Areas of Interest
The Foundation strategically allocates its community investment funding around four areas of interest.
1. Education and Research
| The outcome of the Education & Research area of interest is to inform real estate and land use practices that engage Albertans by creating learning opportunities. |
| Preference will be given to projects that: - Build Real Estate Professionals capacity to offer customers and clients high quality, appropriate services and to continually improve their professional and ethical practice.
- Enhance services rather than solely improving profitability.
- Contribute to a fair and functioning real estate market place.
- Provide information to raise engagement of public dialogue on real estate issues.
- Increase public dialogue and policy development around real estate practices and land use issues.
- Develop timely and relevant knowledge on issues related to land use practices and understanding around rights and responsibilities with respect to the real estate transaction.
- Utilize Real Estate Professionals as a gateway of information on home ownership, land use and sustainable community issues.
- Facilitate knowledge transfer that contributes to long term solutions on land use practices.
- Inform public, political and industry support in Alberta.
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| Download the Alberta Real Estate Foundation's Education and Research guidelines. |
2. Housing Affordability
| The outcome of the Housing Affordability area of interest is to support the marketplace in providing environmental options for affordable rental and home ownership. |
- Preference will be given to projects that:
- Include innovative design and energy efficiency to reduce costs and contribute to long-term affordability.
- Are below or near market.
- Incorporate innovative financing models.
- Serve households with low to moderate income.
- Incorporate smart growth principles.
- Embrace technologies that enhance energy efficiency and sustainable residential housing.
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| Download the Alberta Real Estate Foundation's Housing Affordability guidelines. |
The Alberta Real Estate Foundation has developed the following definition as a guideline for considering community investment projects in the area of Housing Affordability.
- Housing that provides permanent accommodation to households earning less than the median income and is sustainable for the purchaser or renter such that payments do not exceed 30% of gross household income. Typically, such housing would require no on-going public operating subsidies or provision of in-situ support services.
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3. Land Stewardship and Environment
| The outcome of the Land Stewardship & Environment area of interest is to enable Albertans to understand and respond to changing land use patterns, growth pressures, air and water management issues and to enhance the ecological quality of their communities. |
Preference will be given to projects that:
- Build Real Estate Professionals and public capacity to improve quality of life.
- Enable better land stewardship, land use planning and land use management of Alberta’s diverse land base.
- Encourage responsible land use including air, water, species, ecosystems and climate change.
- Consider cumulative effects, land use patterns and consequences for future generations.
- Support capacity to engage in democratic processes and resolve conflicts.
- Increase capacity to develop sustainable communities.
- Incorporate smart growth principles.
- Embrace technologies that enhance energy efficiency and sustainable buildings.
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| Download the Alberta Real Estate Foundation's Land Stewardship and Environment guidelines. |
The Alberta Real Estate Foundation has developed the following key concepts as a guideline for considering community investment projects in the area of Land Stewardship and Environment.
- Land Stewardship is the relationship of awareness and responsible action to care for and enhance the ecological and economic value of land, water, air, species and ecosystems for future generations.
- Environment includes economic value, social awareness, governance practices and technologies that lead to the long-term prosperity of Alberta communities.
- Land includes the surface of the earth, water, air, space, and subsurface area. (Source: Real Estate Council of Alberta)
- Land use includes all uses of land, including ownership, management, planning and regulation of real property.
- Real Estate is real property; leasehold property; a business (whether with or without premises), a property user’s license, or a portable dwelling (other than a holiday trailer or recreational vehicle used wholly or mainly for recreational purposes). (Source: Real Estate Council of Alberta)
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4. Industry Leadership
| The outcome of the Industry Leadership area of interest is to support Real Estate Industry contributions to Alberta communities. |
- Initiatives must fit within the Foundation’s legislated mandate to support Real Estate related projects.
- Projects must be led and/or actively supported by Alberta Real Estate Boards/Associations or Alberta Real Estate Industry Trade Associations.
- Preference will be given to projects that enhance or improve the Real Estate industry and add reputational value.
- Foundation funding must be matched by the local Real Estate Board or Association.
Note: Only Real Estate Boards/Associations are eligible to apply for funding under this category and may do so by contacting the Foundation directly.
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