Free Philanthropy: How One Real Estate Deal Can Fund a Classroom

This course teaches you how to use Investing In Communities® (IIC Gives) as a powerful, cost-free tool to support schools, nonprofits, and eligible individuals in "angel professions"—all through real estate transactions you're already planning to make.

What You'll Learn:

• How IIC Gives works and why it's unlike any other giving platform
• How to generate $2,000+ in charitable support from a single home sale or purchase
• How to direct thousands, for free, through residential and commercial purchase and sale and commercial lease transactions
• How nonprofits, schools, and teachers can leverage IIC for sustainable funding
• How to use IIC using the agent of your choice, and without spending more, or taking any risk

Who This Course Is For:

• Anyone buying or selling a piece of real estate, or signing a commercial lease
• Nonprofit leaders seeking new funding sources
• School administrators and parent organizations
• Supporters of teachers, nurses, veterans, first responders, and other angel professions.
• Socially conscious businesses and real estate professionals

What is IIC Gives?

The Core Concept: IIC Gives is a nonprofit social enterprise that is underwritten by MAP Real Estate, the for profit social enterprise and Certified B Corporation, which is licensed as a real estate brokerage. This ensures that participation by all agents and brokerages firms across the country is license-act compliant transforming standard industry referral fees into charitable donations—directed by you.

Key Points:

• IIC connects you with qualified real estate agents
• When your transaction closes, your agent and their brokerage remits to IIC the agreed-upon referral fee
• IIC directs 80% of that fee to your chosen recipient, a charity, club, or eligible individual
• You pay nothing extra—referral fees are a normal business expense

The Power of This Model: Unlike most cause-marketing programs, IIC lets YOU decide who benefits. And, unlike every other cause-related marketing program, with IIC, it’s YOU, not the company you choose to work with, that makes the social good happen. Everytime!

How Real Estate Referral Fees Work

Industry Context: Real estate agents routinely pay referral fees (typically 25-30% of their commission) to win new business. This is a common business practice—not a favor.

Why Agents Are Happy to Participate

• Referrals are their lifeblood
• Getting most of a commission beats getting none.
• IIC provides motivated clients
• No upfront costs—only paid when deals close

Legal Framework:

• Referral fees can only be paid brokerage-to-brokerage
• IIC is licensed specifically to receive these fees
• Agent and broker participation comply with all state real estate laws

The Math Behind the Impact

As a rule of thumb with purchases and sales, each distribution equals half of one percent of the price. Distributions from commercial leases are more variable.

Residential Example:

• Median U.S. home price (2024): $407,200
• Typical commission: 5% = $20,360
• Split between buyer's and seller's agents: $10,180 each
• Referral fee to IIC: 25% = $2,545
• Your chosen recipient receives: 80% = $2,036

Commercial Example: A 27,000 sq ft, 10-year office lease in Chicago generated $42,000 in charitable funding—distributed across 15 charities chosen by the tenant.

Reflection Question: If your next real estate transaction could generate $2,000+ for a cause you love—at zero cost to you—which cause would you choose? (link to essay 101 ways to spend $2,000 to good - for free?)

Over $750K Donated through IIC Gives

(list of many NFP recipients)

The Simple Process

Step-by-Step:

• Before You Commit to an Agent:
• Visit iicgives.org
• Fill out a brief form describing your agent-needs
• Choose your recipient (charity, school, or eligible individual)
• IIC Connects You:
• IIC matches you with agents that specialize in what you need
• You can request an agent you already know
• You interview agents and choose the one you want
• Complete Your Transaction:
• Work with your agent as normal
• Get the same fiduciary representation
• Close your deal
• Impact Happens Automatically:
• Your agent pays the agreed-upon referral fee to IIC
• IIC sends 80% to your chosen recipient
• You receive confirmation of the donation

Critical Timing: You must engage IIC BEFORE signing with an agent. Once you've committed, it's too late—the referral and free-philanthropy opportunity has passed.

Maximizing Your Impact

For Home Buyers/Sellers:

• One transaction = $2,000 to your cause ($2,000 is the typical distribution from buying or selling a median priced home)
• Both buyer and seller can use IIC independently in the same deal
• Result: potential $4,000+ total impact from one median-priced purchase or sale

For Commercial Tenants/Landlords:

• Office leases can generate $5,000-$50,000+ depending on size and term
• Retail and industrial leases follow similar patterns

Real-World Examples:

• Waters Elementary School received $4,026 from a residential purchase in OR and sale in ID of an auntie’s home
• Kennebec Estuary Land Trust in ME received $6,905 from an office lease renewal in Chicago by the dad who loves the outdoors.
• Shriver Center on Poverty Law received $36,511 from a commercial lease and then used the money to raise an additional $25,000 as matching funds, in 10 minutes.

