CAR Foundation Celebrates 30 Years

CAR Foundation Celebrates 30 Years of Serving Colorado Communities with Release of Inaugural Impact Report

Welcomes New Board Chair and Executive Director

Founded as the Colorado Association of REALTORS® Housing Opportunity Foundation (CARHOF) and having evolved into the Colorado Association of REALTORS® Foundation, the philanthropic and community engagement arm of the Colorado Association of REALTORS® this year celebrates three decades of helping Coloradans. The CAR Foundation’s mission to support safe and attainable housing, advance homeownership for all Coloradans and provide housing related disaster assistance continues to transform lives thanks to the support of REALTORS® and industry partners. To commemorate its 30th year, the CAR Foundation has released its Inaugural Impact Report, detailing the impact of much-expanded grantmaking during 2020.

Deborah Shipley

for Coloradans.” “We are proud of the CAR Foundation’s legacy of service and grateful for the REALTORS® and industry partners who have come together over the years to support our work,” said Deborah Shipley of REcolorado, 2021 CAR Foundation Chair. “We’re excited to share the story of our impact throughout the state in 2020 – one of the most challenging years in recent memory

Across the state, 2020 was a year of unprecedented need. In one year, Coloradans experienced the loss of thousands of jobs due to the COVID-19 pandemic, jeopardizing their ability to pay for housing in a market already reeling from an affordable housing crisis; and devastating wildfires that burned more than 650,000 acres and destroyed hundreds of homes. The CAR Foundation responded by making more than $350,000 in grants to qualified nonprofit organizations, an increase of nearly 600% over the prior year. With support from the National Association of REALTORS®, the CAR Foundation also provided almost $50,000 in grants for mortgage and rent assistance directly to 34 families who lost their homes in the fires. In total, CAR Foundation support touched more than 4,735 lives in 2020.

These metrics and more are included in the CAR Foundation’s Impact Report 2020, along with grantee profiles and testimonials from Coloradans who were helped by CAR Foundation grant funding. The Impact Report is available here.

The CAR Foundation has an impactful 2021 planned as well, having welcomed Shipley as Chair. As the Director of Corporate Communications and Marketing at REcolorado, Shipley brings unique perspective of the real estate industry and a wealth of marketing and nonprofit expertise to her leadership of the Board.

“My vision for the CAR Foundation is to grow our support for Colorado communities every single year, and I believe we do that by structuring the Foundation’s operations for success and stability in the future and cultivating close working relationships with local associations,” she said. “We plan to connect with our local communities, learn about their needs and compliment local efforts.”

Shipley has served on the Foundation Board since 2018 and has more than 20 years’ experience managing marketing and public relations strategy in corporate and nonprofit settings, making her well-suited to lead the CAR Foundation’s efforts to increase its visibility and engagement.

2019 CAR Foundation Event

In her free time, Shipley can be found making some turns on the slopes, getting in a round of golf, or cheering on one of her two sons at a baseball or lacrosse game with her husband.

In January, the CAR Foundation hired a new Executive Director, Amy McDermott. McDermott’s background includes nearly 20 years of nonprofit communications, operations, and executive level fundraising roles. A Colorado native and Navy spouse, McDermott is passionate about serving Colorado communities and believes strongly in the CAR Foundation’s mission. In her first 90 days in her role, McDermott undertook an expansive Listening Tour, enjoying 46 (and counting) conversations with Board members, CAR staff, REALTORS®, supporters, industry partners, and every single 2020 grantee organization.

“The common thread in all my Listening Tour conversations was opportunity. There is tremendous opportunity for the CAR Foundation to help tens of thousands of Coloradans each year by funding qualified organizations, and at the same time elevating the REALTOR® brand by spotlighting the incredible work REALTORS® are doing to support their communities,” said McDermott. “We want to spread the word and inspire REALTORS® to get involved.”

To inspire REALTOR® involvement and grow awareness, the Foundation launched the Colorado’s Heart Award, a reinvigoration of the Good Neighbor Award. Read about the inaugural statewide winner and district finalists on page 8 in this issue. McDermott also facilitated a full Strategic Planning process for the Board, culminating in a new three-year Strategic Plan the Board voted to approve during their April 2021 meeting.

“The CAR Foundation has such an important mission,” said Shipley. “Our reimagined Vision Statement really says it all: we believe every Coloradan has the opportunity to achieve a self-sufficient, productive life built upon a vital foundation of safe, attainable housing.”

The Board identified four Strategic Priorities for the Foundation: Fundraising, Marketing, Measuring Our Impact/Community Engagement, and Organizational Stability. The approved Strategic Plan expresses Goals, Tactics and Targets for each priority, and can be viewed here.

The Foundation plans to continue investing in Colorado communities in 2021. “We know there is still significant need – every single one of our 2020 grantee organizations is still experiencing exponentially higher demand for their services than ever before. Our Colorado communities still need our help,” McDermott said. With support from Colorado REALTORS® in the form of a $50,000 matching funds grant, the CAR Foundation will soon be announcing the 2021 Grant Cycle, titled, “Invest in Colorado.”

A matching gifts fundraising campaign will launch aimed at raising an additional $50,000 or more, offering the opportunity for members and corporate partners alike to have a direct impact on the lives of Coloradans with their donations.