2026 Supporting Women of Real Estate Grant Program Now Open!
by Karen Kroll
The Women’s Council of REALTORS® (WCR) is pleased to announce that the 2026 Supporting Women of Real Estate Grant Program is OPEN! We invite all REALTOR® Associations to apply.
The grants provide local and state REALTOR® associations with an opportunity to receive funding to offer new and innovative programs that focus on advancing women within the real estate industry. The goal of this program is to inspire women professionals to take on greater leadership roles in both business and the real estate industry, aligning with the Women’s Council’s mission of advancing women as business leaders within the industry and in the communities in which they serve.
This year, five grants of $2,000 each will be awarded to state & local associations.
Since the program’s launch in 2019, more than 50 REALTOR® Associations have been awarded $145,000 to invest in women-focused leadership education. Recipients from around the country have produced a wide range of compelling, engaging events. These include the Idaho REALTORS® 2019 program, Owning It, and the Richmond Association of REALTORS® 2023 workshop, Purpose and Strength.
Programs made possible by the 2025 grants included Own Your Voice: Public Speaking & Leadership Presence for Women in Real Estate, which was developed by the Prince William Association of REALTORS®. Another was Be Unstoppable: The Future is Female & She is Leading the Way, by the Arizona Association of REALTORS® (AAR). (To view all previous winners, click here.)
Fostering Collaboration
The Arizona Association of REALTORS® partnered with Women’s Council Arizona State Network to develop a program that specifically addressed the needs and struggles of women in real estate, and that also recognized the power of their strengths, says Barbara Freestone, AAR’s Senior Vice President, Professional and Business Development. With the help of the grant, the program was able to bring in two speakers who shared their expertise on business acumen, financial well-being, leadership skills, and building meaningful connections, she adds.
“There are not a lot of seminars available specifically for women in real estate,” Freestone says. This one provided a safe space for women to connect with other women and discuss their work, challenges, and goals, she adds. Attendees could learn from, inspire, and strengthen each other, while developing connections and strategies to propel their growth within real estate organizations, as well as within their businesses and family lives.
Among other information, attendees gained guidelines for managing their finances as independent contractors. Many shared personal goals, such as opening their own brokerages, widening their referral networks, or pursuing new leadership opportunities within WCR or AAR. “It’s a fantastic program,” Freestone says. “Every year it changes a little bit, but the goal is the same, and it’s helping women be successful.
The program also strengthened the relationship between the state REALTOR® Association and the Women’s Council State Network, Freestone says. “You’re always more powerful together,” she says. “Everybody has different experiences and different resources, and bringing that together really becomes very powerful.”
Freestone says she hopes the grant program continues for years to come, noting that it offers many associations the financial ability to continue offering these types of events.
Pursuing One’s Legacy
In southern California, Women’s Council Southwest Riverside County collaborated with the Southwest Riverside County Association of REALTORS® (SRCAR) to produce Ladies Leaving Legacies. The goal of the day-long seminar was to offer attendees the tools they need to pursue their legacy, whether they are focused on pursuing leadership roles or securing their financial futures, says Capri Cherry, President of Women’s Council Southwest Riverside County.
“The big idea was to give a roadmap to legacy,” Cherry says. Speakers included experts in insurance, taxes, and estate and financial planning, as well as leaders from within NAR and WCR. The attendees appreciated gaining many of the tools they’d need to take the next steps toward their goals. “So many people were empowered,” she adds.
Another goal when applying for the grant was to support women who face financial barriers to joining Women’s Council, she adds. The grant moneys not only enabled WCR and SRCAR to offer the event at mostly no cost, but it also provided funding for two scholarships to WCR. This will also help these women grow and reach their goals, Cherry says. “I was passionate about the program,” Cherry says, adding that she is truly grateful for the financial support the grant provided.
Empowering Women
As a leader within Women’s Council, your role is pivotal in fostering collaboration and advocating for initiatives, like this program, that empower women in real estate. We encourage you to engage with your local or state association and inform them about the grant and the opportunity to partner with the local association and strategize for a program that’s dedicated to women’s leadership development. By promoting such efforts, you contribute significantly to the advancement and support of women across the real estate industry.
Click here to learn more about the grant program and application process.
This grant opportunity is available exclusively to local and state REALTOR® associations and is not open to Women’s Council networks. However, special consideration will be given to applicants who demonstrate a strong partnership with their local and/or state Women’s Council networks. We encourage Women’s Council networks to proactively connect with, support, and motivate their local and state REALTOR® associations to apply for this grant.