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ABOUT

The Appraisal Institute Education and Relief Foundation (AIERF) was born out of the 2018 union of the AI Education Trust and AI Relief Foundation in order to most effectively and efficiently serve real estate appraisal professionals now and into the future.

For more than 50 years, the Appraisal Institute Education Trust (AIET) fostered the advancement of the real estate appraisal profession and played a critical role in supporting valuation education. AIET supported a vast range of initiatives, from world-renowned resources such as the Y.T. and Louise Lee Lum Library, to programs that will help secure the future of the valuation industry, including research grants and scholarships.

Since the formation of the Appraisal Institute Relief Foundation (AIRF) following the 2005 Gulf Coast hurricanes, more than $300,000 in emergency financial assistance has been provided to appraisers and other individuals in need.

Looking to the future, the AI Education and Relief Foundation will continue to seek opportunities to support and promote the profession of real estate valuation and the individuals who comprise the profession.

For more information, contact AIERF at 312-335-4133 or aierf@appraisalinstitute.org.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

  • Kelli Kline Mayhew, MAI, SRA, Chair
  • Betsy K. Hughes, SRA, AI-RRS, Vice Chair
  • Sara R. Baker, MAI, SRA
  • Mari M. Carlson, MAI, AI-GRS
  • Richard deVerdier, MAI, SRA, AI-GRS
  • Terence J. Farr, MAI, SRA, AI-GRS
  • Sharon B. Harbin, MAI, SRA, AI-GRS
  • Kelly E. Hyde, MAI
  • Jeremy A. Keller, SRA, AI-RRS
  • Kyle W. Krueger, MAI, AI-GRS
  • Benjamin Moser, SRA
  • J. Nathan Pippin, SRA
  • Russell K. Sterling, MAI, AI-GRS

PURPOSES

The exclusive public purposes for which AIERF is organized are charitable, literary, educational and scientific within the meaning of Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”). In furtherance of those purposes AIERF shall:

    • Receive, administer and disburse funds for the purpose of improving, advancing, researching and teaching the techniques of real estate appraisal, with benefits to be made available to the interested public;
    • Provide emergency financial assistance (i) to Designated Members, Candidates, Practicing Affiliates, Affiliates, employees (and their dependents) of the Appraisal Institute, an Illinois not for profit corporation organized under the Code, and (ii) to individuals who have made meaningful contributions to the real estate profession (collectively, “Recipients”), who have experienced a disaster or emergency that has left the Recipients in a state of financial, physical, or emotional distress;
    • Provide scholarships and grants to qualified persons for education in or work in the field of real estate appraisal;
    • Promote and conduct research and study into all aspects of real estate appraisal, with findings and conclusions to be made available to the interested public;
    • Foster the establishment of educational standards for real estate appraisals;
  • Maintain a library and encourage and cause the writing and publication of treatises, books and pamphlets relating to real estate appraisal, which are to be made available to the interested public;
  • Encourage and interest educational and other organizations in improving, advancing and teaching real estate appraisal.

WHAT PEOPLE SAY

SCHOLARSHIPS
Gabriel Lazcano/Clemson University

AIERF is an organization that is often overlooked given that a lot of young professionals do not view appraising as a lucrative career path. The problem with that mindset is that appraising is one if not the most important aspect of real estate given the importance of effectively understanding the valuation of real estate properties. Because of this I would advise a lot of young professionals to at least learn about
read more

Graduate Student/University of Denver

“My decision to go to graduate school was over 20 years in the making, but it only took a minute to decide once I knew it would be in real estate. Given my experience and passion for the industry I felt the course work would be compelling and engaging, but not overwhelming. The real challenge would be paying for
read more

AI Candidate for Designation/Ohio

The cost of the classes and travel costs, coupled with lost income due to missed time at work, can be a financial burden. The opportunity to receive a scholarship is certainly worth the time to apply, to potentially alleviate a portion of the costs.
read more

David W Riach, MAI/2018 Chair, AIERF Board of Directors

The AIERF (formerly AIET) has long been a source of scholarships to assist undergrads, graduate students and candidates/affiliates in pursuit of their higher education goals. We are proud of this tradition of using funds donated by AI professionals and others to further the goals of the Appraisal Institute.
read more

