MyHousingCounselor.com connects aspiring home buyers with counselors to get mortgage-ready . Through our “Promote Housing” campaign we are raising the visibility of housing counselors based on their areas of specialization. With the Google Ad Grant and other programs as a resource, we seeks to increase visibility of counseling services particularly in search engine results.

Search Engine Marketing (SEM) is the science of meeting people as they search for your organization or for keywords related to your mission. The distinguishing characteristic of SEM is that it is initiated from a Google search box (90% of all searches as of 2025) while Yahoo’s Bing search engine gets about 4% of daily search volume. Search Engine Marketing will embed your ad into the users search results creating an opportunity for your agency to get the attention of someone looking for a service you provide. However, predicting the keywords someone will use for their search can be challenging. We will look further into strategies to be in position to meet your audience online.

The Google Ad Grant offers free search engine advertising up to $10,000 a month to nonprofits. To date, less than 35,000 out of roughly 1.5 million registered nonprofits in the United States are utilizing the ad grant. A reasonable question is why most nonprofits are not taking advantage of it. This likely is related to the complexity of keeping a well maintained website and launching compelling campaigns while keeping compliant according to google terms. Although Google does provide the grant, housing is an especially competitive industry and you will be fighting for attention against professional marketers and droves of information. If you are a nonprofit offering housing services, please reach out to participate in our Promote Housing campaign.

To qualify for the Google Ad Grant, your organization generally needs to meet these key criteria:

Nonprofit Status: You must be a registered nonprofit or charity for example, a 501(c)(3).

Valid Website: Your organization must have a fully functioning website with substantial content that clearly explains your mission and services. The site should comply with Google’s quality standards and not primarily be a donation page.

Ad Grant Policies Compliance: You need to adhere to Google’s Ad Grant policies, including maintaining active ad campaigns with acceptable performance metrics (like minimum click-through rates) and following guidelines regarding ad content and landing pages.

Active Use: Your organization should demonstrate that it’s actively engaged in its mission, often by maintaining up-to-date content and a plan for using the ad grant to reach potential supporters or service users.

Ongoing requirements are in place to force nonprofits to maintain high quality ads. One of the big problems that has arisen with the grants is that, in order to use the full amount, many spend excess money on broader terms that may not apply to the organization rather than losing the chance to spend the money. This occurrence along with others began to degrade the quality of search results. As of 2018, nonprofits participating in the ad grant program have to adhere to at least the following to ensure the quality of their ads:

Minimum 5 percent CTR (click-through rate) account wide. 

Minimum keyword quality score of 3

Minimum of two ad groups per campaign

Minimum of two ads per group

Minimum of two sitelink ad extensions

The situation

Erik, 35, has been renting for the past five years. He’s worked hard to build a stable career and has never missed a rent payment. Lately, he’s been thinking about buying a home, but every time he brings it up, people tell him he’ll need 20% down. That kind of money feels out of reach—his savings account is almost empty after covering everyday expenses.

Recently, he overheard a coworker mention something about grants that help with down payments. Could that be the break he needs? Unsure where to start, Erik opens up a google search bar, hoping to find a program that could help him finally make the jump from renter to homeowner. Erik is a good candidate for Pre Purchase Counseling but he has never heard of that.

Client needs

Guidance for first-time homebuyers on budgeting, down payment assistance, and navigating the home buying process.

Questions to ask

What will Erik type into the google search bar? How can a housing agency meet him where he’s searching with an introduction to pre-purchase counseling?

Client keywords

First-time homebuyer grants, Down payment assistance programs, Homebuyer assistance grants, Help with down payment for a house, No money down home loan options, Government home buying assistance, Low down payment mortgage programs, State down payment assistance programs, How to buy a house with no savings, Affordable home loan options

Sample ad

The situation

Brandy, 39, is a single mom raising two kids. She’s been renting for years but recently found a down payment assistance program that could finally make homeownership possible. There’s just one requirement she needs to meet first, completing a HUD certified first-time homebuyer course.

Determined to move forward, she opens up a Google search to find out what is HUD and what are the course she needs to take? She needs to find a class that’s recognized by HUD, preferably one that’s affordable or even free. With time and money being tight, she’s looking for something convenient—maybe an online course or a weekend session.

