Introduction
The Colorado Association of REALTORS® Foundation supports Colorado nonprofit organizations that:
- Advance safe and attainable housing programs for Colorado residents
- Promote educational programs that encourage and support homeownership for all Coloradans
- Provide housing-related disaster relief for Coloradans in need
- Align with the CAR Foundation’s strategic priorities for its grantmaking
The CAR Foundation's Invest in Colorado Grant cycles will accept applications for program support only, inclusive of program-related expenses such as salaries and overhead expenses. An invitation to submit a Proposal does not guarantee funding. Organizations that receive a grant are required to submit a report that confirms that the funds granted were used for the intended purpose and provide impact data.
The size of the Foundation’s grants are matched to the organization’s need, capabilities, opportunities, scale of impact, and the program’s fit with the Foundation’s priorities, as well as the organization’s historic pattern of support from other institutional donors, its developmental stage, and the Foundation’s overall availability of funds. The Foundation prefers to encourage organizations to develop a broad base of support, thus will not make grants that represent 100% of a project’s budget.
Initial grants are one year in duration. Organizations funded in 2024 are not eligible for the 2025 Grant Cycles and may reapply in 2026. If your organization applies at any point in 2025 and is not approved, you may reapply in 2026.
Grant amounts will range from $5,000 to $20,000.
Eligibility
- Must be a Colorado-based nonprofit organization recognized by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) as a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt charitable organization with a determination letter dated within the last five years
- Show programmatic evidence of a demonstrated commitment to the Foundation’s mission
- Of particular interest to the Foundation are projects that advance its mission through:
- Offering programming that directly meets at least one of the following areas of program support:
- Advance safe and attainable housing programs for Colorado residents;
- Promote educational programs that encourage and support homeownership for all Coloradans;
- Provide housing-related disaster relief assistance for Coloradans in need.
- Please note that grants for housing-related disaster relief are available only when a disaster has occurred. The Foundation will work with leaders in affected geographic areas of the state to identify specific needs and funding priorities in the event of a disaster.
- Offering programming that directly meets at least one of the following areas of program support:
- Your organization must not have received CAR Foundation grant support during the Foundation’s most recent grant year (prior calendar year). Organizations funded in the most recent grant year are eligible to reapply after skipping a year.
The CAR Foundation will not award grants to:
- Individuals
- Organizations affiliated with a current director, officer or staff member of the Foundation
- Organizations that discriminate on the basis of race, color, creed, age, sex, disability, marital status, religion, sexual orientation, veteran status, or national or ethnic origin.
Application Process
Proposals will be screened for adherence to application instructions; alignment with the Foundation’s mission and guidelines; fiscal responsibility; and compliance with guidelines established by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and the Colorado Real Estate Commission. Regulations put forth by the Colorado Real Estate Commission that led to the creation of the Foundation stipulate that grant funds shall be spent on “community-based, affordable, housing initiatives.”
Grant decisions are made at quarterly Foundation Board meetings.
CAR Foundation Grants: Invest In Colorado
Introduction
The Colorado Association of REALTORS® Foundation supports Colorado nonprofit organizations that:
- Advance safe and attainable housing programs for Colorado residents
- Promote educational programs that encourage and support homeownership for all Coloradans
- Provide housing-related disaster relief for Coloradans in need
- Align with the CAR Foundation’s strategic priorities for its grantmaking
The CAR Foundation's Invest in Colorado Grant cycles will accept applications for program support only, inclusive of program-related expenses such as salaries and overhead expenses. An invitation to submit a Proposal does not guarantee funding. Organizations that receive a grant are required to submit a report that confirms that the funds granted were used for the intended purpose and provide impact data.
The size of the Foundation’s grants are matched to the organization’s need, capabilities, opportunities, scale of impact, and the program’s fit with the Foundation’s priorities, as well as the organization’s historic pattern of support from other institutional donors, its developmental stage, and the Foundation’s overall availability of funds. The Foundation prefers to encourage organizations to develop a broad base of support, thus will not make grants that represent 100% of a project’s budget.
Initial grants are one year in duration. Organizations funded in 2024 are not eligible for the 2025 Grant Cycles and may reapply in 2026. If your organization applies at any point in 2025 and is not approved, you may reapply in 2026.
Grant amounts will range from $5,000 to $20,000.
Eligibility
- Must be a Colorado-based nonprofit organization recognized by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) as a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt charitable organization with a determination letter dated within the last five years
- Show programmatic evidence of a demonstrated commitment to the Foundation’s mission
- Of particular interest to the Foundation are projects that advance its mission through:
- Offering programming that directly meets at least one of the following areas of program support:
- Advance safe and attainable housing programs for Colorado residents;
- Promote educational programs that encourage and support homeownership for all Coloradans;
- Provide housing-related disaster relief assistance for Coloradans in need.
- Please note that grants for housing-related disaster relief are available only when a disaster has occurred. The Foundation will work with leaders in affected geographic areas of the state to identify specific needs and funding priorities in the event of a disaster.
- Offering programming that directly meets at least one of the following areas of program support:
- Your organization must not have received CAR Foundation grant support during the Foundation’s most recent grant year (prior calendar year). Organizations funded in the most recent grant year are eligible to reapply after skipping a year.
The CAR Foundation will not award grants to:
- Individuals
- Organizations affiliated with a current director, officer or staff member of the Foundation
- Organizations that discriminate on the basis of race, color, creed, age, sex, disability, marital status, religion, sexual orientation, veteran status, or national or ethnic origin.
Application Process
Proposals will be screened for adherence to application instructions; alignment with the Foundation’s mission and guidelines; fiscal responsibility; and compliance with guidelines established by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and the Colorado Real Estate Commission. Regulations put forth by the Colorado Real Estate Commission that led to the creation of the Foundation stipulate that grant funds shall be spent on “community-based, affordable, housing initiatives.”
Grant decisions are made at quarterly Foundation Board meetings.