Funding Amount

Varies

Deadline

Rolling / Open

Grant Type

foundation

Overview

Develop the Developer Academy (DTDA)

Overview:
Training and capacity-building program for aspiring real estate developers. Participants gain access to tools and resources needed to build community development projects. Program involves tuition costs with potential scholarship assistance.

Focus Areas:

  • Real estate development fundamentals

  • Project feasibility analysis

  • Financial planning and pro forma development

  • Funding acquisition strategies

  • Construction and contractor evaluation

  • Zoning and permitting navigation

  • Development team management

  • Property negotiation
  • Geographic Scope: Multi-state service area (Communities Unlimited serves seven-state region)

    Program Partners: Freddie Mac involved in promotional and follow-up activities

      Eligibility

    • Aspiring or experienced real estate developers
    • Those interested in residential, commercial, or mixed-use development
    • Various experience levels welcome
    • Scholarships available based on demonstrated need

      Key Requirements

    • Commitment to attend and actively participate in all sessions
    • Full tuition payment in advance (unless scholarship awarded)
    • 24-month post-program follow-up participation via annual survey
    • Agreement to participation in promotional materials (photos/videos) by Freddie Mac

    How to Apply

    Application Process

    Multi-Step Online Application (11 Steps Total):

    1. Contact Information
    - Name, phone, email
    - Full address

    2. Demographics
    - Gender
    - Race (select all applicable)
    - Ethnicity
    - How you heard about program

    3. Development Experience Assessment
    - Rank experience (1=None to 5=Expert) in:
    - Developing and refining project ideas
    - Identifying and securing real estate
    - Creating development budgets
    - Evaluating financial feasibility/pro forma
    - Securing funding from lenders, investors, grants
    - Evaluating contractors and service providers
    - Navigating permitting, zoning, planning
    - Remediating zoning issues
    - Managing development teams
    - Project negotiation
    - Years of experience in real estate development or related fields
    - Describe previous experience
    - List other real estate programs attended
    - List other developer training programs attended

    4. Performance History
    - Rank performance (1=None to 5=Total Success) in:
    - Predevelopment
    - Construction (new or rehab)
    - Lease-up or sale
    - Identify funding sources previously secured (bank loans, friends/family, private investors, CDFIs, government grants, philanthropy)
    - Describe an idea you created and implemented with outcomes

    5. Readiness Assessment
    - Type of development interested in pursuing
    - Timeline for development
    - Desired development location
    - Whether you've identified property to develop/rehab
    - Active property bidding in last 12 months
    - Current property ownership for development
    - Funds already secured and percentage
    - Other properties owned

    6. Supporting Materials
    - Attach recent professional resume (max 128 MB)

    7. Program History
    - Previous DTDA application history

    8. Tuition/Sponsorship
    - Who is paying tuition (yourself or another party)
    - Identify sponsor if applicable

    9. Scholarship Information
    - Indicate need for scholarship
    - Written statement describing scholarship need (evaluated with resume for post-selection awards)

    10. Consent & Certification
    - Agree to attend and actively participate in all sessions
    - Authorize Freddie Mac to use photos/videos for promotional materials
    - Agree to pay full tuition in advance (unless scholarship awarded)
    - Agree to 24-month post-program follow-up via annual survey

    11. Submit

    Scholarship Awards:

  • Awarded AFTER cohort selection

  • Based on demonstrated need from application and resume

  • Payment arrangements available for selected candidates
  • Focus Areas & Funding Uses

    Fields of Work

    workforce-developmentcommunity-development

    Categories

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