Client needs

Workshops or courses that teach prospective buyers the essentials of purchasing and maintaining a home.

Questions to ask

What will Brandy type into the google search bar? How can a housing agency meet her in the search results with an introduction to a first time home buyer course ?

Client keywords

HUD first-time homebuyer class, First-time homebuyer education course, Free HUD homebuyer course, Certified homebuyer education, Down payment assistance course, Homebuyer education certificate, HUD homeownership counseling, Homebuyer workshop, First-time homebuyer course near me, Homebuyer education online

Sample Ad

The situation

Mark and Lisa, both in their early 40s, have lived in their home for nearly a decade. They’ve always managed to keep up with their mortgage payments, but recently, things have taken a turn. Mark was laid off a few months ago, and despite Lisa working full-time, their household income isn’t enough to cover all their bills. Their savings have dwindled, and they’re now behind on their mortgage.

The couple recently received a foreclosure notice, and panic is setting in. They’ve heard that there might be programs to help homeowners avoid foreclosure, but they don’t know where to start. Lisa takes out her phone and opens Google, hoping to find free foreclosure prevention counseling before it’s too late.

Client needs

Support for homeowners facing financial difficulties, including loan modification assistance and foreclosure alternatives.

Client keywords

Foreclosure prevention counseling, Mortgage assistance programs, Avoid foreclosure help, HUD foreclosure counseling, Mortgage relief options, Loan modification assistance, Homeowner hardship help, Free foreclosure counseling, Stop foreclosure services, Emergency mortgage help

Sample ad

The situation

Jason, 32, has been renting his apartment for the past two years. He’s always paid his rent on time and followed the rules, so he was shocked when his landlord recently handed him a new lease agreement months before his current lease is even up.

The new lease isn’t just an early renewal; it includes higher rent, extra fees, and new restrictions that weren’t in his original agreement. When Jason questioned it, his landlord gave him a vague answer, hinting that if he didn’t sign, he might not be welcome to stay. Something about it doesn’t feel legal, but Jason isn’t sure what his rights are.

Frustrated and unsure of his next move, Jason pulls out his phone and starts searching for tenant rights resources to see if his landlord can actually do this and what he can do to fight back.

Client needs

Help for renters with budgeting, lease reviews, and issues of fair housing practices.

Questions to ask

What will Jason type into the google search bar? How can a housing agency meet him in the search results with an support for understanding his lease?

Client keywords

Tenant rights lease changes, Landlord changing lease before it ends, Unfair lease renewal help, Rent increase during active lease, Tenant legal help lease dispute, Illegal lease changes, Renter rights landlord dispute, Tenant protection services, Lease violation legal help, Housing legal aid for renters

Sample ad

The scenario

Richard, 52, has been renting ever since his divorce a few years ago. His job is stable, and he’s worked hard to rebuild his life, but his credit score tells a different story. Late payments from the past and lingering debts have left him stuck in the low 500s.

Now, Richard wants to buy a home, somewhere his kids can visit on weekends and feel at home. He’s learned that he’ll need at least a 640 credit score to qualify for a good mortgage, but he’s not sure how to get there.

He’s heard about credit repair agencies, but almost everyone warns him to stay away and that some companies charge high fees and make promises they can’t keep. He needs real, trustworthy help. One afternoon, on his lunch break, he grabs his phone and starts searching google for legitimate ways to rebuild his credit and prepare for homeownership.

Client needs

Assistance in improving credit scores and managing debt to achieve housing goals.

Questions to ask

What will Richard type into the google search bar? How can a housing agency meet him in the search results with support for understanding his credit repair options?

Client keywords

Credit improvement for home buying, Raise credit score for mortgage, Homebuyer credit counseling, Improve credit for a house, Mortgage options for bad credit, Avoid credit repair scams, Rebuild credit for home loan, HUD credit counseling, First-time homebuyer credit help, Credit score help for homeownership.

Sample ad

The scenario

Kevin, 41, was thrilled when he bought his first home last year. It wasn’t easy, he had to save, budget, and navigate the mortgage process but he finally did it. At first, things seemed manageable, but lately, his homeowners insurance keeps going up.

