What is the Consumer Advocacy Grant?

The Consumer Advocacy Grant provides funding to both state and local associations to create advocacy campaigns that educate and engage community members on policies and programs that strengthen the real estate market, promote property ownership or build strong communities.

This grant, unlike the Community Outreach grants and other REALTOR® Party grants, allows REALTOR® associations to focus on advocacy issues that can position them as allies to homeowners and advocates for their communities.

Who Qualifies for a Consumer Advocacy Grant?

State and local REALTOR® associations looking to bring meaningful policy change to their community or educate stakeholders on a community issue can apply for a Consumer Advocacy Grant. Successful projects have helped to educate consumers and community leaders on issues impacting their state or community, draw attention to policy solutions, provide resources for home buyers and more.

Why Should I Apply for a Consumer Advocacy Grant?

Consumer Advocacy Grants enable state and local REALTOR® associations to engage consumers in support of impactful grassroots initiatives and further position REALTORS® as advocates for their community. Consumer advocacy initiatives are a valuable lever of engagement, creating a strong and unified constituent voice for policymakers to hear.

By collaborating with an NAR approved vendor or a vendor of your choice to execute a grant project, associations can leverage their resources more effectively, amplifying their impact without investing significant time.

What Makes a Successful Consumer Advocacy Project?

Successful projects utilize a range of graphics, web pages, and advertising tactics to engage a target audience on a relevant issue. Here are two examples of projects that effectively educated and engaged community members on pressing real estate issues:

Missouri Association of REALTORS®
Advocating for Land Banks to Address Vacant Properties

Challenge: Vacant and neglected properties in Missouri were leading to increased crime rates and declining property values. REALTORS® across the state needed to educate lawmakers and consumers on the impacts of vacant properties and position land banks as a solution to improve safety and preserve property values.

Solution: The Missouri Association of REALTORS® promoted videos and a landing page through a digital campaign to educate consumers in areas impacted by high vacancy rates. Once a land bank bill was on the table, the campaign urged consumers to message policymakers to support the legislation. The project positioned Missouri REALTORS® as advocates for strong communities, and the Missouri legislature passed the land bank bill.

West Hawaiʻi REALTORS®
Educating Homeowners About an Open Permit Deadline

Challenge: Prior to the expiration deadline for open permits, The West Hawaiʻi REALTORS® obtained MLS data identifying over 37,000 parcels with open permits. The County of Hawaiʻi had made minimal efforts to inform open permit holders of the deadline, putting thousands of homeowners at risk of their permit becoming null and void following
the deadline.

Solution: The West Hawaiʻi REALTORS® executed a digital and traditional advertising campaign to educate homeowners with open permits about the approaching deadlines and the implications for open permit holders. This project provided the opportunity to position REALTORS® as allies to homeowners across Hawaiʻi Island.

How do I apply for a Consumer Advocacy grant?

  • Contact Erin Murphy,  Director of Consumer Outreach (emurphy@nar.realtor) for more information.
  • The Consumer Advocacy Outreach Advisory Board meets the first Tuesday of each month to hear requests. Applications are due a week in advance.
  • State or local associations applying for a Consumer Advocacy Grant are required to present their project request virtually to the Advisory Board for a five-minute Q&A.
  • Grant funds up to $25,000 are available to state and local associations, with a 15% skin in the game requirement from the applying association.

Success Stories