Collegiate Housing Foundation
Collegiate Housing Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that arranges tax-exempt bond financing and serves as long-term owner for student housing public-private partnerships at U.S. colleges and universities, having financed over $4.6 billion across 70 projects at 53 schools in 26 states since 1996.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1996
- HeadquartersFairhope, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Collegiate Housing Foundation does
Collegiate Housing Foundation (CHF) is a private nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization established in 1996 and headquartered in Fairhope, Alabama. It operates exclusively as a financing and ownership intermediary in student housing public-private partnerships (P3s), serving colleges and universities — both public and private four-year institutions — that need to develop or modernize on-campus housing without placing debt on their own balance sheets or managing construction and operations in-house.
CHF's core product is the P3 partnership structure itself. The organization enters into 50-year ground leases with universities, taking the role of nonprofit ground lessee, owner of record, and bond borrower. It arranges tax-exempt bond financing through conduit issuers (e.g., Kentucky Bond Development Corporation, MassDevelopment, Illinois Finance Authority, Hawaiʻi School Facilities Authority) with underwriting from firms including RBC Capital Markets, Raymond James, Stifel, Barclays, Bank of America, and JP Morgan. Construction and ongoing operations are performed by private developer and operator partners (American Campus Communities, Balfour Beatty Campus Solutions, Greystar, RISE, The Michaels Organization, University Student Living, Gilbane), while CHF retains oversight of compliance, audits, construction draw approvals, insurance, and continuing disclosures. Universities retain strategic and operational control, set rents, receive surplus revenues after debt service and operating costs, and obtain title to the facilities at the end of the financing term.
As of 2026, CHF has financed over $4.6 billion across 70 student housing projects, 47,486 beds, 53 schools, and 26 states. Notable relationships include exclusive nonprofit partnerships with the University of California System (14,000+ beds targeted) since 2017 and the Texas A&M University System (9 projects across 6 campuses, ~5,400+ beds) since 2013. Recent large transactions include the $350 million Western Kentucky University 'Elevate WKU' P3 (2026), the $298 million Wentworth Institute of Technology project (2026), the $280.3 million Samford University financing (2024), and the $170 million Hale Haukani complex at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa (opened August 2025). Revenue is generated indirectly via costs embedded in project financing structures; CHF does not charge universities direct fees, and its revenue is not publicly disclosed.
Collegiate Housing Foundation firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Collegiate Housing Foundation
- Legal name
- Collegiate Housing Foundation
- Website
- https://collegiatehousing.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1996
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Collegiate Housing Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that arranges tax-exempt bond financing and serves as long-term owner for student housing public-private partnerships at U.S. colleges and universities, having financed over $4.6 billion across 70 projects at 53 schools in 26 states since 1996.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Collegiate Housing Foundation industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Higher Education Student Housing Financing
- SIC
- Non-Operating Establishments (9995), Lessors Of Real Property, Nec (6519)
- akta.pro primary industry
- On-Campus University Housing Management (BPAJAJAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Student Housing Property Management (BPAJAFAF), Facilities, Capital Planning & Campus Safety Administration (EDADAKAI)
Keywords
Where Collegiate Housing Foundation is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Fairhope
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Collegiate Housing Foundation business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Others
Revenue model
- Tax-Exempt Bond-Financed Student Housing Ownership: CHF serves as the nonprofit owner and borrower of record for student housing P3 projects. Revenue to repay bonds is generated from student housing fees paid by students, with surplus revenues going to the university after repair and maintenance costs. Some universities (e.g., UH Mānoa) provide annual rent abatement contributions (e.g., $2 million/year) to keep rents affordable. CHF does not charge universities direct fees for its services; its operating costs are embedded in project financing structures.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | Student housing fee-based financing structure |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels4 records
Collegiate Housing Foundation product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Collegiate Housing Foundation is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization that assists colleges and universities in acquiring or developing student housing facilities through long-term public-private partnership (P3) ground leases. CHF serves as the owner, ground lessee, and tax-exempt bond borrower for each project, with bond debt repaid by student housing fees and surplus revenues flowing back to the university. CHF oversees financing, construction, and operations through third-party developers and operators, while the university retains strategic control and ultimate ownership of the facility at the end of the financing term.