At renewal time, his insurance company not only raised his premium but also required him to purchase additional coverage that he hadn’t needed before. He’s stretched thin as it is, and his salary hasn’t increased nearly enough to keep up with the extra costs.

Kevin isn’t sure what to do. He’s heard about refinancing, but he doesn’t know if it would actually help or just put him in a worse financial situation.

Frustrated, he opens up his laptop and starts searching Google for ways to deal with rising homeownership costs before things get out of control.

Client needs

Post purchase counseling resources for homeowners to manage finances, maintain their property, and avoid foreclosure.

Questions to ask

What will Kevin type into the google search bar? How can a housing agency meet him in the search results with support for understanding his refinance options?

Client keywords

Lower homeowners insurance costs, Home affordability counseling, Post-purchase housing counseling, Refinance for lower payments, Rising homeownership costs help, Mortgage and insurance relief, First-time homeowner financial advice, Housing cost assistance, Homeowner counseling services, Affordable homeownership support

Sample ad

The scenario

Walter, 76, has lived in his home for decades. His mortgage was paid off years ago, and he takes pride in knowing he owns his home outright. Lately, though, his retirement income isn’t stretching as far as it used to. The cost of groceries, utilities, and medical expenses keeps rising, and his savings are starting to dwindle.

Walter wants to stay in his home for as long as possible, but he is worried about how he will continue to afford everything on a fixed income. A neighbor mentioned a reverse mortgage as a way to access the equity in his home without having to sell it, but Walter has heard mixed opinions. Some people say it’s a great option, while others warn about risks he doesn’t fully understand.

Feeling uncertain, Walter sits down at his computer and starts searching for clear, trustworthy information about reverse mortgages. He doesn’t want to get caught in a bad financial decision, so he looks for counseling and guidance before making any choices.

Client needs

Information for seniors about the pros and cons of reverse mortgages.

Questions to ask

What will Walter type into the google search bar? How can a housing agency meet him in the search results with support for understanding his refinance options?

Client keywords

Reverse mortgage counseling, Reverse mortgage pros and cons, Senior home equity options, HUD reverse mortgage guidance, Safe reverse mortgage programs, Home equity loan for seniors, Government reverse mortgage help, Reverse mortgage alternatives, Trusted financial advice for seniors, Aging in place financial assistance

Sample ad

The scenario

Daniel and Maria have always worked hard to keep up with their bills, including their rent. They never imagined they would face eviction, but a sudden medical emergency changed everything. Maria was hospitalized for several weeks, and Daniel had to take time off work to care for her. Neither of them had paid leave, and without their income, their savings quickly ran out.

Now they are behind on rent, and their landlord has sent them a formal notice. They tried to explain their situation, but the landlord is insisting on full payment or they will have to leave. They are desperate to stay in their home but don’t know where to turn. They have heard that some organizations offer rental assistance or mediation services, but they don’t know where to find help.

Feeling overwhelmed, Daniel searches online, hoping to find emergency rental assistance, landlord mediation, or any program that can help them avoid eviction before it’s too late.

Client needs

Support for renters facing eviction, including landlord mediation and connecting with financial assistance programs.

Questions to ask

What will Daniel and Maria likely type into the google search bar? How can a housing agency meet them in the search results with support for landlord mediation and rental assistance?

Client keywords

Emergency rental assistance, Landlord mediation services, Eviction prevention help, Rent assistance for medical emergencies, Housing assistance programs, Help paying rent after job loss, Tenant eviction protection, Rental hardship assistance, Nonprofit rent help, Housing stability support

Sample ad

The scenario

Olivia, 28, has been working hard to build her career. She recently got a raise and is finally feeling more financially secure. Her car, which she has had since college, is starting to show its age, and she has been thinking about upgrading to something newer and more reliable. She knows she can afford the monthly payments, but before making the decision, she starts to wonder if buying a car will impact her hopes of buying a home in the near future.

She has heard that debt-to-income ratio matters when applying for a home loan, and she doesn’t want to make a financial move that could set her back.

