CAR FOUNDATION UPDATE
Over 30 Years, the Foundation Has Invested More Than $8 Million in Colorado Communities As the
Colorado Heart Award Winner Matt Robbins with Deborah Shipley
philanthropic arm of CAR, the Foundation’s mission is to support safe and attainable housing, advance homeownership and provide housing related disaster relief.
Turning 30 is an exciting milestone, and the CAR Foundation made a splash to celebrate its 30th year in 2021. At its inaugural fundraising reception, held at the CAR 100 Year Celebration and sponsored by REcolorado and FirstBank, the Foundation met its goal by raising $100,000, with which it plans to make $100,000 in grants to qualified nonprofits. Nearly 300 guests enjoyed networking, a high-end silent auction, exuberant live auction and presentation of the first-ever Colorado’s Heart Award. Thank you to the many donors and supporters who attended and contributed – with your support, the lives of thousands of Coloradans will be impacted! As the philanthropic arm of CAR, the Foundation’s mission is to support safe and attainable housing, advance homeownership and provide housing related disaster relief. Read on for a recap of the CAR Foundation’s year. Over 30 years, the Foundation has invested more than $8 million in Colorado communities. Under the leadership of Chair Deborah Shipley of REcolorado and Executive Director Amy McDermott, who joined the Foundation in January 2021, the CAR Foundation undertook ambitious goals. In April, the Foundation launched its first ever Impact Report, tell-
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ing the story of the thousands of Coloradans who were helped by the Foundation in 2020 – more than $350K was invested in Colorado communities, which is a greater than 600% increase from previous years. The increased grantmaking tells a compelling story about the positive impact YOU, our Colorado REALTORS®, continue to have on communities across the state. In 2020, the Foundation touched 4,735 lives – and counting. The Foundation Board embarked on a full Strategic Planning process and approved a 3-5 year Strategic Plan in April. You can read the plan here. Significant operational systems have been put into place that will keep the Foundation stable for the future, including written financial, investment and spending policies; donor database software to track contacts and donations as well as escrow interest and a fully online electronic grant application integrated into the donor database. Additionally, the Board implemented a new committee structure consisting of Engagement, Governance, Finance and Fundraising Committees. Also in 2021, the Foundation launched the Colorado’s Heart Award to recognize REAL-