Ashley Zubizarreta/Texas A & M University

I decided to apply because I am pursuing a career in appraisal after I graduate with a master’s degree in real estate. The scholarship seemed like a great opportunity since it is focused on my career path. Also, the application requirements were not too time intensive, so it was easy for me to write the easy and attain letters of recommendation without interfering with my busy school and work schedule.
read more

Graduate Student/Florida International University

As the scholarship is targeted to the field I am pursuing, and because the minority groups to which I belong are underrepresented in this field, I felt compelled to apply: I believed that I had a reasonably good chance of an award since my character, scholastic achievements and work experience qualify me. I also applied for the AIET general graduate scholarship.
read more

EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE
AI Designated Member/Orlando, FL

It is hard to ever imagine yourself fighting for your life having been diagnosed with an aggressive cancer, but tough times find good people sometimes. The AI Relief Foundation has generously assisted my family so that we can focus on what matters most, health and recovery from a long and aggressive
read more

AI Practicing Affiliate/Puerto Rico

The Relief grants help me out a lot to stand up again. Work was stopped for a couple of months and my finances were struggling. Personally, and with an enormously humble, I encourage everyone to give a little of what we have to support this foundation. You never know when you will need it and be blessed
read more

AI Designated Member/Puerto Rico

I applied for a Relief Grant because hurricane María impacted Puerto Rico with a category 5 and the natural disaster devastated the whole island. The electrical infrastructure and the communications were out for a long time impeding me to work. I did a lot of things trying to work, but at that point, I realized if affected badly the whole island. I needed to move for a month to another house because my area was not saved because was close to a dam
read more

WHAT PEOPLE SAY

SCHOLARSHIPS
Gabriel Lazcano/Clemson University

AIERF is an organization that is often overlooked given that a lot of young professionals do not view appraising as a lucrative career path. The problem with that mindset is that appraising is one if not the most important aspect of real estate given the importance of effectively understanding the valuation of real estate properties. Because of this I would advise a lot of young professionals to at least learn about
read more

Graduate Student/University of Denver

“My decision to go to graduate school was over 20 years in the making, but it only took a minute to decide once I knew it would be in real estate. Given my experience and passion for the industry I felt the course work would be compelling and engaging, but not overwhelming. The real challenge would be paying for
read more

AI Candidate for Designation/Ohio

The cost of the classes and travel costs, coupled with lost income due to missed time at work, can be a financial burden. The opportunity to receive a scholarship is certainly worth the time to apply, to potentially alleviate a portion of the costs.
read more

David W Riach, MAI/2018 Chair, AIERF Board of Directors

The AIERF (formerly AIET) has long been a source of scholarships to assist undergrads, graduate students and candidates/affiliates in pursuit of their higher education goals. We are proud of this tradition of using funds donated by AI professionals and others to further the goals of the Appraisal Institute.
read more

Ashley Zubizarreta/Texas A & M University

I decided to apply because I am pursuing a career in appraisal after I graduate with a master’s degree in real estate. The scholarship seemed like a great opportunity since it is focused on my career path. Also, the application requirements were not too time intensive, so it was easy for me to write the easy and attain letters of recommendation without interfering with my busy school and work schedule.
read more

Graduate Student/Florida International University

As the scholarship is targeted to the field I am pursuing, and because the minority groups to which I belong are underrepresented in this field, I felt compelled to apply: I believed that I had a reasonably good chance of an award since my character, scholastic achievements and work experience qualify me. I also applied for the AIET general graduate scholarship.
read more

EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE
AI Designated Member/Orlando, FL

It is hard to ever imagine yourself fighting for your life having been diagnosed with an aggressive cancer, but tough times find good people sometimes. The AI Relief Foundation has generously assisted my family so that we can focus on what matters most, health and recovery from a long and aggressive
read more

AI Practicing Affiliate/Puerto Rico

The Relief grants help me out a lot to stand up again. Work was stopped for a couple of months and my finances were struggling. Personally, and with an enormously humble, I encourage everyone to give a little of what we have to support this foundation. You never know when you will need it and be blessed
read more

AI Designated Member/Puerto Rico

I applied for a Relief Grant because hurricane María impacted Puerto Rico with a category 5 and the natural disaster devastated the whole island. The electrical infrastructure and the communications were out for a long time impeding me to work. I did a lot of things trying to work, but at that point, I realized if affected badly the whole island. I needed to move for a month to another house because my area was not saved because was close to a dam
read more

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