Commercial Real Estate Diversity Collaborative

What Commercial Real Estate Diversity Collaborative does

The Commercial Real Estate Diversity Collaborative (CREDC, dba CREDC) is a Minnesota-based volunteer nonprofit that runs a scholarship and professional-development pipeline connecting underrepresented students with the commercial real estate industry in the Greater Twin Cities Metro. Founded in 2010 and operating the Diversity Collaborative Scholarship since 2013, the organization awards $2,000 scholarships per cycle, pairs recipients with mentors from partner CRE firms, and convenes events including the Speed CRE Networking Event, Fall Forums (e.g., 2023 at the University of Minnesota) and Diversity Forums on Affirmative Action. Operations rely on a Tri-Leadership governance (Brian Lewis, Chas R. Walker, Christy Mullen) extended by a Managing Director (Stephanie Lee), Vice President of Operations, Chief Business Officer, and President; the technology stack is limited to a WordPress website, Google Forms for scholarship applications, a Square donation link, and a LinkedIn company page — no proprietary platform exists.

CREDC's offerings span six programs: the Diversity Collaborative Scholarship, Mentorship Program, Internship & Job Opportunities facilitation, Industry Networking Events, a Career Resources & Job Board covering 20+ CRE roles, and Professional Development Support. The organization reports over $25,500 in scholarships distributed since 2013 across 40+ documented recipients from 2016 through 2025. The revenue model is purely donation-funded: contributions route directly to scholarships via a published Square link, with no commercial pricing, no disclosed financial statements, no investor base, and no parent company. Two stakeholder groups are served — students from underrepresented groups enrolled in Minnesota colleges and universities, and CRE firms and associations seeking diverse talent pipelines.

The ecosystem brings together eight industry associations (MNCAR, MSCA, NAIOP, BOMA Minneapolis, BOMA St. Paul, MNCREW, ULI, CoreNet Global) and dozens of CRE firms (CBRE, JLL, Colliers International, Cushman & Wakefield, Northmarq, Hines, RMR Group, Ryan Companies, United Properties, Ackerberg, Davis) plus educational partners (St. Cloud State, University of St. Thomas, Metropolitan State, Gustavus Adolphus, Cristo Rey Twin Cities). All operations are restricted to the Greater Twin Cities Metro of Minnesota; the entity is not a commercially investable target in PE/VC terms but functions as an ecosystem-orchestration intermediary between diverse student talent and the regional CRE industry.

Name

Commercial Real Estate Diversity Collaborative

Legal name

Commercial Real Estate Diversity Collaborative

Website

https://diversitycollaborative.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2013

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Commercial Real Estate Diversity Collaborative is a Minnesota volunteer nonprofit that funds scholarships, mentorship, networking events, and career resources to connect underrepresented students with commercial real estate firms and industry associations in the Greater Twin Cities Metro.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Endwell

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Others, Marketing or Sales, Operations

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: All donations received by CREDC go directly to fund scholarships for diverse students pursuing commercial real estate careers. The organization operates as a nonprofit collaborative with no revenue-generating commercial activities.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

CREDC is a volunteer nonprofit collaborative that provides scholarships, mentorship pairings with industry professionals, networking events, internship and job placement support, and curated career resources to underrepresented students pursuing commercial real estate careers in the Greater Twin Cities Metro area. Programming is funded by corporate sponsorships and member participation from Twin Cities CRE firms and is delivered at no cost to student participants.

Product overview

The Commercial Real Estate Diversity Collaborative operates as a single unified scholarship and professional development program rather than a technology product platform. The core offering consists of the Diversity Collaborative Scholarship program (established 2013), which provides financial support paired with mentorship matching, internship/job placement facilitation, and industry networking events. The organization also maintains a career resources hub with job descriptions and partner career links. These programs work together to bridge diverse students with the commercial real estate industry in the Greater Twin Cities Metro area.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Quantifiable outcome

• Over $25,500 distributed in educational support since 2013
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers15 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

