NAR Names Five 2026 Good Neighbor Award Winners
Real estate professionals receive grants for community service, highlighting the industry's role in local charitable impact.
Updated on Oct. 27, 2026 in Philanthropy
Live Poll
Should real estate professionals be expected to prioritize community service as part of their work?
The National Association of REALTORS has named five winners for its 2026 Good Neighbor Awards, recognizing members who dedicate significant time and expertise to community service. Each of the five primary winners receives a $10,000 grant and promotional support, while five honorable mentions each receive $2,500.
Why it matters
The program highlights the role of real estate practitioners in driving local community development through organized volunteerism and charitable investment. By formalizing support for these initiatives, the industry creates a framework for measuring the non-commercial impact members have on their local neighborhoods.
The National Association of REALTORS awarded $10,000 to each of the five top winners, with five additional finalists receiving $2,500 grants. The initiative has continued for 27 years, tracking contributions like the 7,000 veterans served by Boots to Suits and $800,000 in grants from the 50 Mile March Foundation.
The players
National Association of REALTORS
A national trade association representing professionals involved in all aspects of the residential and commercial real estate industries.
Sue Farrell
Founder of Boots to Suits, a nonprofit organization that has dressed 7,000 veterans for employment.
Weston Jenkins
Founder of Disabled Outdoorsmen USA, a group that has raised $2.5 million to support outdoor access.
Teresa Renkenberger
Founder of Shower Power, which provides hygiene services to 160 people weekly.
The details
Winners are selected through a multistage, criteria-based judging process that evaluates the measurable impact of their service work. The association also incorporates public engagement by allowing a vote for Web Choice Favorites, which provides additional financial bonuses to selected winners. These funds are intended to amplify the operational reach of the winning charitable projects, such as Shower Power's weekly service to 160 individuals.
Timeline
The award program has been in operation for 27 years.
The National Association of REALTORS announced the 2026 winners on October 27, 2026.
Market Landscape
The National Association of REALTORS' Good Neighbor Awards program provides a consistent industry benchmark for evaluating the non-financial community impact of individual real estate brokers. This year's winners continue a 27-year pattern of the association institutionalizing philanthropic standards.
Operators should view these grants as a model for leveraging professional networks to scale community-based service operations. Monitoring these winning projects provides a baseline for the type of measurable impact and operational clarity that national trade associations prioritize for recognition.
The takeaway
The program demonstrates that professional trade groups increasingly value community-service scale alongside core business performance. Operators should audit their own charitable commitments for impact metrics and consider submitting their work to industry award cycles to improve brand visibility and reach.
Further reading
For broader insights on industry-led charitable initiatives, see Philanthropy.
Live Poll
Should real estate professionals be expected to prioritize community service as part of their work?
