A Little About Us

The Colorado Association of REALTORS® Foundation (The Foundation) began in 1960 as the CAR Education Foundation. It was created to further real estate education and research. In 1991, the CAR Housing Opportunity Foundation (CARHOF) was established. Grant funding began in 1993 to assist with safe and affordable housing throughout Colorado. The initial grant monies came from Colorado REALTOR® brokers and title companies who invested their client’s earnest money into interest bearing escrow accounts.

The interest earnings were then donated to CARHOF. Today, hundreds of Colorado brokers and title companies support the Foundation with interest earning contributions from escrow accounts. In 2018, the Foundation was established to combine the Educational Foundation and the Housing Opportunity Foundation under one philanthropic umbrella. At that time, the Foundation established the Disaster Relief Fund in response to the devastating fires and floods that plagued Colorado in 2013 and 2014.

Today, the Foundation is the philanthropic and community engagement arm of the Colorado REALTORS®, real estate agencies, title companies, builders and other affiliate partners who work collaboratively to advance safe and affordable housing programs, education for consumers on homeownership, and provide disaster relief to our neighbors in need.

The CAR Foundation has invested over $7.8 million over 25 years to support Colorado nonprofits that encourage safe and affordable housing, promote homeownership and provide disaster relief to our fellow Coloradans.

We Encourage You to Apply For a Grant!

How to Apply:

The Foundation’s 2021 Grant Cycle: Invest in Colorado is now accepting Letters of Inquiry.  Deadline closes Thursday, October 14, 2021. Organizations invited to submit a full proposal will be notified no later than October 29, 2021.  Deadline for full proposals is November 19, 2021.

For more information and to submit a Letter of Inquiry, click here.

We Encourage You to Apply For a Grant!

How to Apply:

The Foundation’s 2020 grant application cycle closed on June 1, 2020. Please check back soon for 2021 Grant applications

Submit questions via email at: amcdermott@coloradorealtors.com

Colorado Association of REALTORS® Foundation
309 Inverness Way South
Englewood, CO 80112

Given the Foundation’s small staff size, please understand the Foundation will not be in a position to accept meeting requests with nonprofits interested in applying for a grant.

Some of our past grant recipients include:
Catholic Charities Archdiocese of Denver, Junior Achievement Rocky Mountain, Habitat for Humanity of Metro Denver, Colorado Affordable Housing Partnership, The Real Estate School, Warren Village, Colorado Coalition for the Homeless, TESSA, The Salvation Army, Grant Junction Housing Authority, Greeley Transitional House, HomeAid Colorado, Family Tree, Partners in Hope and Housing, Chaffee Housing Trust, Mercy Housing.

Partner with the Foundation!

Since 1991, thousands of real estate brokers, owners and title companies across Colorado have supported the Foundation (and formerly CARHOF) in a substantial way by investing client’s earnest money in interest bearing escrow accounts and directing their financial institutions and/or title companies to transfer all interest earnings to the Foundation. This collaborative effort of thousands of partners has resulted in millions of dollars of investment in the Foundation’s programs to support safe and affordable housing over the last 25 years. The Foundation is grateful for the continued support of our partners! Thank you!

New Broker Partners

Supporting the Foundation’s Housing Program is easy! As the broker you have the opportunity to direct how your client’s earnest money is invested. You do not need the company’s or the banks permission to request that your client’s earnest money is invested in an interest-bearing escrow account.

• To enroll your real estate company click the button below.

• If your brokerage places its client’s earnest money in an escrow account held by a title company, then click the button below.

Your company will be recognized as a Housing Program Partner on the Foundation’s website. You will also be invited to check presentations and will be recognized as a participating Partner whose support makes the Foundation’s grant-making possible.

New Title Company Partners

Join the many title companies who support the Foundation by participating in the Housing Program funded by interest-bearing escrow accounts. Please complete and submit the Title Company Enrollment Form.

Your company will be recognized as a Housing Program Partner on the Foundation’s website. You will also be invited to check presentations and will be recognized as a participating Partner whose support makes the Foundation’s grantmaking possible.

Thank You to Our Valued Partners!

Advantage Bank  |  Alpine Bank  |  Bank of Colorado  |  Bank of Estes Park  |  Bank of the West  |  Bank of the San Juans  |  Champion Bank  |  City Wide Bank  |  Collegiate Peaks Bank  |  Community Banks of Colorado  |  Evergreen National Bank  |  First Bank  |  First Citizens Bank  |  TBK Bank  |  First State Bank of Colorado  |  Guaranty Bank and Trust Company  |  Gunnison Bank and Trust  |  High Country Bank  |  Key Bank  |  Kirkpatrick Bank  |  Mountain View Bank of Commerce  |  Mutual of Omaha Bank  |  Pikes Peak National Bank  |  San Luis Valley Federal Bank  |  Yampa Valley Bank