Lendistry Provides $2.3 Million Financing For Major Expansion Of Maryland's Mandala School

Lendistry has announced the funding of a $2.3 million loan for The Mandala School in Columbia, MD. This financial support will enable the school to expand its educational services on a new 30-acre property. The expansion will extend the curriculum from 8th grade to 12th grade and increase the student population from 51 to 180.

The new services will include outdoor education focused on farming and food sourcing, land stewardship, and a partnership with Bowie State University. Additionally, an internship program for high school students and in-house support for parents will be introduced. The school acquired its new property through a commercial real estate loan from Lendistry.

"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," said 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 K. Sands, CEO of Lendistry, remarked, "This is a customer that will stand out in my memory for a long time. 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."

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 counselling and health are also available.

The school aims to emphasize wellness in the community and serve as a resource for young students’ entire pre-college academic journeys. The holistic approach includes yoga, mindfulness, and meditation embedded into the curriculum to foster overall well-being alongside academic achievements.

B.S.D. Capital, Inc., doing business as Lendistry, 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.

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.

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 school's curriculum includes core academic subjects such as STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics), as well as enrichment activities like art, music, entrepreneurship, and cultural studies. This holistic approach prepares students for a wide range of future endeavours.