Last Date Modified Friday, July 27, 2018

The Real Estate Foundation of BC (REFBC) finished its 30th year with its largest annual investment in grants since 2008.

REFBC is a philanthropic organization that funds projects, initiatives, and groups that advance sustainable land use in the province.

The foundation receives its funding from interest collected on pooled real estate deposits held in trust by real estate brokerages, as stipulated in the Real Estate Services Act.

Last year, the foundation granted more than $6.6 million to support land use and real estate–related research, education, and policy analysis.

The Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver received a grant to fund a study on housing supply in our market.

This year, REFBC also produced five in-house reports and developed BC Snapshot reports—a framework for tracking progress of sustainability goals related to fresh water, the built environment, and food systems.

REFBC also launched a new impact investments initiative. This inaugural year saw $950,000 invested in projects that support healthy, resilient communities and natural environments while offering financial returns.

Since its founding in 1988, the REFBC has broadened its focus areas, begun collaborations with other funders, and approved more than $80 million to support land use and real estate projects in communities across BC.

You can can sign up for REFBC’s e-newsletter to keep up-to-date on the foundation’s work.