On December 9th, The New York Times published a story that we believe provided a one-sided and biased view of NAR, APOA, and the advocacy programs of each organization. In this article, NAR provided detailed answers and extensive context to improve the reporter’s understanding of the advocacy universe and the amazing work our team does to support the real estate industry, empower REALTORS®, and advance the right to real property for all. We’ve compiled a list of facts that The New York Times reported incorrectly, to share with you a clear picture of how we truly operate and how we care setting the record straight.
NYT MYTH: APOA is a shadowy “pass through” advocacy organization for NAR.
FACT: NAR publicly announced the launch of APOA in 2020 with a press release and media push, and periodically promotes its work through NAR channels like REALTOR® Magazine. It funds APOA through an annual grant, which is fully transparent to our members and the public. It appoints board members to the APOA Board of Directors, which operates independently and without oversight from NAR.
NYT MYTH: Nearly $10 million went to Republican-aligned super PACs and groups with conservative agendas.
FACT: This is incorrect. The only “super PAC giving” NYT cites is $100,000 to Opportunity Matters, which is, in fact, not a super PAC. Opportunity Matters is a 501(c)(4) organization. APOA does not engage in political activity as defined by the IRS.
NYT MYTH: APOA was conceived and created by one individual through a “quiet” internal process.
FACT: APOA was launched to focus on property owners exclusively. The idea for the organization emerged in 2019 from a working group tasked with assessing how to modernize NAR’s approach to advocacy. APOA was one of several recommendations made by the working group and was approved by the Board of Directors in November 2019 at NAR’s Annual Convention in a vote of 771 to 22.
NYT MYTH: APOA is a “slush fund” for NAR to funnel untraceable “dark money” to outside groups.
FACT: Dark money is a term that refers to shielding political spending from reporting requirements and other public transparency obligations connected to registered political entities. NAR and APOA disclose all required advocacy related expenditures in full compliance with all legal and regulatory requirements—which is how the NYT has access to this data in the first place. NAR political expenditures are available at FEC.gov and each organization’s Form 990, filed with the IRS annually.
NYT MYTH: APOA’s giving is not consistent with the organization’s tax-exempt status.
FACT: Through all its program activities, APOA has acted in a manner consistent with that of a section 501(c)(4) advocacy organization. Moreover, APOA’s program activity to date is consistent with its stated mission of advocating for the rights of property owners. In addition to its own direct advocacy activities, APOA works in coalitions and provides financial support to other organizations that will benefit property owners. The support for these other organizations with interests aligned with APOA ultimately works to advance APOA’s own policy agenda, and the work of these grant recipients has a direct impact on property owners and their rights.
NYT MYTH: APOA gives a disproportionate amount to conservative organizations.
FACT: APOA has an issues-based grantmaking process to organizations on both sides of the aisle. Cherry-picking data can tell one story, but a holistic review of APOA giving reveals that its giving is split and changes from year to year based on current priorities. For example, in 2023, more than 70% of APOA grant disbursements were made to left-leaning organizations. APOA also does much more by way of advocacy than grants alone.
Both NAR and APOA are nonpartisan organizations and our expenditures across the political spectrum reflect the industry’s support for organizations and policymakers who champion policies that are important to consumers and real estate practitioners. In addition to groups like One Nation and the American Action Network, NAR works with groups like National Fair Housing Alliance, Mobility Works, National Housing Conference, Up for Growth Action, National Community Reinvestment Coalition, National Homelessness Law Center, International Association of Official Human Rights Agencies, MLK Memorial Foundation, and the Thurgood Marshall College Fund.
REALTORS® Political Action Committee (RPAC) political giving is split evenly between Republicans and Democrats. These expenditures are searchable at FEC.gov. See RPAC reporting here and NAR Congressional Fund reporting here.
NYT MYTH: NAR is giving an enormous proportion of its net revenue to APOA.
FACT: NAR’s grants to APOA reflect the importance of property ownership to our members and overall mission. APOA will receive a $6.6 million grant in 2025 to fund its advocacy efforts. This is a planned expense that is vetted through NAR’s governance channels and will be reported in our future expenditure disclosures. In no way does this grant represent a disproportionate amount of NAR’s budget.