Before making any decisions, Olivia decides to do some research. She opens her laptop and starts searching for guidance on whether she should buy a car first or focus on homeownership.

Client needs

Education on budgeting, saving, and managing finances for sustainable housing stability.

Questions to ask

What is Olivia likely to type into the google search bar? How can a housing agency meet her in the search results with advice on purchasing a car while trying to buy a home in the near future?

Client keywords

First-time homebuyer financial counseling, Debt-to-income ratio mortgage impact, Car loan and mortgage approval, Buying a home with existing debt, Home loan eligibility with auto loan, First-time homebuyer financial guidance, Credit impact of new car loan, How debt affects home buying, Mortgage planning for young professionals, Smart financial choices for homebuyers.

Sample ad

The situation

Marcus, 34, has been dreaming of buying a home for years. He has a good job and a steady income, but every time he talks to a lender, he hears the same thing, he needs to pay down his debt before he can qualify for a mortgage. His credit isn’t terrible, but between student loans, a car payment, and a few credit card balances, his debt-to-income ratio is too high to get approved.

The problem is that if he focuses on paying down his debt, he won’t have enough left over for a down payment. It feels like an impossible situation. He starts to wonder if homeownership is out of reach.

Then, while searching online, Marcus comes across a County government program that offers down payment assistance for first-time homebuyers. It sounds like exactly what he needs, but he isn’t sure if he qualifies or how to apply. He starts researching to learn more about how down payment assistance works and whether it can help him move forward despite his debt.

Client needs

Information and guidance on accessing grants and loans for down payment and closing costs.

Questions to ask

What is Marcus likely to type into the google search bar? How can a housing agency meet him in the search results with support to help him find eligible down payment assistance programs?

Client keywords

Down payment assistance program, First-time homebuyer grants, Mortgage help with high debt, Homebuyer assistance in my county, Government down payment programs, Debt-to-income ratio mortgage solutions, Buying a home with student loans, First-time homebuyer financial aid, Housing programs for buyers with debt, Mortgage eligibility assistance.

Sample ad

The scenario

Vanessa, 45, has owned her home for years and takes pride in keeping it well maintained. She also takes care of her elderly mother, who has health issues that require a stable and safe living environment.

Recently, a powerful hurricane swept through her area, leaving behind serious damage. Her roof was hit the hardest, with missing shingles and leaks that have started to cause water damage inside the house. Every time it rains, the situation gets worse. She knows mold could develop, which would be dangerous for her mother’s health, but she has no money to pay for repairs.

One evening, while watching the news, she hears that the local government is offering disaster relief assistance for homeowners affected by the storm. She isn’t sure what kind of help is available or how to apply, but it might be the only way to get her roof fixed before the damage becomes unmanageable. She grabs her phone and starts searching for hurricane recovery grants and home repair assistance.

Client needs

Help for homeowners and renters affected by natural disasters, including accessing relief funds and rebuilding resources.

Questions to ask

What is Vanessa likely to type into the google search bar? How can a housing agency meet her in the search results with support to help find disaster relief from the recent story?

Client keywords

Hurricane home repair assistance, Disaster relief grants for homeowners, Emergency roof repair help, Government disaster recovery programs, Home repair assistance for caregivers, FEMA housing assistance, Storm damage financial aid, Senior home safety repair programs, Local disaster relief for homeowners, Housing assistance after a hurricane.

Sample ad

The situation

David, 38, has been renting his apartment for several years. As a wheelchair user, he values having a place that meets his accessibility needs. Until recently, he had no major issues with his landlord, but things have started to change.

His landlord has been making unfair demands, denying maintenance requests, and even suggesting that he might be better off living somewhere else. David has noticed that other tenants don’t seem to be facing the same treatment. He’s starting to feel like he’s being targeted because of his disability.

He isn’t sure what his rights are, but he knows that housing discrimination is illegal. He wants to find out if what he’s experiencing is against the law and what steps he can take to protect himself. Frustrated and determined, he starts searching online for tenant rights and fair housing protections for people with disabilities.

Client needs

Information about housing rights and how to identify and report discrimination.

Questions to ask

What is David likely to type into the google search bar? How can a housing agency meet him in the search results with support to help identify and possibly report discrimination?

