For GAAR members, community involvement is more than an occasional volunteer project. It is part of what it means to be a REALTOR®.

REALTORS® spend their careers helping people put down roots in a community. Across the country and here in Greater Albuquerque, many are also investing their time, resources and energy into making those communities stronger.

New research from the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) shows just how deeply community service is woven into the real estate profession. According to NAR's latest CARE Report, 64% of REALTORS® volunteer every month, contributing an average of about eight hours of community service monthly. Even more, 84% made a charitable donation during the past year, with the typical REALTOR® contributing $1,500. About 80% say community involvement remains an important part of their business plan.

“REALTORS® and their associations serve as pillars of their communities through their time, dollars and dedication,” said Jessica Lautz, NAR Deputy Chief Economist. “Charitable giving and volunteering are a defining feature of who REALTORS® are, and they consistently make time to invest in the people and places around them.”

Giving Back Close to Home

GAAR members have plenty of opportunities to put that commitment into action throughout the year. Some require a few hours and a pair of comfortable shoes. Others involve donations, fundraising or years of dedication to a cause. Together, they demonstrate the many ways REALTORS® can make an impact beyond a transaction.

Laundry Love gives members an opportunity to provide something simple but essential: clean clothes. Through volunteer service and support, members help local families and individuals access laundry services while connecting directly with neighbors in the community.

Run for the Zoo brings members together to support one of Albuquerque's best-known community events. Whether volunteering along the route or assisting with the event, members lend their time to an Albuquerque tradition that benefits the ABQ BioPark.

The Backpack Drive turns the collective generosity of REALTORS®, Affiliates, brokerages and industry partners into tangible support for local students. Each year, members rally around the effort by donating backpacks, collecting supplies and encouraging their offices and colleagues to participate.

When the holidays arrive, Wrap It Forward offers another opportunity to serve. Members volunteer their time wrapping gifts while supporting a local cause, proving that even a little tape, paper and holiday spirit can go a long way.

Celebrating Members Who Make Service a Priority

Sometimes community service goes far beyond a single volunteer day.

GAAR's Good Neighbor recognition celebrates members whose commitment to nonprofit organizations and charitable causes has created a meaningful impact in the community. These REALTORS® demonstrate that leadership is not limited to the real estate industry. It can happen at a nonprofit, on a volunteer board, during a fundraiser or anywhere someone decides their time and talents can be put to good use.

That spirit is reflected nationally as well. NAR found that 63% of association and MLS staff report having an award that recognizes members for community involvement. NAR also celebrates extraordinary REALTOR® volunteers through its national Good Neighbor Awards.

Turning Generosity Into Community Impact

Volunteer hours are only one part of the story. Financial support can help community organizations expand programs, reach more people and turn good ideas into measurable results.

Through the GAAR REALTOR® Fund Grant, local nonprofit organizations can receive funding to support work benefiting the Greater Albuquerque community. The program allows the collective generosity of the REALTOR® community to reach organizations already doing important work throughout the area. Through member donations to the REALTOR® Fund, GAAR is able to provide a $60,000 grant to a local non-profit to aid in their work in the community.   

These annual GAAR events fund the REALTOR® Fund that makes this impactful grant possible:

• Awards Gala
• Charity Golf Tournament at Santa Ana
• Bowl-A-Thon
• Annual Meeting

That association-led approach mirrors what is happening across the country. NAR reports that the median REALTOR® association contributed $14,500 to charitable causes, while associations typically hosted five volunteer or community service events for members during the past year.

“What stands out is how giving is woven into the culture at every level, from individual agents to broker-owners to the associations themselves,” Lautz said. “That structure, including recognition programs and association-led giving, helps turn individual generosity into lasting community impact.”

More Than a Place to Do Business

Real estate is inherently local. REALTORS® know the neighborhoods, businesses, schools and people that make a community what it is. That connection also creates an opportunity to contribute to the places where members live and work.

Nationally, REALTORS® volunteer across an enormous range of causes. NAR found that 33% participated in food bank, meal or delivery programs, 24% volunteered with schools or youth sports, 21% supported veterans or soldiers, 21% participated in youth mentoring or education, and 15% volunteered with housing or home repair efforts benefiting people with lower incomes.

During the 2026 REALTOR® Volunteer Days alone, approximately 300,000 REALTORS® volunteered across the country, more than double the participation of the previous year. About 500 local and state REALTOR® associations organized projects during the week.

For GAAR members, that same spirit can be seen throughout the year through Laundry Love, Run for the Zoo, the Backpack Drive, Wrap It Forward, Good Neighbor recognition, the REALTOR® Fund Grant and countless individual causes members support on their own.

Buying and selling homes may be the business, but building a stronger community is part of the REALTOR® story too.

Read NAR's "Why Giving Back Is Becoming Part of Agents' Business Plans."