Bridge AOR Community Foundation opens 2026 grant cycle

The Bridge Association of REALTORS® Community Foundation is accepting 2026 grant applications through Oct. 15 and will award more than $30,000 to small nonprofits in six East Bay communities. Grantees will be recognized at a Nov. 19 reception in Berkeley.

Why it matters: - The grant program directs more than $30,000 to small nonprofits working in Albany, Berkeley, Emeryville, Kensington, Oakland and Piedmont. - The funding is limited to specific projects and events, which can help local groups launch programs without taking on unrestricted operating costs.

What happened: - The Bridge Association of REALTORS® Community Foundation opened its 2026 grant cycle on Oct. 1. - Applications are due Oct. 15. - The Foundation will announce and celebrate the 2026 grantees at a reception on Nov. 19 from 4-7 p.m. at 2855 Telegraph Ave. in Berkeley. - The event is open to grantees and Association members.

The details: - Eligible applicants must be nonprofit organizations serving Albany, Berkeley, Emeryville, Kensington, Oakland or Piedmont. - Applicants must have 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status or a fiscal sponsor with that status. - Applicants must have an annual operating budget under $1 million. - Grants must support a specific project or event taking place between Dec. 1, 2026, and Oct. 1, 2027. - Funding may cover new programs, project-specific salaries and stipends. - Grants cannot be used for general operating costs or regular salaries. - Full eligibility guidelines and applications are available on the Bridge Association of REALTORS® website, BridgeAOR.org. - The Association also recently awarded its annual grant to the Oral Lee Brown Foundation. - The Oral Lee Brown Foundation was founded in 1987 by Oakland REALTOR® Oral Lee Brown. - The foundation originally committed to paying college tuition for an entire first-grade class at Brookfield Elementary School in East Oakland. - The organization has since supported more than 200 students from low-income families with mentoring, tutoring and funding toward higher education.

Between the lines: - The grant cycle favors small, project-based community groups rather than larger nonprofits with broader operating budgets. - The Oral Lee Brown Foundation award shows the Association is pairing new grantmaking with continued support for long-running East Oakland education work. - Patricia Bennett, the Community Foundation chair, said the annual awards highlight how generously members give back.

What's next: - Nonprofits have until Oct. 15 to apply. - The Foundation will move toward its Nov. 19 grant presentation and reception after applications close. - Successful projects will run during the Dec. 1, 2026 to Oct. 1, 2027 funding window. - The Bridge Association of REALTORS® Community Foundation is expected to continue its annual grantmaking cycle for local nonprofits.