Product overview
Collegiate Housing Foundation operates as a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization providing student housing financing services exclusively through public-private partnership structures. The Foundation serves as the owner, borrower, and operator of student housing facilities, arranging tax-exempt bond financing for colleges and universities nationwide. Their model transfers the burdens of financing, construction, and operations to the Foundation while preserving school benefits including ownership of surplus revenues and outright project ownership at financing term end. Services include project oversight, compliance monitoring, construction draw review, and insurance management across their portfolio of 70+ student housing projects.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Student Housing Financing Services
- P3 Partnership Structure
- Project Oversight & Compliance Services
Quantifiable outcome
- 70 student housing projects financed totaling $4.6 billion across 47,486 beds at 53 schools in 26 states
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use Collegiate Housing Foundation
Customer profileNamed customers29 records
Segments1 record
Ideal customer profiles1 record
Collegiate Housing Foundation technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Collegiate Housing Foundation partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.
- Gilbane Development CompanycoreGilbane Development Company is the development partner in the $350 million 'Elevate WKU' P3 with Western Kentucky University. CHF serves as owner and borrower under a 50-year ground lease. Gilbane is a national firm with extensive P3 experience. Financial close expected May 2026, groundbreaking Fall 2026, first opening Fall 2028.
- Greystar Real Estate PartnerscoreGreystar serves as developer and manager for the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa Hale Haukani project ($170M, 558 beds) and the Merrimack College project ($94M, 540 beds). Greystar contracted Swinerton Builders to construct the UH Mānoa facility. CHF arranges tax-exempt bond financing; Greystar handles development, construction oversight, and ongoing property management through a subsidiary.
- RISE: A Real Estate Co.coreRISE partnered with CHF and NJIT on the $100M Warren Street Residence Hall (548 beds). RISE served as the development partner in the P3 transaction. Also partnered with CHF on Western Carolina University's Noble Hall project.
- The Michaels OrganizationcoreThe Michaels Organization (Camden, NJ) partnered with CHF on UC Davis's two largest housing projects — The Green at West Village ($516.6M, 3,290 beds) and Orchard Park ($277.4M, 1,423 beds). Michaels serves as developer with property management by Michaels Student Living Management. UC Davis Student Housing provides marketing, leasing, and on-site student support.
- Balfour Beatty Campus SolutionscoreBalfour Beatty Campus Solutions has partnered with CHF on multiple major projects including UNC Wilmington ($147.7M, 1,814 beds), Texas Woman's University ($71.5M, 875 beds), and others. Balfour Beatty serves as developer on these P3 transactions.
- University Student LivingcoreUniversity Student Living of New Jersey served as developer for the UC Davis West Village expansion ($575M, 3,300 beds), a public-private partnership between UC Davis, CHF, and University Student Living. The project was the largest single bond issue for a student housing project in the U.S.
- American Campus CommunitiescoreAmerican Campus Communities (ACC), the nation's largest student housing developer/owner/manager (NYSE: ACC), has been a recurring development and operating partner with CHF across numerous projects since at least 2008, including UC Irvine (multiple phases), UC Riverside, UC Davis, Northeastern Illinois University, University of Illinois Chicago, and Delaware State University.
- Brailsford & DunlaveysupportingProject advisor for the WKU 'Elevate WKU' P3 ($350M). Has served as project advisor on multiple CHF P3 transactions.
- University of California SystemcoreExclusive nonprofit partnership agreement with UC System since 2017. CHF selected as the sole nonprofit ground lessee and borrower for the UC System's Student Housing Initiative targeting 14,000+ affordable beds via tax-exempt bond P3s across all UC campuses. Began with UC Irvine (2004) and expanded to UC Davis, UC Riverside, and more. Exclusive system-level engagement similar to the Texas A&M System arrangement (2013).
- Texas A&M University SystemcoreExclusive nonprofit partnership arrangement entered 2013 resulting in 9 projects across 6 campuses: Texas A&M College Station (White Creek, 1,274 beds), Commerce (490 beds), Corpus Christi (Momentum Village Phases I & II, 482+560 beds; Miramar Island Campus, 1,790 beds), Galveston (Maritime Hall, 612 beds), San Antonio (Esperanza Hall, 382 beds). Total ~5,400+ beds.
- Swinerton BuilderssupportingGeneral contractor for the UH Mānoa Hale Haukani project ($170M). Contracted by Greystar to construct the two-building, 18 and 12-story facility.
- Clark Builders GroupsupportingGeneral contractor for the UC Davis West Village expansion ($575M).
