CARE Report: Community Aid and Real Estate

REALTORS® and REALTOR® associations serve as pillars of their Broker-Owners communities and find charitable activities and giving second nature in their efforts to give back and create impact. This report provides insight into the monetary and temporal contributions that general members at large, broker-owners, and Association Executives (AEs) or Multiple Listing Service (MLS) Staff give back to their communities.

2023 brought the lowest annual existing-home sales since 1995, with historically low inventory and heightened mortgage rates. Despite these lower sales and an ultra-competitive buying market, REALTORS® continue to prioritize charitable activity. Monthly volunteering and annual monetary donations of REALTORS® both increased this past year, demonstrating REALTORS®’ continued dedication to giving back. Monetary contributions from brokers and REALTOR® associations also remained strong or increased in 2023.

Members at Large

69% of REALTOR® members at large volunteered every month (66% in 2022).
The typical member-at-large who volunteers monthly volunteered eight hours per month.
86% of REALTOR® members at large made donations last year (up from 79% in 2022).
80% of general members reported that involvement in their community is an important part of their business plan, and 82% report it is important to them personally.

Broker-Owners

73% of broker-owners volunteered on a monthly basis (77% in 2022).
90% of broker-owners made donations last year, in line with 90% in 2022.
Broker donation amounts remain strong. This year, the typical amount donated annually by broker-owners was $2,400 among all broker-owners and $3,000 among those who donated.
Seventy-nine percent of all broker-owners encouraged their agents to be involved in their local community (80% in 2022).

AEs or MLS Staff

60% of AEs or MLS staff volunteered every month (66 percent in 2022).
92% of AEs or MLS staff made personal donations last year (up from 87 percent in 2022).
98% of AE or MLS respondents’ associations held a fundraiser last year for nonprofits or charitable causes.
97% of AEs or MLS staff reported that their association held volunteer events in the past year and invited members to attend. The typical number of events hosted last year was four.