While at our recent WVAR Quarterly Meetings, we were honored to have NAR RPAC Fundraising and Grants Director Michael Clark in attendance. Michael gave a great presentation about the importance of investing in RPAC and a glimpse at the new fundraising program: the Pro-Property Platform.

The premise of the Pro-Property Platform is to capture those REALTORS® who are already giving to congressional candidates but aren’t necessarily going through traditional RPAC websites for contributions. The Pro-Property Platform was designed so those REALTORS® can still directly give to their candidate of choice, while having their contributions earmarked with the voice of the National Association of REALTORS®.

Every single organization in American politics faces the exact same challenge – a political environment defined by three broad themes. Our job as leaders in NAR Advocacy is to develop and implement a strategy that helps us overcome those trends.

First – we have increased polarization. This is nothing new – we can all see this in our own communities, let alone on the news. We know it’s polarized because 95% of incumbents won their re-election campaigns in 2024. Only 30 of 435 seats were truly competitive, meaning they were won by margins of 4 points or less. This means the balance of power in the House will only shift between the parties by a few seats.

Next, we have high turnover in Congress. Nearly 70% of members of Congress have served less than four terms. That means we need to work hard to build relationships quicker and more effectively. The most effective way to do that is through raising campaign funds.

Finally, the cost of campaigns is at an all-time high – up 200% from 20 years ago. Today, it costs over $9 million to run for the House. RPAC can only give up to $10,000 per election cycle. So, we have a political environment defined by high polarization, high turnover, and high-cost campaigns – yet we need to be ready every day.

So, how do we overcome these trends? We do it by building a highly sophisticated fundraising ecosystem that acts as our political muscle. We have our political and issue advocacy, and we have our RPAC hard dollars. This is how we put our stamp of approval on candidates – by giving them RPAC contributions. Finally, we have our direct-giver programs: the Pro-Property Platform and President’s Circle.

Direct giving isn’t a new concept in Washington. It’s been around for a while, and it’s not new to us – we’re in the 21st year of the President’s Circle program! We launched the Pro-Property Platform last year to expand upon the power of REALTOR® political activism.

Once again, you can’t build RPAC the day you need it. We don’t start fundraising when we need RPAC to have our backs – we invest early to ensure we have the resources and relationships in place the day we need them. Political preparedness means being ready before the crisis hits. REALTORS®’ strength relies on our influence and relationships – the Platform is a new way to support our friends in Congress while strengthening our industry.

The Platform gives our members the tools to act early, speak clearly, and support candidates who will stand with us when it counts. It’s not just about contributing; it’s about building political strength before we need to use it.

So, what is the Pro-Property Platform? It’s a voluntary, direct-to-candidate giving platform that was approved by the RPAC Trustees after years of study. It enables REALTORS®, affiliates, and the public to contribute to REALTOR® Party Champions and congressional leaders with the best ability to advance our advocacy agenda. It amplifies our impact, tagging contributions as REALTOR®-made and sending a powerful message about the strength of our industry while clearly communicating our advocacy priorities.

Some common questions about the Platform:

1. What if I already give to RPAC? First – that’s great! Thank you. RPAC is the backbone of everything we do. When you give through the Platform, you’re giving on top of your RPAC investment and giving your RPAC investment a louder voice – tagging your contribution as pro-REALTOR® and sending a message about the strength of our industry.

2. Can’t I just use a campaign website? Of course you can. But giving through the Platform not only ensures the dollars you contribute are sent to campaigns quickly – it conveys the exact same message and, when bundled with other REALTOR® contributions, amplifies the impact of your contribution on behalf of the whole industry. Your NAR political representative will work with the campaign to ensure you get the credit you deserve for your contribution.

3. Why give to both candidates and RPAC? The truth is, they work better together. You already understand the value of supporting your candidates directly – it’s critical that RPAC be part of your giving too. RPAC is how we ensure our seat at the table; the Platform is how we get another seat.

Simply put – you can’t build RPAC the day you need it. The Platform ensures we’re strong today for tomorrow’s fight, whether in Congress or at the ballot box. This raises your impact and strengthens our ties to members of Congress.

More information and the website will be made public soon through the WV Association of REALTORS®.

WVAR RPAC Beach Barbecue Bash
We want to thank the 60 members and guests who participated in this very hot Bash at Rocky Gap! With the support of those members, we raised $6,000 towards RPAC.

2025 WV RPAC Numbers at a Glance!
As of June 30th, we have raised over $45,000 towards RPAC! We have 7 WVAR members who have achieved Major Investor Status (investments over $1,000) and a participation rate of 36% of all members. Remember – each member’s fair share is only $25 a year! Most of our local associations have this conveniently included on your dues billing, but to make an investment, click this link: https://ai360.aristotle.com/AI360FormBuilder/(S(rustrgpdqieik0epa4zbhiyr))/Login.aspx?mobile=true

Toni Carone
WVAR RPAC Chair
NAR RPAC Participation Council Chair