The Tennessee Real Estate Educational Foundation (TREEF) was established in 1968 under Tennessee REALTORS® President Bob Freeman, and the Foundation was officially chartered as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, tax-exempt educational foundation in 1973.
By an amendment to the state association’s Bylaws, the authority to conduct educational programs for Tennessee REALTORS® has been delegated to TREEF. Tennessee REALTORS® has no Education Committee; instead, TREEF serves as the “educational arm” of the Association…but TREEF should never be confused with (or thought of as) another committee. As a chartered nonprofit foundation, TREEF has higher purposes and a special mission to fulfill.
TREEF is governed by a 15-member, all-REALTOR® Board of Trustees, who serve staggered, three-year terms. The Foundation’s four-member Executive Committee is composed of the President, President-elect, Treasurer, and Immediate Past President. Each year the Foundation Trustees also elect a non-voting Trustee of Counsel, typically a past president of the Foundation, who meets with the Trustees and is available for special assignments and/or consultation to any of the Trustees or TREEF officers.
NOTE: Trustees are not elected as representatives of any particular association, geographic area, or constituency; they are ALL elected as statewide custodians and fiduciaries of the Foundation’s mission, programs, and assets.
Mission & Vision
Mission – To inspire, educate, and support advancing careers in real estate by providing high-quality education, scholarships, and professional development resources that elevate industry standards.
Vision – To shape the future of real estate by fostering a culture of educational excellence, professional growth, and trusted service within the industry and beyond.
Scholarship
The TREEF Scholarship is awarded to high school seniors (rising college freshmen) graduating in May of 2025. The scholarship fund is for children, grandchildren, or dependents of licensed Tennessee REALTORS® members and Association staff members to assist incoming college freshmen specializing in allied subjects to Real Estate at a graduate, university, or junior college level.