Client keywords

Fair housing disability rights, Housing discrimination help, ADA tenant protections, Legal aid for disabled renters, Landlord retaliation tenant rights, Housing accessibility legal support, Fair housing complaints, Tenant rights for wheelchair users, Landlord discrimination assistance, Housing advocacy for people with disabilities.

Sample ad

The scenario

Jessica, 42, is a single mom raising two kids. After leaving an abusive relationship, she moved in with her mother to provide a safe and stable home for her children. While she is grateful for the support, she knows this is only a temporary solution. She wants to buy a place of her own where her kids can have their own space and feel truly at home.

She works full-time and manages to cover basic expenses, but saving for a down payment feels impossible. She also worries about whether she will qualify for a mortgage on a single income. One evening, she starts searching online for affordable homeownership programs for single moms and first-time homebuyer assistance.

Client needs

Assistance in identifying and applying for affordable housing options.

Questions to ask

What is Jessica likely to type into the google search bar? How can a housing agency meet her in the search results with support to help find any affordable housing options for single parents?

Client keywords

First-time homebuyer assistance, Affordable homeownership for single moms, Down payment help for single parents, Housing assistance for domestic violence survivors, Mortgage help for single-income families, Home buying programs for single mothers, Financial assistance for first-time buyers, Low-income homebuyer programs, Homeownership counseling for single parents, Government grants for first-time homebuyers.

Sample ad

Michelle, 45, owns a home that has been in her family for years. Lately, she has noticed that her utility bills are getting higher, and her home never seems to stay warm in the winter or cool in the summer. She suspects her old windows, outdated insulation, and aging appliances are wasting energy.

She would love to make her home more energy efficient, but the cost of upgrades like new windows, insulation, and an energy-efficient HVAC system feels out of reach. She starts wondering if there are government programs or state incentives that help homeowners improve energy efficiency.

Determined to find out, she opens her laptop and starts searching for grants, rebates, and low-cost financing options that could help her upgrade her home and lower her energy bills.

Client needs

Counseling on programs to improve energy efficiency and reduce utility costs.

Questions to ask

What is Michelle likely to type into the google search bar? How can a housing agency meet her in the search results with support to help find programs to improve energy efficiency and reduce utility costs?

Client keywords

Home energy efficiency grants, Government rebates for energy upgrades, Weatherization assistance programs, Energy-efficient home improvement loans, State incentives for energy savings, Home insulation and window upgrade assistance, Utility bill reduction programs, Green home improvement financial aid, Affordable energy efficiency upgrades, Energy conservation grants for homeowners.

Sample ad

The situation

Eleanor, 74, lost her husband two years ago. Since then, life has felt overwhelming. He had always handled many of the household responsibilities, and now that she is alone, simple tasks like cooking, cleaning, and managing appointments feel exhausting. She still lives in their family home, but it has become too much for her to maintain on her own.

Lately, she has been feeling isolated, and some days she forgets to take her medications on time. Her children have suggested she look into senior assisted living, but she isn’t sure where to start. She worries about the cost and whether there are programs that could help make it more affordable.

One afternoon, she sits down at her computer and starts searching for affordable assisted living options and financial assistance for seniors.

Client needs

Specialized counseling for seniors seeking age-appropriate housing or assisted living options.

Questions to ask

What is Eleanor likely to type into the google search bar? How can a housing agency meet her in the search results with support to help her find age-appropriate housing or assisted living options?

Client keywords

Senior assisted living options, Affordable senior housing programs, Financial aid for assisted living, Medicaid senior housing assistance, Senior living financial support, Assisted living grants and benefits, Low-cost senior living communities, Housing help for widowed seniors, Transitioning to assisted living, Elderly care housing assistance

Sample ad

Your bidding strategy will influence volume and accuracy. Begin by clarifying whether your primary goal is to maximize overall conversions, maximize the budget, or leverage automated bidding to gain new insights for example. After deciding what your goals are, understanding your conversion history and performance data will be most important to crafting a bidding strategy. Let’s have a look at some bidding strategies to consider.

