GBAR Charitable Giving

 2024 Housing & Homeless Assistance Grants

Eligibility: Monetary grants are available to housing-related non-profit organizations, defined as 501 (c)(3) entities which provide shelter, food and clothing, mortgage and/or rental assistance, home buyer counseling or other similar support to individuals and households that are located in or operate within the jurisdiction of the Greater Boston Association of REALTORS®/GBREB or an adjacent community in which a GBAR member firm is located.

Funding: Grants will be limited in size to no more than $2,500 and will be awarded based on several factors, including the size and scope of organization nominated or seeking a grant, the number of applications received, the GBREB Foundation balance and total donations made to the GBREB Foundation by GBAR members in a given year.

Application Period & Deadline: Applications may be submitted via the Google Form at the link below. Grant recipients will be selected by the GBAR Charitable Grants Committee and grants will be approved by the GBAR Board of Directors.

The deadline to apply has been extended to May 15, 2024!

Application: 2024 Housing and Homeless Assistance Grant

Placemaking Grants: Deadline to apply is July 31 (as NAR funding allows)

Placemaking is a way to make your community a better place to live by transforming  unused sites and “eyesores” into welcoming destinations accessible to everyone in a community. Placemaking can be undertaken by anyone in a community but what is often needed is someone to take the lead or initiative. Who better to do this than a REALTOR® Association, and its members, as REALTORS® are already engaged in their communities and know the neighborhoods and the properties, and are likely to know where to focus efforts to enhance a place.

Level 1 Projects:
The Level 1 Placemaking grant funds outdoor demonstration and temporary projects to test a project’s viability or inspire permanent projects that increase community livability and downtown revitalization.

Examples of these projects include temporary parklets, pedestrian plazas, and bike lanes, with a grant of up to $3,000 is available.

Level 1 Application

Level 2 Projects:
Funds the creation of new outdoor public spaces and destinations in a community accessible to everyone and open at all, or most, times such as trails and trailheads, playgrounds, pocket parks, parklets, pedestrian plazas, community gardens, public gardens, dog parks, downtown gathering spots and alley activations. Maximum grant award: $7,500

Placemaking Grants now allow funding of community asset improvements such as street benches, lamps and/or wayfinding signs as well as improvements to existing spaces.

Level 2 Application

 
Ideas for Using a Placemaking Grant
Placemaking Grant FAQs

2023 Charitable Contributions

A total of $53,000 in contributions to housing-related organizations and community and charitable causes was distributed.
• Housing & Homeless Assistance Grants awarded to 10 organizations totaling $25,000;
• Donated $12,500 to Cold Feet, Warm Hearts to support their efforts to provide socks, shoes and clothing for the homeless and low-income households;
• Provided education grants to 13 Boys & Girls Club Youth of the Year Award Recipients totaling $6,500;
• Supported the REALTORS® Relief Foundation as a $5,000 Citizen Club sponsor;
• Donated $2,500 to Begin to Dream Again to support the organization’s efforts to provide shelter and support services for homeless women and those who are victims of domestic violence on of Good Neighbor Award Recipient Tanisha Salmon;
• Provided $1,500 in funding to purchase school supplies, clothing, and materials for emergency aid kits donated to the Wonderfund, which assists children in the care of the Massachusetts Department of Children & Families (DCF);
• GBAR also conducted a Fall Furniture Drive in partnership with Gentle Giant Moving to collect furniture, beds, and household goods for Household Goods of Action, an agency which provides items to families and individuals in need at no cost. 

2022 Charitable Contributions

• A total of $45,000 in contributions to housing-related organizations and community and charitable causes was distributed.
• Housing & Homeless Assistance Grants awarded to 10 organizations totaling $25,000
• Provided education grants to 15 Boys & Girls Club Youth of the Year Award Recipients totaling $7,500
• Supported the REALTORS® Relief Foundation as a $5,000 Citizen Club sponsor
• Donated $5,000 to Massachusetts Affordable Housing Alliance Saving Towards Affordable Sustainable Homeownership Program;
• Donated $2,500 to Sunflower of Peace Foundation benefitting Ukrainian aid relief on behalf of Good Neighbor Award Recipient Katya Malakhova

2021 Charitable Contributions

• A record $64,500 in contributions to housing-related organizations and community and charitable causes.
• Housing & Homeless Assistance Grants to 10 organizations totaling $25,000;
• Support for REALTORS® Relief Foundation 20th Anniversary Campaign as $25,000 sponsor
• Provided education grants to 14 Boys & Girls Club Youth of the Year Award Recipients totaling $7,000
• Donated $5,000 to Greater Boston YMCA;
• Donated $2,500 to Neighbor Brigade on behalf of Good Neighbor Award Recipient Mary Leach

