South Metro Denver REALTOR Association announces SMDRA REALTORS Care Foundation to support charitable programs in Colorado neighborhoods

The South Metro Denver REALTOR Association (SMDRA) has announced the formation of the SMDRA REALTORS Care Foundation to support and engage in charitable, civic, and humanitarian activities and programs designed to improve the quality of life and obtain home ownership in neighborhoods throughout Colorado’s communities. The new foundation is an endowment administered by the Colorado Association of REALTORS (CAR), with initial funding provided through donations made by SMDRA members, known as Legacy Members, with an initial investment of $2,500.00 and ongoing annual gifts of $500.00.

Local businesses can support the foundation by making donations to the 2023 Charity Auction Fundraiser, and community residents can participate by visiting the online silent auction which begins at 5:00 p.m. on Friday, March 31st and closes on Thursday, April 6th at 12:00 noon, 2023.

The SMDRA REALTORS Care Foundation is a tax-deductible method for members to contribute to SMDRA’s charitable endeavors and to provide support to SMDRA communities. The foundation will also assist qualified SMDRA members who have experienced an extraordinary crisis or critical health issues to help ensure that they can remain a REALTOR or affiliate member.

The “Care” in the foundation’s name stands for Community, Aid, Relief and Engagement. Foundation grants are awarded twice a year through an open and closed grant cycle. Distribution is made from income only, and the endowment will not drop below a $25,000.00 balance. The closed grant cycle will occur in May and will support charitable non-profit organizations that have already been vetted by the SMDRA Board of Directors. Charitable organizations include A Precious Child, Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Denver, Brother’s Redevelopment, Inc., Habitat for Humanity, Home Builders Foundation, Hope House, Houses for Warriors, Integrated Family Community Services, Knock Knock Angels, Rebuilding Together Metro Denver, and The Salvation Army. The open grant cycle will occur in October and is open to charitable non-profits not previously vetted by the SMDRA Board of Directors.

The SMDRA REALTORS Care Foundation will be managed by Janet Marlow, President of the SMDRA Board of Directors; Holly Duckworth,

Foundation Chair; and Pat Argall, Foundation Vice-Chair.

Funding requests must be written applications for consideration by the SMDRA REALTORS Care Grant Committee. Funding decisions will be based on program support only, inclusive of program-related expenses such as salaries and overhead expenses. Distributions will be made through a defined application process and only to public charities as defined in Section 170(b)(1) (A) of the Internal Revenue Code, which includes churches, schools, hospitals, government entities, and publicly supported 501(c)3 organizations.

Grants that are given are matched to an organization’s need, capabilities, opportunities, scale of impact, and the program’s fit with the Foundation’s priorities, in addition to the organization’s historic pattern of support from other institutional donors, its development stage, and the Foun- dation’s overall availability of funds. The Foundation prefers to encourage organizations to develop a broad base of support and will not make grants that represent 100 percent of a project’s budget.

REALTOR members of SMDRA subscribe to the National Association of REALTORS strict Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice, which is dedicated to protecting consumers in the real estate transaction. The code requires REALTORS to identify and take steps to eliminate practices which may damage the public or which might discredit or dishonor the real estate profession. As local business owners and residents, REALTORS are vested in building healthy and vibrant communities across the country. SMDRA members have made extraordinary commitments to improve the quality of life in their communities through volunteer work and by supporting a variety of charitable organizations.

For more than 78 years, SMDRA has provided real estate professionals with the resources they need to help them grow and prosper in the real estate business. For more information, visit www.smdra.com.