INVESTEMENT OFFICER | 40 | $308K |
| LEONARD DYMOND | VP CONSTRUCTION | 40 | $295K |
| ELLEN MCBURNEY | COO | 40 | $283K |
| YVONNE SOTO | CHIEF PEOPLE OFFICER | 40 | $280K |
| KATIANA ANGLADE-OGWEULEKA | VP REAL ESTATE | 40 | $240K |
board members · 12
- ALAN SAGE — BOARD MEMBER
- DAVID LOO — VICE CHAIR AND TREASURER
- GENGER CHARLES — BOARD MEMBER
- KAHENA JOUBERT — BOARD MEMBER
- KEITH RAND — BOARD MEMBER
- KHARY BARNES — SECRETARY
- PAUL WASSERMAN — BOARD MEMBER
- RON BEIT — BOARD MEMBER
- SHERMAN WHITES — BOARD MEMBER
- SIMONE BRODY — CHAIRPERSON
- SUSIE MILLER CARELLO — BOARD MEMBER
- VIPUL TANDON — BOARD MEMBER
relationships · 9
Who they work with
- Ascend Public Charter Schools Partner — Partnered to develop school facilities in Brooklyn, NY
- Bridges Public Charter School Partner — Partnered to develop school facilities in Camden, NJ
- Brilla Public Charter Schools Partner — Partnered to develop school facilities in the Bronx, NY
- Civic Builders Partner — Keith Rand volunteered with Civic Builders.
- Harlem Children’s Zone Promise Academy Partner — Partnered to develop school facilities in Harlem, NY
- KIPP New Orleans Schools/KIPP Booker T. Washington Partner — Partnered to develop school facilities in New Orleans, LA
- New Markets Tax Credit Government — Sources public subsidies through the New Markets Tax Credit program for school development projects.
- The SEED School of Los Angeles County Partner — Partnered to develop school facilities in Los Angeles County, CA
- U.S. Department of Education Government — Accesses capital through the U.S. DOE Credit Enhancement program for charter school facilities financing.
strategies · 3
How they approach the work
Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.
- Integrated Real Estate and Financing Supportmethodology: integrated_real_estate_and_financing_supportBy combining real estate development with financing and strategic planning expertise, CIVIC BUILDERS enables charter schools to launch new facilities more effectively, because integrated support across these domains reduces fragmentation, accelerates timelines, and strengthens project outcomes.
- Nonprofit Real Estate Development Modelmethodology: nonprofit real estate developmentBy using a mission-aligned, nonprofit development approach that eliminates profit margins, CIVIC BUILDERS reduces facility costs for charter schools and redirects savings into long-term educational reinvestment, because removing extractive financial structures enables greater resource allocation to school needs.
- Turnkey Facility Partnership Modelmethodology: turnkey developmentBy assuming full legal and financial responsibility for school development, CIVIC BUILDERS reduces administrative and financial burdens on charter schools, enabling them to focus on education delivery, because transferring development risk and complexity to a specialized partner increases operational efficiency and programmatic stability.