- CBG Building CompanysupportingGeneral contractor for UC Davis Orchard Park ($330M, 1,500 beds).
- Terminal Construction Corp.supportingGeneral contractor for NJIT Warren Street Residence Hall ($100M, 548 beds).
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves10 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Collegiate Housing Foundation competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Capstone Development Partners: Nonprofit student housing developer and owner that structures P3 financing arrangements for universities, very similar to CHF's nonprofit ownership and tax-exempt bond-financed model for on-campus student housing.
Others
- American Campus Communities: Nation's largest student housing developer/owner/manager (formerly NYSE: ACC) and a recurring CHF development and operations partner across UC Irvine, UC Riverside, UC Davis, and others; competes at the developer/operator layer rather than the nonprofit financing layer.
- Greystar Real Estate Partners: Largest student housing operator globally and a CHF development and property management partner (e.g., UH Mānoa, Merrimack College); operates for-profit rather than nonprofit but interacts as the operator arm of CHF P3 deals.
- Balfour Beatty Campus Solutions: Higher-education P3 developer that has partnered with CHF on UNC Wilmington, Texas Woman's University, and other projects; competes for the same P3 developer mandates on university housing programs.
- The Michaels Organization: Student housing developer and operator that partnered with CHF on UC Davis's largest projects (West Village and Orchard Park); comparable to American Campus Communities as a developer/operator partner and competitor for university P3 mandates.
- Brailsford & Dunlavey: Project advisor and program manager for university P3 housing transactions, including the $350M WKU Elevate deal with CHF; participates in the same pre-financing advisory layer of university housing P3s.
- Gilbane Development Company: National developer with a dedicated higher-education P3 practice and CHF's development partner on the $350M Western Kentucky University project; competes for developer roles in the same P3 universe.
- RISE: A Real Estate Company: Student and multifamily developer that partnered with CHF on the NJIT Warren Street Residence Hall ($100M) and Western Carolina Noble Hall; another P3 developer competing for university housing deals.
Emerging players
- Plenary Group: Independent P3 infrastructure developer with growing higher-education and student housing activity; broader than CHF's nonprofit-only scope but increasingly active in the same university P3 pipeline.
Broad incumbents
- Hunt Companies: Large diversified P3 developer with significant higher-education and military housing experience (e.g., development of on-base and on-campus housing); operates at broader scale than CHF but competes for similar institutional housing mandates.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Collegiate Housing Foundation social profiles
Digital presenceCollegiate Housing Foundation compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
Collegiate Housing Foundation financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Collegiate Housing Foundation leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles11 records
Collegiate Housing Foundation subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries2 records
Collegiate Housing Foundation funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Collegiate Housing Foundation M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Collegiate Housing Foundation
What does Collegiate Housing Foundation do?
Collegiate Housing Foundation is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization that assists colleges and universities in acquiring or developing student housing facilities through long-term public-private partnership (P3) ground leases. CHF serves as the owner, ground lessee, and tax-exempt bond borrower for each project, with bond debt repaid by student housing fees and surplus revenues flowing back to the university. CHF oversees financing, construction, and operations through third-party developers and operators, while the university retains strategic control and ultimate ownership of the facility at the end of the financing term.
Is Collegiate Housing Foundation a public or private company?
Collegiate Housing Foundation is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Collegiate Housing Foundation founded?
Collegiate Housing Foundation was founded in 1996. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Collegiate Housing Foundation based?
Collegiate Housing Foundation is headquartered in Fairhope, United States, in the North America region.
How does Collegiate Housing Foundation make money?
One revenue line is on record: tax-Exempt Bond-Financed Student Housing Ownership.
Who are Collegiate Housing Foundation's main competitors?
Capstone Development Partners is listed as a direct peer. Others are American Campus Communities, Greystar Real Estate Partners, Balfour Beatty Campus Solutions, The Michaels Organization, Brailsford & Dunlavey, Gilbane Development Company and RISE: A Real Estate Company. Plenary Group is listed as an emerging player. Hunt Companies is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does Collegiate Housing Foundation have an API?
No public API is recorded for Collegiate Housing Foundation.
What industry is Collegiate Housing Foundation in?
Collegiate Housing Foundation's product category is Higher Education Student Housing Financing. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAJAJAA, On-Campus University Housing Management, with a secondary code of BPAJAFAF, Student Housing Property Management. Its SIC code is 9995.