As the representative voice for REITs and publicly traded real estate, Nareit plays a role to help advance the REIT industry’s DEI efforts. With the support of REIT CEOs and executive leadership councils and committees, including the Dividends Through Diversity, Equity & Inclusion CEO Council, Nareit has developed its DEI strategic plan to build upon the Dividends Through Diversity & Inclusion (DDEI) initiative, which launched in 2017.
Nareit’s DEI strategic plan aims to increase the REIT and publicly traded real estate industry’s visibility and appeal to diverse talent and businesses through a focus on people, partnerships, and philanthropy. As part of the DEI strategic plan, Nareit creates, facilitates, and leads programs; data and research; education and training; and leadership opportunities. Learn more about Nareit’s DEI strategic plan.
Nareit's Workforce Development & DEI Survey, exclusively available to Nareit corporate members, features data on REIT DEI practices. This annual survey helps Nareit track progress, gain insights into the state of DEI in the REIT industry, and identify opportunities for improvement. Read a summary of the 2022 Workforce Development and DEI Survey (PDF).
Nareit Councils & Committees provide members the opportunity to participate in and facilitate best practice sharing and to help guide Nareit’s DEI strategic plan.
Current DEI-related leadership groups include:
Dividends Through Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DDEI) CEO Council leads the REIT industry’s efforts in taking actionable and sustainable measures that support the recruitment, inclusion, development, and advancement of women, Black professionals, other people of color, ethnically diverse individuals, and members of other under-represented groups in REITs and the publicly traded real estate industry. The DDEI CEO Council is made up of more than 30 REIT CEOs, who collectively represent every segment of the REIT industry.
Social Responsibility Council (SRC) is a cross-disciplinary group representing Nareit’s corporate membership. The SRC advises Nareit regarding the broad range of social responsibility initiatives Nareit should undertake on the industry’s behalf and those that corporate members should consider.
Nareit’s DEI Peer Exchange (formerly DEI Working Group), open exclusively to Nareit corporate members, provides a collaborative space where DEI practitioners can discuss challenges and opportunities and exchange ideas and solutions specific to the real estate profession. Contact Afia Boone at aboone@nareit.com with a request to join.
Nareit wishes to thank the original co-chairs and members of the Dividends Through Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Steering Committee, who helped bring the DDEI initiative to the industry in 2017. The chairs include Diane Morefield, Board Member, UDR, Inc., Mary Hogan Preusse, Founder & Principal, Sturgis Partners, LLC, and Sherry Rexroad, CFO, STORE Capital Corporation.
Nareit’s Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Recognition Awards honor both Nareit member companies and individual members who have demonstrated a strong commitment and made outstanding contributions to the advancement of DEI within their companies as well as in the REIT community.
Nareit’s Senior Vice President, Social Responsibility & Global Initiatives, Ayris Scales is Nareit’s liaison to the DDEI Initiative.
