The MAR Foundation administers two grant programs from the REALTORS® Affordable Housing Fund:
Competitive Grant Program
The Competitive Grant Program offers an opportunity for non-profit organizations delivering housing related programs to Maine’s most vulnerable households to apply directing for the funding they need to meet the housing challenges of Maine households. Since the first competitive grants were awarded in 1991, total grants awarded exceed $3.5 million.
The mission of the REALTORS® Affordable Housing Fund is “to provide financial resources to groups and organizations for the purpose of funding activities, programs, and services which directly or indirectly expand, create, maintain, or encourage the development of decent, suitable shelter and housing opportunities in Maine, including heating assistance, for individuals and families with low, very low, or no income.”
Timing: Information about the spring 2026 grant cycle should be posted by January 31, 2026. The anticipated deadline for applications will be in March.
Maximum award: $10,000
Geographic area: statewide (Maine)
Questions? Email Jen Southard at foundation@mainerealtors.com
With the help of REALTORS® across the state of Maine the MAR Foundation has been able to significantly increase funding from $140,000 in 2024 to $210,000 in 2025. Here are lists of past grants awarded.
Local Board Matching Grant Program
The Local Board of REALTOR® Matching Grant program supports REALTOR® Boards and Councils’ affordable housing program initiatives in the communities where they live and work. The Program matches the money raised by local REALTOR® Boards and Councils who choose the recipient agency or agencies and performs fund-raising on their behalf.
In 2024, the Maine Association of REALTORS® Foundation awarded $162,080 in Matching Grants to twenty-nine local non-profit agencies; REALTOR® Boards and Councils fund raised an additional $162,207 for the same non-profit agencies.
Since 1993, the Foundation has awarded $1.7 million dollars in Local Matching Program Grants to nearly 100 non-profit organizations that worked with local REALTOR® Board and Councils to improve affordable housing in their community.