Smart Bidding:
Smart Bidding leverages machine learning to automatically adjust bids for each auction, aiming to optimize for specific campaign goals. Nonprofits in housing especially can benefit from this automated approach, as your audience may act differently online depending on fluctuations in the housing market. However, it works best with sufficient historical data, so ensure your campaigns have enough conversion history to guide the algorithm.

Conversion Maximization:
Conversion Maximization focuses on driving the highest number of conversions within your set budget. For housing, this means you can potentially reach more individuals seeking services or support. While this strategy can boost overall engagement, it might not always provide the best cost efficiency per conversion. For example, you may find yourself spending an entire month’s budget on a very competitive keyword like “mortgage assistance” where big financial institutions drive up the cost of a conversion.

Target CPA (Cost-Per-Acquisition):
Target CPA bidding aims to achieve a predetermined cost per conversion by adjusting bids in real time. This is particularly useful for nonprofits in housing who need to spread a budget across multiple services. However, this approach requires a stable conversion history to set an effective target, and setting the CPA too low might limit your campaign’s reach.

This means determining which actions on your website represent the most valuable interactions such as completing a contact form, scheduling a consultation, or downloading educational resources. It’s important to map these key touchpoints to your broader organizational goals so that the data you collect accurately reflects real-world impact. Additionally, consider the user journey and ensure that your conversion events capture not only final actions but also intermediary steps that may indicate interest and potential for deeper engagement. By carefully selecting and monitoring these conversions, your organization can optimize campaigns and better allocate resources to achieve the conversions which are most meaningful to your organization.

Assigning conversion values is important to ensure Google’s algorithms prioritize the most meaningful engagements. Here’s what to consider:

Service Inquiries as High-Value Conversions: Assign the highest value to actions that directly connect people with housing support, such as completed intake forms, appointment bookings for counseling, or calls to the office. These indicate strong intent to solicit and engage housing assistance.

Educational Engagement as Mid-Tier Conversions: Downloads of housing resources, attendance at webinars, or spending +5 minutes reading content on the site can be assigned moderate values. These actions reflect engagement and indicate a potential future need for services.

Email Sign-Ups and Awareness as Lower-Value Conversions: While email subscriptions or general website visits are important for long-term outreach, they should be assigned lower values compared to direct service engagement. This prevents Google from prioritizing less mission-critical actions over those with immediate impact.

Fundraising should be considered separately when assigning values to conversions since the primary purpose of the Ad Grant is to promote mission-driven services rather than direct fundraising. But if you are aiming for online donations, these should be valued appropriately based on typical donation amounts and fundraising goals. Keep in mind the grant program prohibits the use of overly commercial ad strategies, including financial incentives like “donate now” messaging as a primary call to action. Using the ad grant for fundraising requires a strategic yet subtle approach that you may want to consult with one of our experts to achieve.

By strategically assigning values, you can ensure that Google’s bidding algorithms optimize for conversions that drive real impact.

We absolutely encourage the nonprofit housing services community to engage with AI tools to improve the efficacy of their campaigns. Important among these are Google Ads Smart Bidding and its machine learning to adjust bids in real-time, ensuring that campaigns prioritize conversions like a signup for counseling or enrollment in a course. Outside of google we encourage AI tools such as Microsoft Clarity to create AI-driven heatmaps and session recordings to analyze how users interact with a site, helping nonprofits improve conversion rates.

Google’s Price Simulator also known as Performance Planner can help housing nonprofits estimate how budget changes impact website traffic and conversions. When housing demand is high and supply is low, more people may be searching for resources like housing assistance, foreclosure prevention, or rental support, increasing competition for search terms. The Price Simulator can model how increasing your budget during peak demand periods can help maintain ad visibility and attract more visitors. Conversely, during times of lower demand, nonprofits can use the tool to adjust spending, ensuring funds are allocated efficiently without overspending on lower-priority traffic. By leveraging budget forecasting, housing organizations can scale their outreach efforts based on market trends, optimizing ad performance while staying within financial constraints.

Keyword insertion in search ads is a dynamic feature that automatically updates ad text to match a user’s exact search query, making the ad more relevant and engaging. By using a special {KeyWord:default text} format in Google Ads, nonprofits can insert search terms directly into their headlines or descriptions. For example, an ad set to display

“Homebuyer Education in {KeyWord:Your City}” might show as “Homebuyer Education in Miami” or if they not search for a specific location the default “Homebuyer Education in Your City”.

