General AE Information
The AE Answer Book is a great resources from NAR to help you find information on many of the topics related to managing a Realtor association. NAR has also provided associations Resources for New AEs.
Speaking
Have Staff, Will Travel
If you liked what you heard from PAR staff members at the AE Summit, or at any other PAR event, and think your members would benefit from learning about similar topics, you are in luck. PAR staff is happy to come out to talk with your association about their areas of expertise. Just a sampling of the topics that you can request include: RPAC, copyright, social media, PAR and NAR benefits, standard forms changes, technology and legislative issues. If there’s something else you think you would like to hear about from the PAR team, contact our staff. The meeting request form allows you to request to have officers and/or staff members attend your event
In addition, PAR offers training sessions for members and AEs each year, including spokesperson training, professional standards training and the Leadership Advancement Conference.
Free Money
Smart Growth Grants
NAR’s Smart Growth Action Grants support a wide range of land-use related activities. To be considered, activities should support the core purpose of NAR’s Smart Growth Program: to support REALTOR® engagement in land-use related issues with the primary goals of affecting public policies that support a more sustainable development paradigm while raising the profile of REALTORS® as community leaders and enhancing REALTOR® relationships with elected officials.
- Level 1: Funds a Smart Growth for the 21st Century course (up to $1,500)
- Level 2: To engage local land use/transportation policy issues with other stakeholders and elected officials (up to $5,000)
- Level 3: Supports in-depth projects with multiple funding sources (up to $15,000)
Placemaking Grants
Placemaking grants are designed to make a public space that benefits the whole community. These could be parks or gardens, playgrounds or bike racks – anything that everyone can enjoy.
Funding Amount: Up to $5,000, depending on project type, impact on community and meeting of all criteria
Housing Opportunity Grants
The Housing Opportunity Program to encourage and facilitate greater involvement in housing opportunity by Realtors® and Realtor® associations. NAR provides a toolkit for creating your own housing opportunity programs.
- Level 1: Funds a housing opportunity course (up to $3,000)
- Level 2: To support activities that address a specific affordable housing issue in a community or state.(up to $7,500)
- Level 3: To support new projects or to enhance previously initiated efforts that have growth potential. (up to $15,000)
PAR Education Foundation Grant Opportunities
The Pennsylvania Association of Realtors® administers two grant programs through its Education Foundation: Local Association Education Program Grants and Strategic Planning Grants. Local Association Education Program Grants are designed to financially support Realtor® districts and local associations who wish to deliver an educational program to their members. Participating entities may receive $2 per member with a maximum grant amount of $10,000. Membership count is based on numbers received from NAR on July 31st of the previous year. Topics should be broad-based, timely and relevant to the geographical area being served, rather than geared to only a small segment of the membership. Applications must be submitted prior to the program event, preferably 30 days or more. Associations and districts are only eligible to receive one Education Program Grant within a 12-month period.
Strategic Planning Grants were created in 2017 to financially support local associations who wish to develop a strategic plan or enhance an existing strategic plan that contains a member education-related component. Strategic Planning Grants may be awarded to a local association on an every other year basis and is based on the following: participating entities may receive $2,500 if the local association uses an outside facilitator (someone who is not affiliated with your association) or $500 if the local association does not use an outside facilitator, but still conducts a strategic planning session. Grants will be disbursed only after a completed application signed by the local association executive, a copy of the educational component from the strategic plan and the board of directors minutes indicating approval/acceptance of strategic plan, have been received and approved by PAR.
For more information on either of these programs, please contact Leah Krnjaic.