Community Grants Program
In 2025, the PREA Foundation launched the Community Grants Program to support college student-led initiatives that promote a deeper understanding and access to career opportunities in the commercial real estate (CRE) industry.
2026 Applications Are Now Open
Eligible college student-led organizations may apply for grants of up to $10,000 to support initiatives that expand access to careers in commercial real estate.
Application deadline: October 16, 2026
Apply NowYour organization is eligible to apply if it:
- Is a student-led initiative or event associated with a college or university
- Offers programming or activities that introduce students to CRE careers or build relevant skills
- Has a track record or business plan for delivering educational, mentorship, or professional development opportunities to students
- Site visits and industry exposure trips
- Real estate club launches or expansion
- Career readiness and technical skill-building
- Conference travel and off-campus experiences
- Career exploration workshops, speaker series, and panel events
- CRE case competitions
- Other creative initiatives that advance student access to and exposure in the commercial real estate industry
Design Committee
The Community Grants Program was developed by a small group of industry leaders. This committee sets the program’s structure and priorities.
Kimberly Adams
Managing Director
Clarion Partners
Melinda Ellis Evers
Cofounder & Managing Principal
Ellis Partners LLC
Marcia Glass
Director, Capital Raising and Investor Relations
Starwood Capital Group
Bryce Robertson
Executive Director
GCM Grosvenor
Edyta Riley
Head of Real Estate
Ford Foundation
Program Committee
The Program Committee is made up of mid-career industry professionals who review applications, interview finalists, and decide where funding goes each cycle.
Program Committee Member Testimonial:
“Demand for top junior talent in the commercial real estate industry is at peak intensity. To keep up, we need to widen the funnel and reach students earlier in their collegiate path. Our work on the Program Committee, funding over $150,000 in student-led initiatives, reinforces our commitment to open doors to pathways in commercial real estate for as many students as possible.”
– Bryce Robertson, Executive Director, GCM Grosvenor
2025 Outcomes
In its first grant cycle, the PREA Foundation awarded more than $150,000 to 22 student-led real estate organizations, providing grants of up to $10,000 per group to support site visits, career readiness workshops, case competitions, technical skills training, and the expansion of campus real estate clubs.
2025 Community Grant Program Awardees
RISE
Ross Real Estate Fund
Stanford Real Estate Association
Temple Real Estate Organization
The Commercial Real Estate Group at GSU
UNC Undergraduate Real Estate Club
University of Chicago Real Estate Investment Group (RIG)
University of Connecticut Real Estate Society
University of Oregon Real Estate Investment Group
WashU Real Estate Club
Women in Real Estate at Georgetown
Black Real Estate Network
Cornell Real Estate Club (CREC)
DAIRE Morgan State
Harvard Graduate School of Design Real Estate Club
Marquette University Commercial Real Estate Club
Marshall Real Estate Finance Association
NYU Stern Real Estate Club
NYU Stern Real Estate Group
Ohio University Consulting Fellows
Real Estate at Georgia Tech
Real Estate Club Notre Dame (REND)
Awarded College Club Testimonials:
“PREA Foundation’s support allowed Cornell University students to network directly with over 100 industry professionals in a casual setting. This environment allowed for genuine connections between students and alumni that have resulted in friendships, mentorship, and direct internship opportunities.”
– Cornell Real Estate Club
“PREA Foundation’s support has been transformative for our organization. We are incredibly grateful for the opportunity to expand the resources and experiences we can offer to students interested in real estate. As a graduating senior, I only wish resources like these had been available when I first joined the Stern Real Estate Group. The impact this support will have on younger students and future classes is incredibly exciting to see.”
– Stern Real Estate Group at NYU
“The PREA Foundation grant did more than fund events. It changed how our organization operates and what our members believe is possible.”
– Marshall Real Estate Finance Association at the University of Southern California
