Your Realtors, Your Neighbors

Realtors make great neighbors!

Did you know that your local Realtor lives and works in your community too? We specialize in the areas we serve and genuinely enjoy being involved in our communities, so when disaster strikes, it strikes us too. Few realize that another way your local Realtor may be acting as a great neighbor is through the Realtors Relief Foundation (RRF). Existing to act as an extension of service to our neighbors, the RRF is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that delivers financial housing assistance in areas impacted by disaster. Since it’s inception in 2001, more than $43 million in aid has been delivered to more than 23,000 families nationwide. Additionally, The National Association of Realtors covers all of the administrative costs, for getting this accomplished. This helps 100% of the funds collected get into the hands of disaster relief organizations and causes in disaster zones. The relief is distributed via local Realtor associations to the local area being affected. NAR members (your local Realtors) support the RRF and the RRF mobilizes support to disaster areas nationwide, as needed. You can learn more about RRF by visiting www.rrf.realtor

• Eligible grant applicants include state and local Realtor associations, as well as an Institute, Society or Council (ISCs) of the National Association of Realtors that is spearheading a particular relief effort. Grant requests are not accepted from individuals.
• In order to apply for a grant from Realtors Relief Foundation, the request must be for an emergency that has been declared as a major disaster by the affected city, county/parish, state or federal governing agency.
• RRF generally distributes grant funding to the state or local associations own 501(c)(3) charitable organization, who then promotes, receives and reviews applications from individuals impacted and utilizes their Realtor network to distribute funds where needed. In cases where the state or local association does not have their own 501(c)(3) organization, RRF will consider distribution to a 501(c)(3) charitable organization that is working in conjunction with the applying state or local Realtor association (subject to a written agreement by the organization to distribute the RRF grant funding in accordance with the allowable uses and restrictions set forth by the RRF). If either option above is not available, RRF will work with the state or local Realtor association to assist in the grant distribution process.
• All grants are contingent upon the availability of funds. The amount of the request depends on several factors relating to the disaster (extent of the disaster, impact on individuals and community(ies), number of people impacted). RRF will work with the state or local association to determine the need.

In Texas alone, the RRF has distributed $2,635,542 in total grants over the past 18 years. See the impact below:

Texas Assn of Realtors Disaster Relief - $50,000 - Sept 2006 - El Paso Floods

Texas Assn of Realtors Disaster Relief - $500,000 - Sept 2008 - Hurricane Ike

Texas Assn of Realtors Disaster Relief - $25,000 - Sept 2011 - Wildfires

Texas Disaster - $225,000 - March & June 2015 - Floods

Texas Disaster - $50,000 - April 2016 - Floods

Texas Disaster - Hurricane Harvey - $1,750,000 - August 2017 - Hurricane Harvey

Texas REALTORS - $35,542 - February 2021 - Winter Storm

In addition to financial support, many Realtors join the RRF volunteers in serving as ambassadors for the RRF mission of providing housing-related support to victims of disasters, just another way Realtors make great neighbors!