With Give Realty, owner Laurie Loew is running a real estate brokerage firm while giving back to the community.

Give Realty, which helps clients buy and sell residential properties, donates 25 percent of its brokerage commission to the nonprofit or faith-based organization of a client's choice. The real estate firm celebrated its five-year anniversary in July. The firm has donated more than $259,000 to local and national nonprofits since opening.

"For a lot of clients, it's been explained to me that there is the sense that they feel I have their best interests in my heart," Loew said. "It's not just about a paycheck and commission; it's about doing something more."

Loew started selling real estate in 2005. Following a divorce in 2007, Loew said she started thinking of ways to better the world and stop feeling sorry for herself. She came up with the idea of Give Realty, and the firm has since grown to employ three agents.

Loew said she enjoys how Give Realty connects clients with the nonprofits they help. Give Realty sets up a formal check presentation between the clients and the nonprofit. The clients can then tour the nonprofit if they want and see in person the work the organization is doing.

"It's all about getting the client engaged in something that they are passionate about," she said.

Clients have donated checks to nonprofits such as SafePlace, Emancipet and CASA of Travis County.

"The first donation I made was so life-changing, and every one since then has also been life-changing," Loew said. "It reprioritized what was really important to me."

For more information, visit www.giverealty.com