The following article was originally published by NAR on 11/22/24 and shared with GAAR Members in the Weekly Passport on 11/27/24. Since then, a New York Times reporter published a one-sided and biased view of NAR, APOA, and the advocacy programs of each organization.

New York Times: How a Realtors’ Nonprofit Quietly Funds Conservative Advocacy Groups  

In response to that article, NAR President Kevin Sears has issued the following statement:

I am writing to follow up on the recent note from Suzanne Bouhia, our Chief Marketing and Communications Officer on November 23, alerting you to a potential new story from The New York Times. The story has published, and as we expected, the reporter has provided a one-sided and biased view of NAR, APOA, and the advocacy programs of each organization.

In advance of this article, we provided detailed answers and extensive context to improve her understanding of the advocacy universe and the amazing work our advocacy team does to support the real estate industry, empower REALTORS®, and advance the right to real property for all. Because of the extensive concerns I have with this story and manner of reporting, I’d like to share some of what we provided to the reporter with you, so you have a clear picture of how we truly operate and how we are setting the record straight. You’ll find that below, point-by-point.

Let me assure you that we are doing everything in our power to tell our story and counter this biased reporting.

Additionally, you may have seen our full-page advertisements in The Wall Street Journal and digital advertising campaigns highlighting the importance of NAR’s advocacy work. We have also submitted a Letter to the Editor of The New York Times, activated our surrogates, and spoken with other real estate journalists to make sure they understand the full scope of NAR’s advocacy. We will continue to fight for what’s right.

Thank you,

Kevin Sears, NAR President

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NYT MYTH: APOA is a shadowy “pass through” advocacy organization for NAR.

FACT: NAR publicly announced the launch of APOA in 2020 with a press release and media push, and periodically promotes its work through NAR channels like REALTOR® Magazine. It funds APOA through an annual grant, which is fully transparent to our members and the public. It appoints board members to the APOA Board of Directors, which operates independently and without oversight from NAR.

NYT MYTH: Nearly $10 million went to Republican-aligned super PACs and groups with conservative agendas.

FACT: This is incorrect. The only “super PAC giving” NYT cites is $100,000 to Opportunity Matters, which is, in fact, not a super PAC. Opportunity Matters is a 501(c)(4) organization. APOA does not engage in political activity as defined by the IRS.

NYT MYTH: APOA was conceived and created by one individual through a “quiet” internal process.

FACT: APOA was launched to focus on property owners exclusively. The idea for the organization emerged in 2019 from a working group tasked with assessing how to modernize NAR’s approach to advocacy. APOA was one of several recommendations made by the working group and was approved by the Board of Directors in November 2019 at NAR’s Annual Convention in a vote of 771 to 22.

NYT MYTH: APOA is a “slush fund” for NAR to funnel untraceable “dark money” to outside groups.

FACT: Dark money is a term that refers to shielding political spending from reporting requirements and other public transparency obligations connected to registered political entities. NAR and APOA disclose all required advocacy related expenditures in full compliance with all legal and regulatory requirements—which is how the NYT has access to this data in the first place. NAR political expenditures are available at FEC.gov and each organization’s Form 990, filed with the IRS annually. 

NYT MYTH: APOA’s giving is not consistent with the organization’s tax-exempt status.

FACT: Through all its program activities, APOA has acted in a manner consistent with that of a section 501(c)(4) advocacy organization. Moreover, APOA’s program activity to date is consistent with its stated mission of advocating for the rights of property owners.  In addition to its own direct advocacy activities, APOA works in coalitions and provides financial support to other organizations that will benefit property owners. The support for these other organizations with interests aligned with APOA ultimately works to advance APOA’s own policy agenda, and the work of these grant recipients has a direct impact on property owners and their rights. 

NYT MYTH: APOA gives a disproportionate amount to conservative organizations.

FACT: APOA has an issues-based grantmaking process to organizations on both sides of the aisle. Cherry-picking data can tell one story, but a holistic review of APOA giving reveals that its giving is split and changes from year to year based on current priorities. For example, in 2023, more than 70% of APOA grant disbursements were made to left-leaning organizations. APOA also does much more by way of advocacy than grants alone. 

Both NAR and APOA are nonpartisan organizations and our expenditures across the political spectrum reflect the industry’s support for organizations and policymakers who champion policies that are important to consumers and real estate practitioners. In addition to groups like One Nation and the American Action Network, NAR works with groups like National Fair Housing Alliance, Mobility Works, National Housing Conference, Up for Growth Action, National Community Reinvestment Coalition, National Homelessness Law Center, International Association of Official Human Rights Agencies, MLK Memorial Foundation, and the Thurgood Marshall College Fund.

REALTORS® Political Action Committee (RPAC) political giving is split evenly between Republicans and Democrats. These expenditures are searchable at FEC.gov. See RPAC reporting here and NAR Congressional Fund reporting here. 

NYT MYTH: NAR is giving an enormous proportion of its net revenue to APOA.

FACT: NAR’s grants to APOA reflect the importance of property ownership to our members and overall mission. APOA will receive a $6.6 million grant in 2025 to fund its advocacy efforts. This is a planned expense that is vetted through NAR’s governance channels and will be reported in our future expenditure disclosures. In no way does this grant represent a disproportionate amount of NAR’s budget.

