San Mateo County Association of Realtors Grant Program

The San Mateo County Association of REALTORS Foundation, known as the SAMCAR Foundation, is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit public benefit corporation that serves as the charitable arm of the San Mateo County Association of REALTORS. Based in San Mateo, California, the Foundation directs its philanthropic efforts toward supporting housing-related nonprofit organizations within San Mateo County. With a mission to strengthen communities through housing-focused charitable giving, the Foundation provides funding opportunities to local organizations that demonstrate sound operations and a strong commitment to meeting community needs. The purpose of the SAMCAR Foundation’s grant program is to fund nonprofit organizations working on housing-related projects that serve residents of San Mateo County. Eligible applicants must be 501(c)(3) organizations located and operating within the geographic area served by the Association. The grants are intended to support initiatives that address local housing needs, expand access to housing-related services, or provide programs that positively impact housing stability and affordability in the region. Applicants must clearly show how their proposed use of funds relates to housing in order to be considered for an award. Applications are reviewed by the SAMCAR Foundation Council, which makes funding recommendations to the Foundation Trustees. Each submission is evaluated based on several criteria. These include the scale of community need being addressed, the number of people served, the overall impact on the applicant organization, the location of the communities benefiting, and the financial soundness and efficiency of the organization. Reviewers also consider the accuracy and completeness of the application, the degree of volunteer support, and how past SAMCAR Foundation grants have been utilized by the organization, if applicable. Only housing-related proposals are accepted, ensuring alignment with the Foundation’s mission. In order to apply, organizations must complete the official SAMCAR Foundation Grant Application Form, which is provided as a downloadable PDF. Required attachments include a list of the Board of Directors and executive staff, the names of three references who may be contacted, a copy of the organization’s annual budget and year-to-date financial statements, a copy of the IRS tax-exempt determination letter, and a conflict-of-interest statement clarifying the applicant’s relationship to the requesting organization and affirming the housing-related nature of the request. Applications missing any of these components may be deemed incomplete. The grant cycle operates on a quarterly review schedule. Applications must be received by February 15, May 15, August 15, or November 15 in order to be reviewed in that quarter. This recurring quarterly cycle allows nonprofits multiple opportunities throughout the year to submit proposals. Applications are accepted on an ongoing basis until each quarter’s deadline. The Foundation does not specify minimum or maximum award amounts in the provided guidelines, so applicants are encouraged to design requests that are proportionate to their housing project needs. Information about award disbursement dates is not specified, but decisions are made following Council review and Trustee approval. The Foundation can be contacted at its office at 850 Woodside Way, San Mateo, CA 94401. Its listed phone number is (650) 696-8200 and fax is (650) 342-7509. Inquiries can also be directed to the email samcar@samcar.org. Additional information about the Foundation, its grant program, and its charitable initiatives is available through its website at www.samcarfoundation.org. The Foundation is identified by Tax ID number 94-3163126. Nonprofit organizations seeking to apply should review the grant application materials carefully, prepare all required attachments, and submit complete and timely applications by the quarterly deadlines.