Greetings and Solicitations
Your source for all answers, including how to navigate social media posts and PAC fundraising
What is the MAR legal team?
True or false – RPAC is a Super PAC
False- RPAC is a highly regulated political action committee that contributes funds to candidate’s campaigns. A Super PAC is an entirely different type of PAC that makes so-called independent expenditures, meaning they spend money independent of a candidate or their campaign. Super PACs often run ads or send mailers to advocate for or against a candidate but cannot contribute to a candidate’s campaign.
This bi-level grant provides funding up to $7,500 to improve communities and transform unused and underused sites into welcoming destinations.
What is a Placemaking grant?
True or False – a placemaking grant can be used to add amenities or enhancements to complete a second phase for a previously funded project.
False – a placemaking grant funds the creation of new, outdoor public spaces and destinations in a community on unused or underused sites. It is a one-off project and cannot be used for multiple project phases or to simply enhance an already funded/completed project or already utilized public space.
True or false – social media posts including staff contacts, and publicly available RPAC financial information are not allowed.
False – posts containing general information such as staff contacts or publicly available RPAC financial records are permissible.
You’re talking with a friend about RPAC fundraising ideas. They want to run a 50/50 raffle for RPAC during an association dinner. “Everybody wins!” they exclaim. “Except for the MAR Legal Team,” you reply, reminding them to steer clear of this class of game.
What are games of chance?
Massachusetts law prohibits games of chance where there is an entry fee and a reward of value such as raffles, sweepstakes, or lotteries.
This grant provides financial assistance to support effective advocacy campaigns on public policy issues including any activities related directly or indirectly to candidate elections*or legal action, or for any campaign activities that have been completed.
What is an Issues Mobilization grant?
Issues Mobilization grants have strict skin-in-the-game requirements, meaning your association must contribute a percentage of the amount requested from NAR. For example applications of $25,000 or less require associations to spend 10%, or up to $2,500. This is the skin in the game requirement for a grant of $300,000.
What is at least 50% or $150,000 - the skin in the game requirements break down as follows:
True or False – social media posts congratulating this year’s major investors by name are allowed because they are merely sharing factual information.
False – an individual may share their own personal factual information, but should not share information about the status or awards of others.
True or false – it is legal to give a gift in appreciation for an RPAC contribution.
False – this would qualify as an inducement. It is illegal to make or give any payment, gift, or thing of value in exchange for a contribution. All contributions must be made voluntarily and free from inducement.
This three-tiered grant supports activities that create or improve systems, programs, and policies that expand access to housing that is affordable
What is a Housing Opportunity Grant?
A level 3 Housing Opportunity Grant awards up to $10,000 per calendar year for eligible activities that are comprehensive, have a broad community reach, and require significant Realtor involvement. As they say, “it takes a village” so a level 3 grant requires this step beyond the teamwork of members and staff.
What is partnership with at least one non-Realtor organization such as a housing nonprofit, government agency, or local employer?
The group of people including members, staff, and their families who can legally receive RPAC fundraising requests
What is the solicitable class?
This must be included with every RPAC solicitation
What is an Investment Notice or PAC Disclosure?
Federal law requires all RPAC solicitation materials to include a disclosure outlining the terms of an RPAC investment
This grant helps fund legal analysis of proposed comprehensive plans, amendments, legislation, ordinances or regulations that impact the transfer of real property
What is a land-use initiative grant
Smart Growth grants fund land-use and transportation-related activities that have an impact on public policies that support one or more of the 10 Smart Growth Principles. Name two of the Smart Growth Principles.
The smart growth principles are:
The body charged with monitoring PAC compliance and enforcing federal campaign finance laws, including those pertaining to solicitations
What is the Federal Election Commission?
The independent state agency charged with monitoring state PAC compliance and enforcing state campaign finance laws
What is the Massachusetts Office of Campaign and Political Finance (OCPF)?
This three-tiered grant supports land-use and transportation related activities that have an impact on public policy and support one or more of 10 approved principles
What is a Smart Growth grant?
MAR successfully used these grants in 2021 to fund and promote its mediation scholarship program.
What are Commercial Innovation, Consumer Advocacy and Housing Opportunity grants?
MAR received 2 Commercial Innovation grants to bolster Private Property Protection Funding for training scholarships as well as a Consumer Advocacy grant and a Housing Opportunity grant to fund a public-facing campaign advertising the benefits of mediation.