Many people wonder why we are called the Real Estate Foundation, and how real estate is connected to the work we do. Learn more about how we were created, how your property sales benefit the entire province, and how we support real estate education.

30 Year Legacy

The Real Estate Foundation was created in 1985 through a partnership of the provincial government and the three BC industry groups: the Real Estate Council, Real Estate Association and the Real Estate Institute. The Attorney-General at the time, Garde Gardom, wrote to the groups to gauge interest in creating a Foundation similar to the Law Foundation, that would benefit the province in land use issues.

How Do We Work Together?

The Foundation dedicates a percentage of its grants budget each year to help fund projects put forward by these groups, the regional real estate boards and associations in BC, and any other non-profit organization that meets the Foundation’s Professional Excellence in Real Estate Grant Program criteria.

In 2014, we awarded a total of $357,179 in real estate excellence grants. Read about the projects here.

Spotlight on Industry

We also encourage collaboration between real estate partners and non-profit organizations. Since 2012, we have been working with the BC Real Estate Association on the Floodplain Mapping Project (see video).

In 2014, we funded the South Okanagan Real Estate Board for a collaborative project with the South Okanagan Similkameen Conservation Program, to deliver seminars for Realtors®, builders, developers and homeowners on best practices for developing land near streams and other sensitive habitats.

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If you are interested in applying for a grant, the deadline for Professional Excellence in Real Estate submissions is December 15th.