WASHINGTON, Aug. 27, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Nearly two-thirds of agents who are REALTORS® (64%) volunteer in their communities every month and 84% made charitable donations over the past year, according to the 2026 Community Aid and Real Estate (CARE) report. The report captures the monetary and volunteer contributions of NAR members, broker-owners and association executives (AEs) and multiple listing service (MLS) staff.
“REALTORS® and their associations serve as pillars of their communities through their time, dollars and dedication,” said Jessica Lautz, NAR deputy chief economist and vice president of research. “Charitable giving and volunteering are a defining feature of who REALTORS® are, and they consistently make time to invest in the people and places around them.”
“What stands out is how giving is woven into the culture at every level, from individual agents to broker-owners to the associations themselves,” Lautz said. “That structure, including recognition programs and association-led giving, helps turn individual generosity into lasting community impact.”
Additional Findings From the Report:
- Members who volunteer monthly typically give eight hours per month
- $1,500: Typical amount of charitable donations by members who donated last year
- 78% of broker-owners volunteer monthly
- 68% of all broker-owners encourage the agents associated with their firm to volunteer
- 80% of AEs or MLS staff volunteer monthly
- $14,500: Median amount an association donated to nonprofits and charitable causes this past year
- 63% of AEs or MLS staff report their association has an award that recognizes members who volunteer in the community
- REALTORS® most frequently volunteered through:
- Food bank and meal programs
- Local schools and kids’ sports teams
- Initiatives supporting veterans and soldiers
- Youth mentoring and education
The REALTORS® Relief Foundation (RRF) is one example of how the REALTOR® organization puts this commitment to communities into action. Since its founding in 2001, RRF has provided more than $53 million in financial housing assistance to more than 50,000 families affected by disasters. NAR covers 100% of RRF’s administrative expenses, allowing every dollar donated to go directly to disaster victims.
About the National Association of REALTORS®
The National Association of REALTORS® is involved in all aspects of residential and commercial real estate. The term REALTOR® is a registered collective membership mark that identifies a real estate professional who is a member of the National Association of REALTORS® and subscribes to its strict Code of Ethics. For free consumer guides about navigating the homebuying and selling transaction processes—from written buyer agreements to negotiating compensation—visit facts.realtor.
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Information about NAR is available at nar.realtor. This and other news releases are posted in the newsroom at nar.realtor/newsroom. Statistical data in this release, as well as other tables and surveys, are posted in the “Research and Statistics” tab.
National Association of REALTORS® media@nar.realtor
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