For more information about APOA, please visit APOA’s website or read about it in REALTOR® Magazine. Learn more about some of NAR’s recent bipartisan advocacy efforts here.

Where the Fight to Protect Property Rights Goes in 2025

The American Property Owners Alliance has become one of the nation’s largest property rights advocates since its launch in 2020. With four years under its belt, the organization is positioned to continue advancing the interests of property owners in 2025 and beyond.

Housing availability and affordability will continue to be pressing issues for Americans in 2025 after it became a top concern for voters in the 2024 election. 

Nearly 70% of Americans said they were “very concerned” about the cost of housing, according to pre-election polling, and many indicated the issue would factor into their ballot decision.

Housing groups like the American Property Owners Alliance (APOA), one of the only nonprofit organizations focused exclusively on advancing private property rights and the interests of property owners in the country, are looking to leverage recent momentum and consumer attention to turn it into action. While Washington is often criticized for its inability to overcome partisanship, the organization works across the aisle on common-sense policies that help Americans build generational wealth through property ownership.

“[Housing] is a huge issue, and we need to figure out what we can do in a bipartisan way to advance housing affordability and ownership sustainability in these challenging times,” says APOA Executive Director Colin Allen.

To inform its policy proposals, the APOA is listening to consumers across the country about how their lives are being impacted by housing challenges and the organization is channeling its energy and input to inspire changes on Capitol Hill.

“Due to current mortgage rates, shifts in the real estate market and the rising costs of property insurance, property taxes and basic necessities to live, we feel financially stuck in our starter home,” one Florida homeowner told APOA.

“I have several members of my family living in my home with me because the housing and rental prices are too astronomical for them to pay. Something needs to change!” said a Washington state homeowner.

Since 2020, APOA has become a powerhouse: Building from their audience of 10 million homeowners, attracting tens of thousands of followers on social media and leveraging a core of over 45,000 directly engaged advocates who use their voices to reach lawmakers across the aisle in support of housing policies.

Part of the power of APOA is its ability to spur grassroots action through its consumer outreach. Just last month, for instance, APOA partnered with social media influencers in a call-to-action campaign to rally around the Neighborhood Homes Investment Act, resulting in 5,000 letters sent to members of Congress.

To expand the reach of its advocacy, the alliance is building coalition partnerships by providing grants to organizations that support and advance homeownership.  

Since its inception, APOA has provided funding to groups across the political aisle, including both liberal and conservative organizations.  

“One of the tools in the toolbox that we have in terms of building coalitions and moving the needle on some of our issues is the grantmaking piece of the organization,” Allen says.

American Action Network, House Majority Forward, the National Black Empowerment Council, One Nation, and Opportunity Matters Network have all received APOA funding since 2020, as reported in the organization’s 990 forms.

APOA audits each group’s track record on property rights, including topics like rent control and tax reform, before presenting a recommendation for funding to the board for approval.

Jim Imhoff, chairman emeritus of Wisconsin’s First Weber Inc. and APOA president, says they look at how these organizations align with APOA’s philosophies on issues like affordable housing, flood insurance, available property insurance and more.

“We have long been concerned about these issues and now we have a vehicle that allows us to drive support,” Imhoff, who received NAR’s Distinguished Service Award this year, said.

Allen says APOA is open to considering funding for any organization that meets its criteria.

Cultivating relationships with grassroots organizations is how the alliance launched its nationwide education events. APOA partnered with the National Black Empowerment Council (NBEC) to lead events and expert panels from Dallas to Charlotte on building generational wealth and closing the racial homeownership gap.

“Colin came to us last year and said that it’s a major priority of the organization to come to African American-majority cities and to really help educate our people on the process of how to acquire homeownership,” NBEC President and CEO Darius Jones said at a recent event in Atlanta. “Any group that gives of itself to want to come and share with us so that we can stay ahead of that information curve—so that we can participate and benefit from these phenomenal opportunities—is a great organization.”

APOA isn’t slowing down during the holiday season; it’s gearing up for an event on Dec. 14 in Little Rock, Ark.

“I'd say the dream of homeownership is still alive and still part of the American dream,” Allen says. “There's just this hunger for information on how to position yourself to become a homeowner, to build that generational wealth that will help your family into the future.”

In the new year, Allen says, APOA will be laser-focused on the reauthorization of the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, the Neighborhood Homes Investment Act and the More Homes on the Market Act.

APOA at a Glance
APOA is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization focused on the rights of property owners. While NAR has funded the organization since its inception in 2020 and appoints APOA’s board members, APOA operates independently and is governed separately from NAR.

“Having an independent organization out there that advocates on behalf of property owners—it's a different charter, and it's a different mission,” Allen says. “Often the priorities of the individual property owner and that of the real estate professional converge, but there are also times when APOA needs that independence to be able to speak up directly on behalf of the homeowner.”

APOA continues to be a strong NAR partner when it comes to keeping the pressure on federal policymakers.

Source: "Where the Fight to Protect Property Rights Goes in 2025"