Real Estate Industry GrantsELIGIBILITY + APPLICATION PROCESS

Real estate professionals act as trusted advisors on land use and property decisions. Continuing education and industry research help equip real estate professionals with the skills and knowledge needed to serve the public.

The Real Estate Foundation of BC (REFBC) is an organization created by the Real Estate Services Act. Under this law, REFBC is mandated to undertake and carry out real estate projects intended for the public or professional good.

Through our grants program, REFBC has given more than $85 million to support research, education, law reform, policy analysis, and other projects related to land use and real estate in British Columbia.

Each year, REFBC earmarks a percentage of its budget to fund eligible projects led by real estate industry organizations. These projects empower real estate professionals with the knowledge, skills, and tools needed to serve their communities.

thumbs-up Basic Eligibility

To qualify for project funding, applications must come from a non-profit organization or community contribution company (C3).

Examples of non-profit organizations include:

• Professional and trade associations• Charities, societies, and non-governmental

organizations (NGOs)• Universities and colleges• Local and regional governments, First Nations

Lightbulb What We Fund

REFBC grants can support:

• Research• Public and professional education• Policy analysis and law reform• Other projects in the public or professional good

REFBC is interested in projects that build industry capacity and support sustainable land use and real estate practices.

Grant dollars may be used for project costs, including: project management, communications, content creation, workshops, consultant fees, community consultation, and travel.

We do not fund capital costs (i.e. buildings, equipment).

To qualify for a Real Estate Industry Grant, applications must come from a non-profit organization working in the real estate sector in BC.

The real estate profession includes real estate agents, property managers, assessors and appraisers, architects, planners, developers, tradespeople, and other professionals who contribute to the value of property that is bought and sold. To reflect this diversity in land uses and professions, REFBC has two applicant categories for Real Estate Industry Grants.

Application CategoriesREAL ESTATE INDUSTRY GRANTS

Category #1: Organized Real Estate

This category includes provincial real estate organizations, as well as member boards.

Eligible applicants include:

• BC Real Estate Association• Real Estate Council of BC• Real Estate Institute of BC• Local Real Estate Boards

Category #2: Wider Industry

This category includes trade associations, educators, and other non-profit organizations in BC’s real estate sector.

Eligible applicants include (but aren’t limited to):

• Appraisal Institute of Canada – BC• Architectural Institute of BC• BC Non-Profit Housing Association• BC Society of Landscape Architects• Building Owners and Managers Association• Canada Green Building Council• Canadian Home Builders Association – BC• Condominium Home Owners Association of BC• Greater Vancouver Home Builders Association• Landlord BC• Mortgage Brokers Association of BC• National Association of Industrial and Office

Properties• Passive House Canada / Maison Passive Canada• Professional Association of Managing Agents• Small Housing BC• Strata Property Agents of BC• Universities and colleges offering training and

programs related to real estate• Urban Development Institute• Urban Land Institute• Vancouver Regional Construction Association

For category 2 applications, REFBC grants can fund up to 50% of the cash portion of a project budget.

Project ExamplesTo see a list of real estate projects we’ve funded, visit refbc.com/funded-grants and click the filter option for “Real Estate Profession”.

Need More Information?If you’re unsure about eligibility or would like to discuss your application, please email grants@refbc.com or call us at 604-688-6800 (toll-free 1-866-912-6800).

If you’d prefer to speak directly with a grants team member, visit refbc.com/contact for up-to-date contact information.