2020 Charitable Contributions

• For the tenth consecutive year, GBAR awarded funds through its Housing & Homeless Assistance Grant program to nearly one dozen non-profit organizations that create housing, provide transitional shelter, or offer rental assistance, counseling and other support services to those in need.  Collectively, $25,000 was awarded. The following organizations received a grant of $2,500: Asian Community Development Corporation in Boston, Caritas Communities in Braintree, Family Promise MetroWest in Natick, Franklin Food Pantry in Franklin, Friends of Boston’s Homeless in Boston, Project Just Because in Hopkinton, Second Chances, Inc. in Somerville, Somerville Homeless Coalition in Somerville, Mission of Deeds in Reading. Additionally, A Place to Turn in Natick received a $1,500 grant and Respond, Inc. in Somerville received a $1,000 grant
• This year, GBAR distributed $7,500 in educational grants to Boys & Girls Clubs of America Youth of the Year Award recipients;
• Donated $5,000 grant to support local community initiatives of Greater Boston YMCA branches via sponsorship of the first-ever Together We Run 5K Run/Walk
• Donated $5,000 grant to the Massachusetts Affordable Housing Alliance to help fund its Saving Towards Affordable Sustainable Homeownership (STASH) program.
• Donated $5,000 grant to the Boston Foundation's COVID-19 Relief Fund
• Donated more than $7,600 to the Greater Boston Food Bank's Hunger-Free Holidays Campaign during the GBAR Celebrity Chef Showdown
• Donated $2,000 to the Boys and Girls Club of Assabet Valley
• $500 donation to the Stoneham Community Development Corp.
• $2,500 donated to Dedham Civic Pride on behalf of 2020 Good Neighbor Award Recipient Amy Black

2019 Charitable Contributions

• GBAR distributed more than $40,000 in monetary grants this year, and thousands more in in-kind contributions through a holiday toy collection drive sponsored by the association’s Young Professional Network (YPN) and our annual fall furniture collection drive aimed at assisting individuals and families moving from transitional housing to permanent homes.   

• For the ninth consecutive year, GBAR awarded funds through its Housing & Homeless Assistance Grant program to nearly one dozen non-profit organizations that create housing, provide transitional shelter, or offer rental assistance, counseling and other support services to those in need.  Collectively, $23,500 was awarded. The following organizations received a grant of $2,500: Friends of Boston’s Homeless, Boston , Justice Resource Institute Inc., dba YouthHarbors, Jamaica Plain, Family Promise MetroWest, Natick, WATCH Inc., Waltham, RESPOND Inc., Somerville , St. Vincent de Paul Society of Woburn, Woburn , FAMILY Movement, Inc., Dorchester, St. Mary’s Center for Women & Children, Dorchester, St. Patrick’s Shelter, Somerville. Additionally, Mission of Deeds in Reading was awarded a grant of $1,000.
• Additionally, in Spring, for a second consecutive year, the association presented education grants totaling $8,500 to Boys & Girls Clubs of America (BGCA) Youth of the Year award recipients at 17 local BGCA chapters across metropolitan Boston.  GBAR also sponsored a spring clean-up day at the Boys & Girls Club of Stoneham in which REALTORS® and GBAR  Industry Affiliates painted, mulched, built a storage shed, and otherwise helped renovate and spruce up the club facilities.   
• Notably, GBAR held its 12th Annual Furniture Drive to benefit the Massachusetts Coalition for the Homeless, partnering with Gentle Giant Moving to fill 14 trucks with furniture, small appliances, and other household items which will be used to furnish homes and apartments for individuals and families relocating into permanent housing. 
• In November, the GBAR YPN hosted a Battle of the Brokerages Karaoke Night Fundraiser to benefit HomeStart and Toys for Joys which raised $4,000 for each charity, and resulted in the collected of approximately 100 toys, games and other holiday gifts for children in need.

