Helping The SAE Get Money, Facility Upgrades, and Kids to Fill Their School

When The School of Arts + Enterprise (SAE) faced a maturing loan they couldn’t meet, they needed more than just refinancing—they needed a partner who could help them stabilize, improve, and grow.

Grow Schools secured them $3.6 million in immediate cash for operations, funded $400,000 in much-needed facility improvements, and put them on a clear path to building ownership. But the partnership didn’t stop there.

As The SAE’s needs evolved, so did our support. We added working capital solutions to provide flexible operational funding, then partnered on a comprehensive enrollment marketing campaign that brought in 145 new students.

The SAE’s mission is to unlock and nurture the passion of each and every student through a foundation of knowledge, creativity, and lifelong love of learning. Located in Downtown Pomona’s Arts Colony, this tuition-free, audition-free charter school combines rigorous arts education with an enterprise curriculum that builds real-world business skills.

For The SAE’s 700 students in grades 6-12, school isn’t just about learning—it’s about discovering their artistic passions while developing the entrepreneurial skills to turn those passions into careers. But you can’t deliver on that mission when you’re worried about making loan payments, your facilities need repairs, or your classrooms aren’t full.

The SAE needed comprehensive support to stabilize, improve, and grow—so they could focus on what they do best: nurturing creative, entrepreneurial young people.

Immediate Stabilization

With $3.6 million in immediate operational cash and $400,000 of facility improvements, The SAE got the financial breathing room to focus on their mission.

Operational Flexibility

As their needs evolved, we added additional funding support, giving them flexible access to money to run their school without disrupting their innovative programs.

Strategic Growth

When The SAE was ready to focus on enrollment, we launched a comprehensive marketing campaign across multiple channels—Google Search, Meta, display, audio, video, and outdoor advertising. We helped them build a strong online presence, develop a new website, and get their message in front of the right families at the right time.

The result was nearly 1 million online impressions, a 500% increase in social media reach, over 300 qualified leads, and 145 new students enrolled.

Today, The SAE has financial stability, improved facilities, full classrooms, and a partner who’s invested in their continued success.

With a clear path to building ownership, school leadership can focus on nurturing student passion and creativity instead of worrying about facilities and finances. Their expanded digital presence and new website continue to attract families who are looking for exactly what The SAE offers.