Supporting Individuals in Angel Professions

Eligible Recipients Include:

• Teachers and educators
• Nurses and healthcare workers
• Veterans and active military
• First responders (fire, police, EMT)
• Investigative journalists
• Students pursuing these careers
• more

How It Works: Instead of selecting a charity, you designate an individual. IIC verifies eligibility and distributes funds directly.

Example: "My niece is in nursing school. When I sold my home, I directed $2,000 to help with her tuition and expenses."

Multi-Transaction Strategies

For Active Investors: Real estate investors making multiple transactions per year can create ongoing support streams:

• Buy a rental property → support Charity A
• Sell a commercial building → support School B
• Lease new office space → support Teacher C

For Families:

• Parent sells home → supports grandchild's school
• Adult child buys first home → supports parent's favorite charity
• Sibling relocates for work → supports local food bank

Using IIC When You Already Know Your Agent

The Hesitation: Many people feel awkward asking IIC to refer them to an agent they already know.

Why You Shouldn't:

• Your agent pays referral fees to other agents all the time
• They only pay if they close the deal—no speculative cost
• They're happy to win your business even at a reduced commission
• The alternative isn't "they get more"—it's "they get nothing"

How to Frame It:

"I want to work with you, and I've found a way to also support [cause]. IIC will refer me to you in return for a market-standard referral fee, which they will donate to [charity/school/person] I care about. Or, I’m afraid we will not be able to work together. "

Most agents respond enthusiastically. The competition for their next client is fierce.

Common Questions & Concerns

"Won't this offend my agent-friend?"

No. Here's why:

• They gladly pay referral fees to other agents, every chance they get.
• They only pay if they close your transaction
• They're getting a motivated client they might not have otherwise
• Most of a commission is better than none

"Will this increase my costs?"

No. Referral fees are marketing expenses which are agreed to before you agree to their requested commission.

"Can I still negotiate the commission?"

Absolutely. You negotiate directly with your agent—IIC isn't involved in that conversation. The referral fee comes from whatever commission is agreed upon.

Traditional Fundraising vs. IIC Gives

Traditional Fundraising Challenges:

• Donor fatigue from repeated appeals
• Competition for limited grant dollars
• Time-intensive events with modest returns
• Restricted funding that limits flexibility

The IIC Gives Solution:

• Supporters give MORE without spending more
• Unrestricted funds (unless donor specifies otherwise)
• No events to plan or staff
• Sustainable, ongoing revenue stream (about 3.5% of US adults each year use an agent)
• Works nationally—your supporter can use IIC anywhere in the country

Why IIC Is a Game-Changer for Nonprofits

Unrestricted Funding: Most IIC distributions are unrestricted, giving you maximum flexibility.

Scalability: Unlike events capped by venue size or volunteer bandwidth, IIC can scale with your supporter base.

Relationship Building: Offering supporters a zero-cost way to help deepen loyalty and engagement.

Multi-State Reach: A supporter in California can direct funds to your Oregon nonprofit through their real estate transaction in Tennessee.

Nonprofits as Commercial Tenants

Double Benefit: When nonprofits use IIC for their own real estate needs, they can direct their IIC distribution to themselves.

Case Study: Smart Love Family Services Purchased a building for their operations. Directed $5,600 back to their own programs. Got the best deal possible AND created unrestricted funding.

Case Study: Centro San Bonifacio Bought a building on Chicago's West Side. Received $3,496 through IIC—essentially reducing their acquisition cost at no expense to themselves.

Getting Started as a Nonprofit

All you have to do is spread the word with your community! This can be done through social media, email campaigns, newsletters, posters, and more! (We’ll help you create messaging for a variety of audiences.)

Promotion Strategies:

Email Campaign Template:

"Did you know you can support [Your Nonprofit] when you buy or sell a home—at no extra cost to you? Through Investing In Communities®, a portion of your real estate agent's commission can be directed to us. Learn more at [link]."

Newsletter Blurb:

"Planning to move, downsize, or invest in property? Use IIC Gives to turn your real estate transaction into support for [Your Mission]—without spending a penny more."

Social Media Posts:

• "Your next real estate move could fund our [program/project]. Here's how: [link]"
• "Real estate transaction = real impact for [cause]. It's easier than you think." (and there’s no cost or risk.)

Funding Educational Programs

Common School Funding Needs:

• Classroom supplies and technology
• Arts, music, and athletics programs
• Field trips and enrichment activities
• STEAM clubs and competitions
• Library books and resources

How IIC Helps: A single family buying or selling a median priced home can direct $2,000+ to:

• The school's general fund
• A specific program (Science Olympiad, Drama Club)
• An individual teacher's classroom needs

Supporting Individual Teachers

The Reality: Teachers spend an average of $500-$750 of their own money on classroom supplies annually.

The IIC Solution: Parents, relatives, or community members can direct IIC funds specifically to a teacher, covering supplies, materials, or even professional development.

