About the SAMCAR Foundation — REALTORS® Giving Back in San Mateo County

A Letter from our Executive Director

One of the most rewarding aspects of bringing together thousands of local real estate professionals into the San Mateo County Association of REALTORS® (SAMCAR) is the opportunity to give back and make an impact in the areas of greatest need in our communities through our own charitable foundation.

The San Mateo County Realtors Foundation was created to benefit housing-related causes throughout our county. As a separate 501(c)3 Public Benefit Corporation, the SAMCAR Foundation operates under its own set of Bylaws and is governed by a Board of Trustees comprised of the SAMCAR Board of Directors.

Since its inception, the SAMCAR Foundation has focused its charitable efforts towards benefiting organizations and programs that strive to make San Mateo County a more livable, affordable and thriving community. Through its work, the foundation has made significant financial contributions enhancing quality of life throughout San Mateo County. It also supports and encourages grassroots member-organized efforts that enhance the quality of life in our neighborhoods.

We are honored to fund grants and donations through the generous contributions of our REALTOR® and Affiliate members as part of our annual “SAMCAR Gives Back” charitable campaign.

Thank you for helping us help others!

Alane Gilbrech EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

MISSION

Assisting individuals within our community in enhancing their quality of life through financial programs, education, and housing-related initiatives and activities.

VISION

Striving to provide a roof over every head in San Mateo County.

2025 Charitable Giving Report

In 2025, the San Mateo County Realtors Foundation awarded more than $36,000 in grants and donations to a dozen charities supporting housing-related programs and initatives in San Mateo County. Funds for these charitable gifts are donated directly from the members of the San Mateo County Association of REALTORS® (SAMCAR) as voluntary contributions with annual membership dues and through participation in annual fundraising events like the association’s popular Bowl-O-Rama event and annual Judy Ploshay Memorial Holiday Auction.

1. Judy Ploshay Memorial Holiday Auction Beneficiary

Q1. First Quarter (Q1) Grant Recipient

Q2. Second Quarter (Q2) Grant Recipient

Q3. Third Quarter (Q3) Grant Recipient

Apply for a Grant

The SAMCAR Foundation Council reviews grant applications on a quarterly basis and makes funding recommendations to the Board of Trustees.

ELIGIBILITY

Non-profit 501(c)3 organizations operating within the areas served by the San Mateo County Association of REALTORS® and within the San Mateo County jurisdiction are eligible for grant consideration provided they meet the evaluation criteria below.

EVALUATION

Grant applicants will be evaluated on the following:

• The community need for the expenditure, as well as the number of people who will be served.

• The impact on the recipient organization.

• The location of the community served.

• The financial soundness and efficiency of the organization.

• Accuracy and completeness of the application.

• The structure of volunteer organization and level of volunteer support.

• Appropriate use of SAMCAR Foundation previous grants. (If applicable).

• Application must be housing related only.

APPLICATION DEADLINE

Applications must be received by February 15, May 15, August 15, or November 15 to be considered during that quarter.

MISSIONSTATEMENT,GENERALINFORMATIONANDGUIDELINES TheSanMateoCountyREALTORS®Foundationis separate501(c)3nonprofitorganizationwhich makesfundsavailabletoorganizationsfromdonationsbyitsREALTOR®andAffiliatemembers andfriends.Ourmission toassistindividualswithinourcommunitytoenhancetheirqualityoflifethroughfinancialprograms,education,andhousing-relatedinitiativesandactivities. Since inception,theSAMCARFoundationhasfocuseditscharitableeffortstowardsbenefittingorganizationsandprogramsthatstrivetomakeSanMateoCounty morelivable, affordableandthrivingcommunity.Throughitswork,theSAMCARFoundationhasmade significantfinancialcontributionsthathaveenabledmanyofourSanMateoCountycitizensto financeadownpaymentontheirfirsthome,maketheirmortgagepayments,andreceivethe educationneededtomakeasoundinvestment theirfinancialstabilityandfuturethrough homeownership. ORGANIZATION TheSanMateoCountyAssociationofREALTORS®isanon-profittradeassociationconsistingof 3,000REALTORS®andAffiliateswithinSanMateoCounty.TheSAMCARFoundation a501(c)3 non-profitcorporation.ThemembersoftheBoard TrusteesoftheFoundationareappointed bytheDirectorsoftheSanMateoCountyAssociation REALTORS®andservethreeyearterms. ELIGIBILITY Non-profit501(c)3organizationsoperatingwithintheareasservedbytheSanMateoCounty AssociationofREALTORS®andwithintheSanMateoCountyjurisdictionareeligibleforgrant considerationprovidedtheymeettheevaluationcriteriabelow. EVALUATION Grantapplicantswillbeevaluatedonthefollowing: Thecommunityneedfortheexpenditure,aswellasthenumberofpeoplewhowillbeserved. Theimpactontherecipientorganization. Thelocationofthecommunityserved. Thefinancialsoundnessandefficiencyoftheorganization. Accuracyandcompletenessoftheapplication. Thestructureofvolunteerorganizationandlevelofvolunteersupport. AppropriateuseofSAMCARFoundationpreviousgrants.(Ifapplicable). •Applicationmustbehousingrelatedonly. Theapplicationformmustbecompletedandsentwiththefollowing: A oftheapplicantorganization’sBoard DirectorsandExecutiveStaff. Thenamesofthreepeopleoragenciesthatmaybecontactedasreferences. Annualbudgetwithyear-to-datefinancialstatements. AcopyoftheIRStax-exemptdeterminationletter. Astatementpertainingtoyour/applicantrelationshipwiththerequestingorganization (todetailanypossibleconflictofinterest)andindicatinghowthisishousingrelated. APPLICATIONDEADLINE TheSAMCARFoundationApplication&RecommendationCommitteereviewsgrantapplications Applicationonaquarterlybasis,andmakesfundingrecommendationstotheFoundationTrustees. deadlinesareonanon-goingquarterlybasis.ApplicationsmustbereceivedbyFebruary15,May15,August15,andNovember15tobeconsideredduringthatquarter.