REALTORS®’ Charitable Giving and Volunteering Increased Last YearBy RISMedia Staff
Charitable giving continues to rise among REALTORS® and REALTOR® associations, according to a new report from the National Association of REALTORS®.
The 2024 Community Aid and Real Estate Report (CARE Report) provides insight into the monetary and volunteer contributions of NAR members, broker-owners and AEs or MLS staff. Monthly volunteering and annual monetary donations by REALTORS® both increased this past year, demonstrating REALTORS®’ continued dedication to giving back. Some highlights of the data include:
NAR also shared that they are celebrating the 25th year of their Good Neighbor Awards, which recognize REALTORS® who have made an extraordinary impact on their community through volunteer work. To date, the Good Neighbors have raised and donated $1.47 billion for charitable causes. Since 2000, nearly 240 recipients have served people in need in 43 states and 17 countries. “We have a deep sense of connection with our communities,” said Kristina Rhodes, 2013 Good Neighbor Award winner and real estate salesperson with ERA First Advantage Realty. “The high rate of volunteerism suggests a profession that goes beyond transactional interactions and actively invests time and effort into the well-being of the communities we serve.” Over the past year, NAR stated that REALTORS® were most likely to have volunteered with food bank delivery/meals, a local school or a kids’ sports team. Eighty percent of respondents reported that community involvement is an important component of their business plan. “Being a REALTOR® is not just about selling homes or properties; it is the lives inside that matter the most,” said Debra Parmenter, 2001 Good Neighbor Award winner, who recently retired from real estate after 44 years. “We want to make the world a better place. ‘For it is in giving that we receive’; and that’s the beauty of it all.” Ninety-eight percent of AE or MLS respondents’ associations held a fundraiser last year for nonprofits or charitable causes, the report found. The typical number of events hosted last year was four. “Volunteerism indicates a strong commitment to community engagement and social responsibility,” said Deborah Miller, 2022 Good Neighbor Award finalist and real estate salesperson with Lakeland Homes. “As REALTORS®, we demonstrate a genuine dedication to making a positive impact beyond our professional duties. It reflects positively on our character, suggesting a sense of empathy, community awareness and a willingness to contribute to the well-being of the neighborhoods we serve.” For more information, visit https://www.nar.realtor/research-and-statistics/research-reports/care-report-community-aid-and-real-estate. |
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