Funding Your School Startup
Opening a Wildflower school takes capital, and no teacher founder is expected to raise it alone. You can apply for startup grants and low-interest loans through the Sunlight Loan Fund. Wildflower also provides fundraising support along the way.
Startup Grants for New Montessori Schools
Wildflower teacher founders, independent and charter alike, become eligible for a grant through The Fund to Seed Wildflower Schools (the Seed Fund) once they've completed the planning phase and have affiliated with Wildflower, for key moments like signing a lease, starting renovations, or completing licensing. In keeping with Wildflower's value of sufficiency, Seed Fund grants aren't meant to fully fund a launch. They're meant to help a founder take the next step and to qualify for a larger share of capital through the Sunlight Loan Fund.
Wildflower also helps Teacher Leaders access third-party grants: the Federal Charter Replication Grant (public charter schools only), growth partners like the Drexel and VELA Fund. Eligibility and funding amounts for these vary by school, geography, and alignment with each funder's priorities.
Frequently Asked Funding Questions
Yes, the Sunlight Loan is available in every state across the U.S. and Puerto Rico. sunlightloanfund.org →
Are Sunlight loans available in every state?
Is funding guaranteed, and when will I know what I'm eligible for?
No funding is guaranteed — eligibility depends on the type of funding. Seed Fund eligibility opens once your team completes the planning phase and signs the Wildflower Network Membership Agreement. Sunlight Loan Fund eligibility depends on Wildflower membership plus your school's location, budget, and other factors. Other grants have their own criteria, which vary by funder.
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To figure out how much funding you'll need, we look at your budget's key levers — salaries, staffing, and rent or renovations against projected enrollment and tuition. That shows your startup cost and how much needs to come from grants, loans, and fundraising.