Eligible Recipients: IIC expanded eligibility to include individuals in "angel professions"—including teachers.

School Promotion Strategies

PTA/PTO Integration:

• Include IIC in back-to-school packets
• Feature at parent nights and open houses
• Add to school website and newsletters
• Mention during fundraising kickoffs
• Place an IIC poster in the teacher’s and the senior’s lounge

Sample Script for School Leaders:

"We've partnered with IIC Gives to offer families a unique way to support our school. If you're buying or selling a home—or know someone who is—you can direct thousands of dollars to our programs at no cost. It's not a traditional fundraiser, but it could be one of our most impactful tools."

For Teachers:

"If you have friends or family planning a real estate move, they can support my classroom through IIC Gives—helping me get the materials my students need, without spending anything extra themselves."

Commercial Real Estate Opportunities

Transaction Types:

• leases and renewals of……
• Office space
• Retail space
• Industrial and warehouse space
• Doctor and dental space
• Building purchases and sales

Typical Charitable Distribution Size:

• Small office (2,000 sq ft, 3 years): $1,500
• Mid-size office (10,000 sq ft, 7 years): $15,000-$20,000
• Large office (25,000 sq ft, 10 years): $40,000+

Strategic Giving through Business Operations

Corporate Social Responsibility: Using IIC allows companies to:

• Support causes aligned with your company’s, or client’s, values
• Engage employees in choosing recipients
• Generate substantial donations from necessary business transactions
• Build goodwill

Example: Law Firm Chicago firm renewing their lease directed $6,905 to an environmental trust in Maine—reflecting the outdoor values of the firm's partners.

The Scale of Possibility

The Math:

• ~6 million home sales annually in the U.S.
• ~6 million sellers use agents
• ~5.7 million buyers use agents
• Total: ~12 million people engaging agents each year

The Potential: If just 1% used IIC, that's 118,000 transactions × $2,000 average = $238 million in charitable support annually.

From one year. From 1% adoption. At zero cost to consumers.

Commercial Real Estate Adds:

• 437 million sq ft office space leased (2023)
• 203 million sq ft retail
• 992 million sq ft industrial
• Total: 1.6+ billion sq ft annually

The potential is enormous, continuous, and global.

How IIC Fits Into Social Enterprise

The Spectrum:

• Traditional charity: You give money directly
• Cause marketing: Companies give a small percentage of profits
• Social enterprise: Business model itself creates good
• IIC: Consumer directs good through marketplace dynamics, regardless of the charitable leanings, if any, of the agent/brokerage they choose to work with.

What Makes IIC Unique:

• No cost to consumer
• Consumer chooses recipient
• Works with any qualified agent
• Powered by competition, not generosity
• Sustainable and ever-replenishing

Your Role in the Movement

Individual Impact: Your single transaction can:

• Fund a teacher's classroom for a year
• Support a veteran's transition out of the military
• Help a nonprofit serve more families
• Enable a school to launch a new program

Collective Impact: When you share IIC with friends, family, and colleagues, you multiply the good,t exponentially.

Reflection: Who in your network is planning to buy, sell, or lease property in the next 12 months? How could you introduce them to IIC?

Your Personal Action Plan

Immediate Steps (This Week):

• Visit iicgives.org and explore the site
• Identify one cause/school/person you'd want to support
• Share IIC with one person you know

Short-Term (Next 3-12 Months):

• If you're planning a transaction, start the IIC referral process
• If you lead a nonprofit/school, register as a recipient
• Introduce IIC at one organizational meeting or family gathering

Long-Term (Next Year):

• Consider making IIC part of your standard real estate process
• Help a friend or organization use IIC successfully
• Track and share the impact created

Common Obstacles & Solutions

Obstacle: "I'm not planning any real estate transactions" Solution: Share IIC with people who are. Your network is powerful.

Obstacle: "This seems too good to be true" Solution: Remember—it's built on standard industry practice (referral fees). Nothing magical, just smart redirection.

Obstacle: "My agent won't go for this" Solution: Most agents happily accept referrals. If one balks, choose a different agent—there are 2 million to pick from.

Obstacle: "I don't want to bother my agent-friend" Solution: You're offering them business. That's the opposite of a burden.

Spreading the Word

For Individuals:

• Share this course with friends and family
• Post about IIC on social media when you use it
• Tell your story: "I supported [cause] through my home purchase/sale—at zero cost"

For Nonprofits:

• Train board members and key volunteers
• Include IIC in donor communications
• Feature IIC success stories in annual reports

For Schools:

• Educate parents during school events
• Include in fundraising portfolio presentations
• Celebrate publicly when IIC generates support

Template Social Post:

"I just learned about @IICGives—a way to turn real estate brokerage opportunities into charitable support. If you're planning a real estate move, check it out: [link]"