It’s easier and more rewarding than you might think.
Smiling volunteers at construction frame

Launching a Good Neighbor Awards has never been easier because we have done the legwork for you and it takes very little staff time or association funds. Here are some tips:

  1. Use the entry form, judging criteria, and other materials provided below. Customize as needed.
  2. Logo Template Examples
    Name your program using the name of your REALTOR® association. For example, “Missouri Association of REALTORS® Good Neighbor Awards”.
  3. Find a sponsor to fund the grant awards (which can be as little as $500) to minimize the impact on your association’s budget.
  4. Use social media to promote your program and solicit applications (see our Media Kit for pre-made posts and videos).
  5. Ask previous recipients of community service awards to serve as your judges (or ask NAR to help you find potential judges).
  6. Set your entry deadline so that you have time to submit your winners to the NAR Good Neighbor Awards contest, which has a May deadline each year. National winners get tremendous publicity, which also reflects on your association.
  7. Actively seek out potential candidates. Many of the people who do this type of volunteer work don’t aspire to be in the spotlight and need to be encouraged to apply. Because they aren’t motivated by the public recognition, it is important to offer a grant award to their nonprofit organization.
  8. Require that any grant awards be issued to a 501(c)3 nonprofit to ensure the money is going where it is intended.
  9. Run a background check on your winners before you announce in order to avoid any surprises.
  10. Plan to write a story about your winners. Your members and the media will love to know what the winners are doing in the community. A video is even better in the age of social media.
  11. Don’t be discouraged if you don’t receive many applications the first year. Most associations find that these programs need time to build (your members who are volunteering need time to discover that the association is interested in hearing about it).
  12. If you have questions, contact Sara Geimer. We are happy to help you! 
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