The Nareit Foundation announced nine nonprofit organizations that will receive grants from its DTD Giving Campaign, supporting programs that expand employment, entrepreneurship, and investment education in commercial real estate (CRE).
Following the inaugural grant cycle in 2023, which awarded grants to nine organizations, the Nareit Foundation once again held a competitive application process to select this year’s recipients. After extensive review, the Nareit Foundation board approved grants for six new and three returning nonprofit organizations, each with a national reach.
2025 Grantees Support Diverse Individuals and Businesses
The 2025 grantees have active talent development, entrepreneurship, and financial education initiatives that expand access to opportunities for a range of individuals and businesses. The Nareit Foundation DTD grantees include the below organizations, which will use the grants in the following ways.
- Building Markets will use the grant to support improved access to REIT procurement opportunities for small businesses, provide data-driven insights to enhance supplier strategies, and explore AI-powered solutions to enhance supplier-buyer connections.
- Coalition for Nonprofit Housing and Economic Development will use the grant to support expanded procurement opportunities for small businesses by addressing supply and demand challenges and supporting sourcing best practices.
- Empify Foundation will use the grant to support the Student REIT Investment Accelerator, a program designed to enhance financial literacy, introduce college students to REIT investing, and give them the knowledge needed for financial independence.
- NAF will use the grant to create real estate digital internship programs, educational resources, and a CRE/REIT curriculum designed to equip young talent—particularly high school students—with early career exposure and industry-ready skills.
- Paradigm for Parity Inc. will use the grant to support its Profit and Loss Leadership Accelerator Program, an initiative that prepares women for P&L roles in the real estate industry through simulation-based learning, executive coaching, sponsorship, and mentorship.
- Project Destined will use the grant to support the Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT) Bridge Program, which equips students with essential skills and professional networks to excel in the real estate industry.
- Robert A. Toigo Foundation will use the grant to support the expansion of the organization's online job and professional development platform ToigoLINK: Real Estate (RE), which connects graduate-level talent with associate roles in CRE and at financial institutions.
- Real Estate Institute at Morehouse College will use the grant to support the development of future CRE leaders through academic preparation, experiential learning, industry engagement, and research-driven insights.
- Rutgers University Foundation will use the grant to support REIT professionals by developing and bridging leadership gaps and equipping them with essential executive skills, confidence, and networks for career advancement.
"I’m thrilled to collaborate with this year’s grantees and build on last year’s momentum,” said Nareit senior vice president of social responsibility and global initiatives Ayris T. Scales. “Together with our donors, grantees, and industry partners, we’re opening doors to new voices and visions in one of the world’s most influential industries. I look forward to advancing the visibility of and access to REITs and commercial real estate for workforce talent, small businesses, and everyday investors."
Throughout 2025, Nareit will share the stories, programs, and progress of the DTD grant recipients on REIT.com.
Strong Results from the First DTD Cohort
This year’s announcement follows the success of the inaugural group of DTD grantees, funded in 2023. Those nine organizations made a meaningful impact by strengthening industry engagement and expanding opportunities. Achievements by the numbers include:
- 35: Number of REITs that engaged with grantees
- 84%: The percent that grantees expanded their organizational relationships
- 1,037: Number of organizations, academic institutions, and corporations with which grantees engaged
- 4,100+: Number of organizations or individuals that accessed supplier platforms
DTD Giving Campaign Supported by More Than 40 REITs
The Nareit Foundation DTD Giving Campaign was launched in 2022 under the leadership of Nareit’s DTD CEO Council Philanthropy Committee. More than 40 Nareit member REITs or their philanthropic organizations, along with Nareit, supported the campaign. Lead founding donors for the campaign included American Tower Corporation and Prologis, Inc.
To see the full donor list and learn more about Nareit’s DTD campaign, visit nareitfoundation.org.