Fair Housing Grant

Community Outreach Grant Application Period Closed for 2023 The Community Outreach Grants have surpassed expectations in popularity.  The response and demand for Fair Housing, Housing Opportunity, Smart Growth, Placemaking, and Rural Outreach grants have been overwhelming, leading us to reach maximum capacity before the application period’s scheduled end on October 15th, 2023. As a result, the application window is now closed and will reopen on Tuesday, January 2nd, 2024.  We would like to express our gratitude to all the REALTOR® associations who have shown immense interest in these grants. We understand the significance of these grants to your organizations and the positive impact they can have on your community development and fair housing related efforts. We strongly encourage you to take advantage of this opportunity and sign up for a Community Outreach Planning Session. These sessions will provide a platform to discuss innovative ways to leverage a grant in 2024, allowing you to maximize the benefits for your association. Should you have any questions or require further information, please do not hesitate to reach out to Christine Windle at cwindle@nar.realtor or call 202-383-1135. We are here to assist you and provide any necessary support throughout this process.

Fair Housing grants support state and local REALTOR® Associations’ activities that create or improve systems, programs, and policies that uphold fair housing laws and strengthen REALTORS® commitment to offering equal professional service to all.

Note: Fair Housing grants differ from Diversity and Inclusion Grants, which provide funding to REALTOR® Associations to enhance the inclusion of diversity in their leadership and collaborate with local chapters of national multicultural real estate organizations. Learn more here.

Please direct questions to FairHousingGrants@nar.realtor or Hannah Dannenfelser hdannenfelser@nar.realtor

Frequently Asked Questions
Ideas for Using a Fair Housing Grant
Fair Housing Grant Toolkit

Level 1 Grants

Level 1 Fair Housing Grant Application
Fair Housing Reimbursement Request Form
Fair Housing Grant Evaluation Form

Level 1 Fair Housing grants support efforts to educate REALTORS® and the public about fair housing topics. Types of activities may include a class or forum; a speaker who can address a fair housing issue; or a facilitated “book club” event. Review the Ideas for Using a Fair Housing Grant for additional inspiration and Fair Housing Toolkit for tips on conducting activities. Please note that this grant does not support NAR’s At Home With Diversity class.

Details:

  • Applications are accepted on a rolling basis from January 3 through October 16, 2023; decisions announced within approximately one week.
  • Maximum award: $3,000.
  • Associations may receive one Level 1 grant per calendar year.
  • Funds are disbursed using a reimbursement process.
  • Approved activity must take place within one year of grant approval to be eligible for funding reimbursement.
  • Grant recipients must complete an evaluation form for the supported activity.

Level 2 Grants

Level 2 Fair Housing Grant Application
Fair Housing Reimbursement Request Form
Fair Housing Grant Evaluation Form

Level 2 Fair Housing grants support activities that address fair housing issues in a community. Activities should have a broad community reach. Associations are encouraged to collaborate with local agencies or organizations that further the fair housing mission. Activities may include a fair housing symposium; fair housing curriculum development; or creating fair housing educational materials. Review the Ideas for Using a Fair Housing Grant and read Fair Housing Showcase Stories for additional inspiration, and review the Fair Housing Toolkit for tips on conducting activities.

Details:

  • Applications are accepted on a rolling basis from January 3 through October 16; decisions announced within approximately one week.
  • Maximum award: $7,500.
  • Associations may receive one Level 2 grant per calendar year.
  • Funds are disbursed using a reimbursement process.
  • Approved activity must take place within one year of grant approval to be eligible for funding reimbursement.
  • Grant recipients must complete an evaluation form for the supported activity.

Fair Housing Programs and Resources

REALTORS® recognize the significance of the Fair Housing Act and reconfirm their commitment to upholding fair housing law as well as their commitment to offering equal professional service to all in their search for real property.  To more effectively advocate on national fair housing policy, NAR re-organized to create a Fair Housing Policy Committee. Read more about the NAR Fair Housing Action Plan.

Bias Override: Overcoming Barriers to Fair Housing

The mind science experts at the Perception Institute present an online workshop to help members avoid implicit bias in their daily business interactions. Drawing upon the latest research, Perception explains how our brains’ automatic, instant association of stereotypes with particular groups can cause us to treat those who are different from us unfairly, despite our best intentions and often without our conscious awareness. Perception then applies these concepts to the everyday work of REALTORS®, and offers strategies to override bias in order to convey respect, ensure fairness, and improve business relationships.

Fairhaven: A Fair Housing Simulation

Fairhaven is an interactive online simulation training in which agents confront discrimination in real estate transactions from the point of view of both agent and client.

In this cutting-edge new training, agents work against the clock to sell homes in the fictional town of Fairhaven, confronting various scenarios where discrimination gets in the way. Agents make choices about how to handle each scenario and receive actionable feedback that they can apply to their daily business interactions. In an innovative approach, the course also puts agents in the role of a client experiencing discrimination. The client point-of-view scenarios are paired with powerful testimonials illustrating the impact of housing discrimination in real people’s lives. At the end of the experience, learners will receive a performance report summarizing each of their interactions and providing insight into their overall performance.

Fair Housing Action Plan

NAR’s Fair Housing Action Plan, abbreviated ‘ACT,’ emphasizes Accountability, Culture Change, and Training in order to ensure America’s 1.4 million REALTORS® are doing everything possible to protect housing rights in America. Check out fair housing resources including the latest articles, research, reports, publications, and videos.

That’s Who We R Fair Housing Assets

NAR is committed to making housing fair for all. And yet, many don’t realize the broad scope of NAR’s Code of Ethics and its commitment against all forms of discrimination in housing. As a champion for Fair Housing, associations can leverage a Fair Housing grant to support amplifying this message using the That’s Who We R Fair Housing Assets.

Fair Housing Declaration

Show you support equal opportunity in housing by displaying this declaration of following fair housing laws and your commitment to provide professional service with the REALTOR® Fair Housing Declaration.

NAR’S Commemoration of the 50th Anniversary of the Fair Housing Act

During the commemoration, REALTORS® across the country, local and state associations, and brokerages increased member and public awareness of fair housing. Numerous videos, articles in local media, and fair housing training classes were held across the country. 2018 was a year when REALTORS® showed that Fair Housing Makes U.S. Stronger.

Fair Housing Month

Fair Housing Month is recognized each April to commemorate the landmark 1968 Fair Housing Act in which U.S. law was established that prohibited discrimination in housing.

Annually, NAR creates a poster that state and local real estate associations may print, use or distribute to promote the REALTOR® commitment to Fair Housing. You are authorized to print and distribute the Fair Housing Month Poster. It can be printed 22 x 17, 14 x 11, or 11 x 8.5.

Questions about NAR’s Fair Housing Action Plan or fair housing policy? Contact Alexia Smokler at 202-383-1210.