April 29, 2020

Contact: Kim Walker, 704-940-3149

CHARLOTTE, N.C. ― Canopy Housing Foundation, the charitable arm of Canopy Realtor® Association, is pleased to announce that its annual Community Grants Program is now available in Haywood County as a result of Haywood County Association of Realtors® merging with Canopy Realtor® Association Jan. 1, 2020. The grant program will provide monetary support to nonprofit organizations within Haywood County (Canopy Realtor® Association’s Western Region) to help address unmet housing needs.

The Community Grants program, which has been in effect in both Mecklenburg and Iredell Counties since 2009, allows 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations to request funds up to $3,000 for programming related purposes. All grant applications must be accompanied by a letter of recommendation from a Canopy Realtor® Association member.  Applications will be reviewed by a community panel and evaluated on the following criteria: community impact, project feasibility, fiscal strength and Realtor® support. Grant funding cannot be used for operational, administrative or capital expenses.

Brian Cagle, a Realtor®/broker with Beverly-Hanks Realtors® and 2020 chair of the foundation’s Western Region, said, “We are excited to get this grant program started in our area. The beauty of the program is that it allows our Realtor^® members, who already volunteer with a number of organizations doing great work in the community, to direct funding locally to organizations that are near and dear to their hearts, while allowing us to also recognize those organizations for their work.”

Local housing organizations that are making a difference in the community through their housing initiatives must apply by July 15, 2020.  The application, which includes a brief narrative that details how funds will be used with supporting documentation, must be accompanied by a letter of recommendation by an active Canopy Realtor^® Association member.  The foundation will distribute grants at the Canopy Realtor® Association member luncheon in Waynesville on Sept. 8, 2020, and the awarded organizations will need to utilize the funds before Dec. 31, 2020. 

Realtor® members in Mecklenburg and Iredell counties have distributed a total of $497,999.70 through the Habitat Support and Community Grants programs to non-profits since the inception of the programs. 

For more information, visit www.canopyhousingfoundation.org and go to the Programs tab and select Community Grants Program.

Canopy Housing Foundation is the charitable arm of Canopy Realtor® Association and has a mission to create housing opportunities through advocacy, education, funding and leadership. Through Canopy Housing Foundation, Realtors® work to address unmet housing needs within the community and advocate for fair and affordable housing standards and practices. Canopy Housing Foundation is dedicated to making a difference in the communities served though its programs, events and financial support.

Original Publish Date: 4/29/2020