SIORF educates, expands and enriches the comm'l. R.E. community

Established in 1962 as the Society of Industrial Realtors Educational Fund (SIREF), the organization's original purpose was to publish the industry's first graduate-level textbook on industrial real estate. When the Society was expanded to Society of Industrial and Office Realtors in 1985, the Fund became the SIOREF. Over the years, the SIOREF has promoted and funded programs that advance the real estate profession through educational scholarships, critical research projects, publishing and development of real estate curricula for higher education, and professional development for practitioners. Because of the SIOREF, deserving students who could not otherwise have studied on the college level have graduated in real estate-related fields, bringing new energy and excitement to the community.  Many others, experienced practitioners in the field, have found their lives truly enriched by the experiences and opportunities afforded them through the Foundation's support. In 2006, the SIOREF broadened its scope to allow for providing future support to SIOR members and communities. At that time, it also adopted a new mission and changed its name to the SIOR Foundation (SIORF). Under the new name and new mission, the SIORF continues to develop and promote educational initiatives, as well as working to expand and enrich the commercial real estate community in a variety of ways. As the foundation celebrated its 45th anniversary in 2007, the trustees have revitalized their commitment to building the Foundation's endowment to ensure the long-term health and viability of the organization in fulfillment of its mission to educate, expand and enrich the real estate community. Future plans envision an endowment goal of $10 million, sufficient to attract the brightest minds to the community by offering full scholarships at every college with an accredited real estate program, to create endowed real estate chairs at accredited universities, build an SIORF research department, create the industry standard for ethics and accountability, and increase funds for research and community programs. What we do The mission of the SIOR Foundation is to promote and support initiatives that educate, expand and enrich the commercial real estate community. We envision that foundation-sponsored initiatives are recognized inside and outside the commercial real estate industry as pre-eminent in advancing professional practice. The SIORF is a 501 (c) (3) not-for-profit organization that solicits and accepts charitable contributions, which are tax-deductible for income, estate and gift tax purposes. Core Values The SIOR Foundation demonstrates its values in four areas while working to fulfill its mission. SIORF Values: * Structure, as a trustworthy, fiscally sound and focused visionary; * Service, as a dynamic, inclusive and involved steward of our donors' contributions; * Results, as an effective and enriching supporter and advocate of the profession; * Legacy, as a significant factor in creating a stronger and more vibrant commercial real estate community. Board of Trustees The board of trustees consists of 44 trustees who serve terms of three years and ten active past presidents. The board manages the business, funds, and affairs of the foundation. Committees The committees conduct the business of the foundation. There are six committees of the board of trustees: executive committee, fundraising committee, grant and scholarship committee, major gifts committee, past presidents committee, programs and public relations committee. SIORF trustees hold a Phonathon each fall to obtain pledges of financial support from Society members to fund grants and to increase the Foundation's corpus (endowment). The SIOR Foundation truly appreciates the generous contributions from SIOR members in the past. Strong efforts are being made to continue successful past initiatives and to develop new projects which directly benefit all SIOR members.  In the coming year, the SIORF will continue to focus on building strong partnerships with your communities, educational institutions, and organizations across the country to provide you with increased educational opportunities and provide funding assistance to students who seek to pursue a career in commercial real estate. This year's Phonathon will be held December 8.