2018 Charitable Contributions

• The Charitable Grants Task Force distributed a total of $25,000 in grants. The following organizations each received a grant of $2,000: A Place to Turn in Natick, Allston Brighton Community Development Corp. in Brighton, Boston Sock Exchange in Wayland, Caritas Communities Inc. of Braintree, Creative Living in Andover, Family Promise Metrowest in Natick, Housing Families in Malden, Mission of Deeds in Reading, Old Colony Habitat For Humanity in Attleboro, Project Just Because in Hopkinton, Respond, Inc. of Somerville, and Second Chances, Inc. in Somerville. Additionally, Council of Social Concern of Woburn and Newton at Home of Newton each received a grant of $500.
• The recipient of the 2018 GBAR Good Neighbor Award was Tanisha Salmon of Keller Williams Realty in South Easton, who accepted a $2,500 grant for Begin to Dream Again in Stoughton
• Donated $5,000 to each the Essex County Community Foundation and REALTORS® Relief Foundation
• Distributed $9,500 in educational grants to Boys & girls Clubs of America Youth of the Year recipients from the GBAR jurisdiction.

 2017 Charitable Contributions

• The Charitable Grants Task Force distributed a total of $25,000 in grants, to 10 organizations. The recipient organizations that received a $2,000 grant were: Begin To Dream Again in Boston, Casa Myrna Vazquez, Inc. in Boston, City Mission, Inc. in Boston, Creative Living in Andover, Family Reach Foundation in Boston, FamilyAid Boston in Boston, Housing Families in Malden, Newton At Home in Newton, Old Colony Habitat For Humanity in Attleboro and St. Patrick’s Shelter in Somerville. Additionally, the following organization will receive a $1,000 grant: Canton Food Pantry in Canton, Council of Social Concern in Woburn, Family Promise Metro West in Natick, Second Chances, Inc. in Somerville, and Women’s Lunch Place in Boston.
• The recipient of the 2017 GBAR Good Neighbor Award was Lisa Drapkin of Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage in Cambridge, who accepted a $2,500 grant for the Just-A-Start Corporation of Cambridge.
• GBAR hosted its 10th annual “Furnish the Future” fundraiser, a fall furniture drive that benefits the Massachusetts Coalition for the Homeless.This year’s event, held in conjunction with Gentle Giant Moving Co., was another success as 12 trucks of gently-used furniture and household items collected from the homes of GBAR members and their clients to furnish homes and apartments for families and others transitioning from shelters and hotels to permanent housing.

2016 Charitable Contributions

• The Charitable Grants Task Force distributed a total of $25,000 in grants, with 10 organizations each receiving a $2,500 grant. The recipient organizations were Family Promise Metrowest in Natick, Food Link, Inc. in Arlington, Council of Social Concern in Woburn, Second Chances, Inc. in Somerville, Mission of Deeds, Inc.in Reading, Community Cooks, Inc. in Somerville, The Second Step, Inc. in Newtonville, New Life Home Refurnishing, Inc. in Medfield, My Brother’s Keeper in Easton, and Circle of Hope in Needham.
• The recipient of the 2016 GBAR Good Neighbor Award was Kelly Catallo of Keller Williams Realty Eastern Middlesex in Reading, who accepted a $2,500 grant for the Boston Children’s Hospital in Boston.
• GBAR hosted its ninth annual“Furnish the Future” fundraiser, a fall furniture drive that benefits the Massachusetts Coalition for the Homeless.This year’s event, held in conjunction with Gentle Giant Moving Co., was another success as 10 trucks of gently-used furniture and household items collected from the homes of GBAR members and their clients to furnish homes and apartments for families and others transitioning from shelters and hotels to permanent housing.

2015 Charitable Contributions

• The Housing Grants Task Force distributed a total of $15,000 in grants, with $2,000 and $1,000 grants awarded to 10 organizations. The recipient organizations were receiving $2,000 grants were: Casa Myrna Vazquez in Boston; Community Cooks, Inc. in Somerville; the Massachusetts Coalition for the Homeless in Lynn; and Urban Edge in Roxbury. In addition, $1,000 grants were issued to: Andrew’s Helpful Hands in Hudson; Family and Community Resources, Inc. in Brockton; Fenway Community Development Corp. in Boston; My Brother’s Keeper in Easton; DOVE Inc., of Quincy; New Life Home Refurnishings in Medfield; and Rediscovery at JRI in Waltham
• The recipients of the 2015 GBAR Good Neighbor Awards were Sara Rosenfeld, a broker with Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage (CBRB) in Cambridge, and colleague Ken Tutunjian, a broker and manager of the CBRB office on Newbury Street in Boston. They jointly accepted a $2,500 grant for Community Servings of Jamaica Plain.
• GBAR hosted its eighth annual “Furnish the Future” fundraiser, a fall furniture drive that benefits the Massachusetts Coalition for the Homeless. This year’s event, held in conjunction with Gentle Giant Moving Co., was the most successful to date, with 12 trucks of gently-used furniture and household items collected from the homes of GBAR members and their clients to furnish homes and apartments for families and others transitioning from shelters and hotels to permanent housing.

