Real estate philanthropy
It is common for Realtors to say they donate to charity or are philanthropic, but some really mean that they buy Girl Scout Cookies when uniformed children knock on their door. There are exceptions, however, and one that shines brightly is Give Realty of Austin, Texas, which gives 25% of the commission from every sale to the nonprofit organization chosen by the client.
Give Realty was launched in July 2008 by Laurie Loew, and has donated over $122,000 to 45 nonprofit organizations. When Loew closes a transaction, a check is presented to the nonprofit chosen by the client, and not only does she highlight the charitable organization on her website, but tells people how they can help the organization, whether they choose Give Realty to represent them or not.
More than just a donation
Take for example her sharing of the story of Pierre Mulacek who relocated to Austin with his family and company which resulted in a $22,500 donation to Manto Coahuila Children’s Home in Ciudad Acuña, Mexico. Lorie blogged about the mission, invited readers to stay in touch with the organization and asked them to donate on their own as well. Her genuine nature shines through in the stories as she aims to raise awareness of the organizations benefiting from Give Realty donations.
Why we share Laurie’s story with you today is not because she asked us to, in fact, in the times we’ve met Laurie, she has never bragged or been self-righteous, rather, she has always been kind and very humble. In her most recent newsletter, she rarely says “I” or mentions herself, rather she tells inspirational stories about the nonprofits that received funding and says, “when you choose Give Realty, you choose to make the world a better place. For that I will be eternally grateful and humbled.”
