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Social Responsibility Initiatives

Nareit and its members participate with industry stakeholders on various initiatives and programs that impact the broader commercial real estate community.

Sustainability Engagement

Clean Energy Buyers Association (CEBA) – Nareit partners with CEBA to elevate the key opportunities and challenges for the commercial real estate industry in advancing clean energy technology improvements and procurement solutions.

First Street – Nareit partners with First Street to enhance the understanding and awareness of the impact of physical climate change on REIT assets and portfolios by providing members access to First Street analysis and research. Nareit members have opportunities to test drive new tools and engage with teams of climate experts developing new resources to support risk analysis and resilience investment planning.

Getting to Zero Collaborative – Nareit partners with the Getting to Zero initiative led by New Buildings Institute (NBI) and RMI, which amplifies the work of people and organizations that are accelerating and broadening efforts to decarbonize buildings at scale, helping achieve ambitious climate commitments related to the built environment, and engage the commercial real estate community to overcome the remaining barriers to net zero buildings the norm.

GRESB – Nareit, in partnership with GRESB, supports the REIT industry to standardize reporting and meet investor expectations for sustainability performance. REITs participating in the annual GRESB Real Estate Assessment provide transparency to investors on performance against industry benchmarks. Nareit continues to engage with GRESB to evolve with the industry. 

U.S. Government Agencies–Nareit supports public-private partnerships with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) that support the real estate industry’s energy efficiency adoption and operating expense reductions. The ENERGY STAR for Buildings program and Better Buildings Initiative support the REIT industry in measuring and managing energy improvements and sharing best practices for advancing innovation in building energy management. 

U.S. Green Building Council  (USGBC) – Nareit and its members partner with USGBC to advance sustainable practices in the design and operations of buildings. Nareit members can access education, resources, and connect with industry experts.


Social Responsibility Engagement

CREDS- Nareit, together with several real estate trade organizations, formed the Commercial Real Estate Diverse Suppliers (CREDS) Consortium, to grow the variety of suppliers in commercial real estate and help facilitate the connection between REITs and suppliers, vendors, contractors, and other businesses. 
 

Nareit Foundation Grantee Partner Program – Grants from the Nareit Foundation create ways for REITs to engage with programs that expand employment, entrepreneurship, and investment education in commercial real estate, and include initiatives with:

Building Markets supports improved access to REIT procurement opportunities for small businesses, provide data-driven insights to enhance supplier strategies, and explore AI-powered solutions to enhance supplier-buyer connections.

The Coalition supports expanded procurement opportunities in commercial real estate for small businesses by addressing supply and demand challenges and supporting sourcing best practices.

Empify Foundation supports the Student REIT Investment Accelerator, a program designed to enhance financial literacy, introduce college students to REIT investing, and give them the knowledge needed for financial independence.

NAF supports real estate digital internship programs, educational resources, and a CRE/REIT curriculum designed to equip young talent, particularly high school students—with early career exposure and industry-ready skills. 

Paradigm for Parity Inc. supports its Profit and Loss Leadership Accelerator Program, an initiative that prepares women for P&L roles in the real estate industry through simulation-based learning, executive coaching, sponsorship, and mentorship.

Project Destined supports the Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT) Bridge Program, which equips students with essential skills and professional networks to excel in the real estate industry.

Robert A. Toigo Foundation supports the expansion of the organization's online job and professional development platform ToigoLINK: Real Estate (RE), which connects graduate-level talent with associate roles in CRE and at financial institutions.

Real Estate Institute at Morehouse College supports the development of future CRE leaders through academic preparation, experiential learning, industry engagement, and research-driven insights.

Rutgers Center for Women in Business supports REIT professionals by developing and bridging leadership gaps and equipping them with essential executive skills, confidence, and networks for career advancement.