Lendistry Provides $2.3 Million Financing for Major Expansion of Maryland’s Mandala School to Boost Educational Opportunities for the Community

Lendistry announces today that it has funded a $2.3 million loan for The Mandala School in Columbia, MD, to broaden its educational services in a new 30-acre space. The expansion allows the school to extend its curriculum from 8^th grade to 12^th grade and increase its student population from 51 to 180. New services will include outdoor education for young students to learn about farming and food sourcing, land stewardship and a partnership with Bowie State University, an internship program for high school students, and in-house support for parents. 

The school acquired its new property to initiate this growth with a commercial real estate loan from Lendistry. It can be difficult for nonprofit organizations to get funding, so Lendistry worked with The Mandala School to build a loan structure that worked for them.

“When we opened our school, it was our hope to offer a novel educational experience to the students — rooted in true family partnership — in order to positively change learning outcomes,” say the school’s Co-Founders Antoinette Murray, Valencia Wood and Joseph Murray. “Our vision is to create a legacy where children truly rediscover the love of learning and where it can take them. Everett and his Lendistry team viewed our vision through their eyes and worked together with us to craft a loan to purchase the 30-acre school property. Everett’s vision of why he founded Lendistry comes full circle each time he and his team find the “Yes” to move forward to fund businesses like The Mandala School that need the one break to unfold the next chapter of their dream — successfully weaving vision and fintech protocols for the best outcome.”

“This is a customer that will stand out in my memory for a long time,” says Everett K. Sands, CEO of Lendistry. “Not only is Mandala School an extraordinary resource for its community, but my team also worked with them to provide a custom loan and made it work. We are happy to go the extra mile for an organization that goes multiple miles for its students and their families, creating an entire ecosystem of learning and wellness. I’m so excited for these kids who will go on to do amazing things.”

The Mandala School’s new programming builds on its current model of project-based, holistic STEAM learning that prioritizes students’ emotional, social and academic needs. Students and their families can access support both in and out of school, as external support services for counseling and health are also available. The school hopes to emphasize wellness in the community and serve as a resource for young students’ entire pre-college academic journeys.

About Lendistry

B.S.D. Capital, Inc. dba Lendistry (lendistry.com) is a minority-led fintech that provides innovative lending products and access to grant programs for small businesses nationwide. Headquartered in a Los Angeles Opportunity Zone, Lendistry uses technology and community partnerships to overcome systemic gaps that inhibit access to capital and to empower its customers with responsible financing options. Based on its reputation for deploying funds efficiently and equitably, Lendistry’s leadership is often called upon to share their expertise with both government and private organizations. Lendistry has both Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) and Community Development Entity (CDE) certifications and is a member of the Federal Home Loan Bank of San Francisco. Lendistry SBLC, LLC is an SBA Preferred Lender and the nation’s only African American-led SBA designated Small Business Lending Company. In collaboration with The Center by Lendistry, a nonprofit business education organization, Lendistry dedicates itself to providing economic opportunities and progressive growth for underserved urban and rural small business borrowers and their communities. 

About the Mandala School

The Mandala School offers holistic educational experiences that encompass three core elements: Emotional, Social, and Academic (ESA) approach to teaching. Yoga, mindfulness, and meditation are embedded into the curriculum, fostering an environment where overall well-being is as important as academic achievements. The students meditate daily before core studies begin. These practices help to reduce stress and increase focus. Additionally, TMS focuses on immersive, engaged, individualized, and project-based learning, while actively building partnerships with its families to ensure a collaborative approach, with the goal of aligning educational efforts with the family’s mission, thereby supporting the family unit in achieving its goals. This holistic approach is powerful in creating a supportive and enriching educational environment that prepares students for a wide range of future endeavors.

The school’s curriculum encompasses core academic subjects such as STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics), as well as enrichment activities like art, music, entrepreneurship, and cultural studies. Cultivating the success of the whole student, whole family, and the whole community.

To get in touch to ask about enrolling please call 443-546-3551 or visit our website at www.mandalaschoolmd.org.