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 Colorado Association of REALTORS® Foundation Spring 2022 Grant Cycle: Invest in Colorado is now accepting Letters of Inquiry for program grants related to the Foundation’s mission to provide safe and attainable housing and advance homeownership.  Read on for important information regarding the grant cycle and applying for funding.

• The deadline is end of business on Monday, April 11, 2022.
• If invited to submit a full proposal, organizations will be notified no later than May 6, 2022.
• Full proposals will be submitted via the web form and the full application deadline is May 27, 2022.  Approved applications will be notified and funded in late June/early July.
• Keep in mind that organizations funded in 2021 are not eligible for funding in 2022.

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

Marshall Fire Grants

We also still have Marshall Fire relief grants available to qualified nonprofits working directly with victims.  Organizations must:

• Provide housing-related disaster relief for Coloradans affected by the Boulder County Wildfires of December 2021
• Align with the CAR Foundation’s strategic priorities for its grantmaking

Grant amounts will range from $5,000 to $50,000; applications will be accepted for disaster-related program support only, which can include financial assistance for victims.

Fire Relief grant cycle will remain open from January 10, 2022 through December 31, 2022, or until funds have been fully depleted, whichever occurs first. Applications will be evaluated each week and are due every Friday by end of business.  Funds will be released weekly.

CAR Foundation Boulder Fire Relief Application

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