29 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Global Street PartnersminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as a partner on the CREDC Partners page, providing support for diversity initiatives in commercial real estate.
• BOMA Saint PaulcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBuilding Owners and Managers Association Saint Paul - a core member association partner representing commercial real estate professionals.
• HinesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational real estate firm listed as a partner, participating in CREDC diversity initiatives.
• United PropertiesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTwin Cities-based real estate development company listed as a partner.
• MNCREWcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMinnesota Commercial Real Estate Women - a networking organization for women in CRE, listed as a core partner.
• NorthmarqcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCapital markets and investment sales firm - a key partner providing mentorship opportunities and internship placements for scholarship recipients. Has multiple employees serving on CREDC leadership.
• AckerbergminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommercial real estate company listed as a partner with career opportunities linked on the resources page.
• Cristo ReyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCristo Rey Twin Cities Christian Work Study Program - educational partner.
• Carlson PartnersminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerExecutive search firm for commercial real estate, careers page linked on resources.
• Colliers InternationalminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlobal commercial real estate services firm, careers page linked on resources.
• DavisminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHuman resources services firm with CRE careers page linked on resources.
• JLLminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJones Lang LaSalle - global commercial real estate services firm, careers page linked.
• MNCARcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMinnesota Commercial Association of Realtors - core member association partner representing commercial real estate brokers in Minnesota.
• NAIOPcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational Association for Industrial and Office Parks - Minnesota chapter, core member association partner for developers, owners, and related professionals.
• RMR GroupminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerReal estate management firm with careers page linked on resources.
• St. Cloud State UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEducational institution partner with real estate program - major source of scholarship recipients, careers page linked.
• University of St. ThomascoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEducational institution partner with undergraduate real estate major - major source of scholarship recipients, careers page linked.
• Metropolitan State UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEducational institution partner with Business Analytics and Management programs - source of scholarship recipients.
• Valbridge Property AdvisorsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommercial property appraisal firm with Minneapolis office linked on resources.
• BOMA Greater MinneapoliscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBuilding Owners and Managers Association Greater Minneapolis - core member association.
• CBREminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlobal commercial real estate services firm, careers page linked on resources.
• CoreNet GlobalminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCorporate real estate association with career center linked on resources.
• Cushman & WakefieldminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlobal commercial real estate services firm, careers page linked.
• Ryan CompaniesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommercial real estate development company with careers page linked, provides mentorship opportunities.
• ULIminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUrban Land Institute with career center linked on resources.
• MSCAcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMinnesota Shopping Center Association - core member association representing retail real estate professionals.
• Metropolitan Council of the Twin CitiesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional governing body with employee Francis Do serving on CREDC leadership.
• Wyn GroupminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerReal estate firm with director Jay Mawas serving on CREDC leadership.
• Greater Saint Paul BOMAcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBuilding Owners and Managers Association Greater Saint Paul - core member association with president Tina Gassman serving on CREDC leadership.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• CoreNet Global: Global association for corporate real estate professionals with career centers, education, and DEI-adjacent programming. Listed as a CREDC resource partner; comparable in industry focus but functions as a broad incumbent membership organization rather than a scholarship pipeline.
• Urban Land Institute (ULI): ULI is a global research and education organization supporting land use and real estate development professionals. Listed as a CREDC resource partner with career center linkage; overlaps in industry ecosystem and education mission but with far broader scope.
• NAIOP: National Association for Industrial and Office Parks is the leading U.S. trade association for commercial real estate developers, owners, and investors, with a Minnesota chapter that is a core CREDC partner. Overlaps in industry ecosystem but operates at national scale with much broader scope than CREDC's DEI scholarship focus.
• BOMA International: Building Owners and Managers Association International is the leading trade association for commercial real estate building owners and managers, with local chapters (BOMA Greater Minneapolis, BOMA Saint Paul) that are core CREDC partners. Overlaps in industry ecosystem but is a broad incumbent, not a scholarship pipeline.
• ICSC: International Council of Shopping Centers is the global trade association for the retail real estate industry. Tangentially comparable to CREDC through industry association ecosystem and career resources, but operates nationally and is not focused on DEI scholarship delivery.

Direct peers

• CREW Network: Commercial Real Estate Women is a global industry association advancing women in commercial real estate through networking, education, and leadership development. Closely parallels CREDC's mission, chapter-based model, and scholarship/mentorship structure, but with a national/global footprint and a different demographic focus.
• Project REAP: Real Estate Associate Program is a nonprofit building a diverse talent pipeline for the commercial real estate industry through scholarships, mentorship, and corporate partnerships. Directly comparable to CREDC in target demographic, scholarship funding model, and industry placement mission.
• LGBTQ+ Real Estate Alliance: National nonprofit advancing LGBTQ+ participation and inclusion in the real estate industry through chapters, education, mentorship, and advocacy. Closely comparable to CREDC in DEI scholarship, mentorship, and industry-bridging model, with a national footprint and a different demographic focus.
• MNCREW (Minnesota Commercial Real Estate Women): Minnesota chapter of CREW Network, networking and advancing women in commercial real estate across the Twin Cities. Listed as a core CREDC partner; directly comparable in geography and industry focus but focused on gender diversity rather than broader underrepresented groups.

Regional players

• The Real Estate Council (TREC): Dallas-based nonprofit supporting commercial real estate through workforce development, education, and community programs. Comparable to CREDC in mission and industry bridge function, but operates in a different metro and is larger in scale with broader programming.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/c-r-e-d-c

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Commercial Real Estate Diversity Collaborative