2014 Charitable Contributions

• The Community Service Committee chose 10 organizations to receive grants of $1,500 each. The recipient organizations were: Horizons for Homeless Children in Boston; The Home for Little Wanderers, Boston; “Our Place” Daycare for Homeless Children in Cambridge; Community Cooks, Inc. in Somerville; The Second Step in Newtonville; the Massachusetts Coalition for the Homeless in Lynn; Mission of Deeds, Inc. in Reading; The Charles River Center in Needham; Heading Home in Charlestown; and Rediscovery in Waltham.
• The recipient of the 2014 GBAR Good Neighbor Award, Thalia Tringo, received a $2,500 grant in her name for Community Cooks, Inc.
• GBAR, with the assistance of representatives from MAR and NAR, organized "REALTORS® Running for a Cause" which was held on April 6 at Harpoon Brewery in Boston. The event was intended to help REALTORS® meet their fundraising goals in order to participate in the Boston Marathon on this significant year. Many of the REALTORS® were running in the 2013 Boston Marathon when tragedy struck the finish line, and vowed to finish in 2014. Over $12,500 was raised and donated to the runners.
• The Community Service Committee helped to organize and promote the sixth “Furnish the Future” fund-raiser, a fall furniture drive that benefits the Massachusetts Coalition for the Homeless. This year’s event, held in conjunction with Gentle Giant Moving Co., was the most successful to date, with 11 trucks of gently-used furniture and household items collected from the homes of GBAR members and their clients to furnish homes and apartments for families and others transitioning from shelters and hotels to permanent housing.

2013 Charitable Contributions

• The Community Service Committee chose 10 local housing and homeless assistance organizations to receive grants of $2,500 each. The recipient organizations were: Lovin’ Spoonfuls, Inc. in Boston; “Our Place” Daycare for Homeless Children in Cambridge; Massachusetts Coalition for the Homeless in Lynn; The Miller/Tracy Children’s Foundation in Waltham; Circle of Hope, Inc. in Needham; Interfaith Social Services in Quincy; Jewish Community Housing for the Elderly (JCHE) in Brighton; Community Cooks, Inc. in Somerville; Family and Community Resources in Brockton; and Horizons for Homeless Children in Boston.
• The recipient of the 2013 GBAR Good Neighbor Award, Joel Pratt, received a $2,500 grant in his name for www.MatchingDonors.com
• GBAR donated $10,000 to The One Fund to help the people who were most affected by the tragic events that occurred in Boston on April 15, 2013. The donation directly comes from voluntary GBAR member contributions collected during the dues renewal process.

2012 Charitable Contributions

• The Community Service Committee chose 10 local housing and homeless assistance organizations to receive grants of $2,500 each. The recipient organizations were: A Place to Turn in Natick; Community Action Agency of Somerville; Family Reach Foundation of Boston; Heading Home, Inc. in Cambridge; the Massachusetts Coalition for the Homeless based in Lynn; the Massachusetts Housing Shelter & Alliance in Boston; the Newton Partnership in Newton; “Our Place” Daycare Center for Homeless Children in Cambridge; Rebuilding Together Boston in Jamaica Plain; the Somerville Homeless Coalition; and Victory Programs, Inc. of Boston.
• The recipient of the 2012 GBAR Good Neighbor Award, Janet Porcaro, received a $2,500 grant in her name for The Newton Partnership.
• GBAR donated $10,000 to the National Association of REALTORS® Relief Foundation to support association members and other property owners who suffered damage or the loss of a home, business, or other personal property as a result of Hurricane Sandy. Funds for this donation come from the Greater Boston Real Estate Board Foundation, which is supported, in part, from voluntary contributions made by GBAR members during the annual dues billing process. The donation was disseminated via state REALTOR® associations in affected areas, and 100% of the monies donated to the REALTORS® Relief Foundation went to the victims of this disaster.
• GBAR organized the 5th annual "Furnish the Future" furniture drive benefiting the Massachusetts Coalition for the Homeless. Olympia Moving and Storage donated their time and trucks to pick up several truckloads of furniture, small appliances and household items and deliver them to the Coalition’s furniture bank, which later will be disseminated to families transitioning from homelessness to permanent housing.