This technique helps improve click-through rates by ensuring the ad aligns closely with what users are actively searching for, making it a valuable tool for housing nonprofits looking to reach people in need of specific services. Below are some examples where Keyword Insertion might be especially relevant and attract more traffic to your site.

Mortgage Rate Fluctuations

As mortgage rates increase, more people may search for “mortgage assistance” or “foreclosure prevention” resources.

Conversely, lower rates may boost demand for homebuying assistance programs, making it important to dynamically insert terms like “low-interest mortgage help” or “down payment assistance.”

Government Policy Changes

New housing grants, subsidies, or assistance programs can drive spikes in search traffic for related keywords.

Keyword insertion can help ensure ads stay relevant by dynamically including phrases like “2025 first-time homebuyer grants” or “new rental relief program.”

Seasonal & Crisis-Driven Housing Needs

Hurricane season, natural disasters, or economic downturns can lead to increased searches for “emergency housing aid” or “disaster relief housing.” Keyword insertion can ensure that nonprofit ads reflect timely needs without constant manual updates.

Geo-targeting will allow your organization to tailor search ads to specific locations. By focusing on certain cities, counties, or zip codes, organizations can ensure their ads reach people searching for housing assistance, rental aid, foreclosure prevention, or homebuyer programs for example, in the areas they serve.

Key Benefits of Geo-Targeting:

Reaching the Right Audience – Many housing programs are region-specific (e.g., state-funded rental assistance), so targeting only relevant geographic areas prevents wasted ad spend.

Customizing Messaging – Ad copy can include localized terms such as “Affordable Housing in Miami” or “First-Time Homebuyer Help in Los Angeles.”

Optimizing for Demand – Certain areas may have higher eviction rates, home prices, or mortgage foreclosure risks, requiring more aggressive ad coverage in those locations.

Enhancing Performance – Targeting high-need regions helps maintain the 5% click-through rate (CTR) required by the Google Ad Grant, improving ad efficiency. By integrating geo-targeting, housing nonprofits can increase relevance, improve engagement, and connect with the right audience in the communities they serve, making their Google Ad Grant campaigns far more effective.

Google Ads offers a feature that allows your impressions to be triggered when certain other websites appear in search results. 

How It Works:

Instead of only showing ads when a user directly searches for a keyword, Google can also trigger your ads when certain websites appear in search results.

This allows nonprofits to target audiences searching for information on competitor or related housing service websites, increasing the likelihood of reaching users actively looking for housing resources. For example, targeting users searching for similar services. If people frequently visit specific housing resource websites (e.g., Zillow, HUD.gov, or local housing agencies), your nonprofit can set ads to appear when those sites show up in search results. This ensures visibility alongside authoritative sources, helping people discover your services while researching housing options.

We highly recommend Google Keyword Planner to maximize your Google Ad Grant campaigns. Use it to discover high-impact keywords, estimate search volume, and refine targeting strategies to reach people in need of housing assistance.

How It Works:

Keyword Discovery: input terms related to your mission (e.g., “affordable housing assistance” or “homebuyer education”) and receive new keyword ideas based on user search behavior.

Search Volume & Competition Analysis: The tool provides estimated monthly searches for keywords and highlights whether competition for each term is low, medium, or high. Geographic Targeting: analyze keyword trends by city, state, or region to find  search terms that align with local housing needs.

By now, you can see an ad grant can be anywhere from basic template to rather complex. What happens when the user reaches your website is also crucially important. The goal being to optimize landing pages to convert website visitors into engaged clients, donors, or advocates. A well-structured landing page ensures that users find the information they need quickly and take meaningful action. Below are 3 rules of thumb to keep in mind regarding your landing page.

Clear and Actionable Messaging – Use concise headlines, easy-to-read content, and a strong call-to-action (CTA) such as “Apply for Rental Assistance” or “Schedule a Housing Consultation.”

Fast, Mobile-Friendly Design – Ensure pages load quickly and are optimized for mobile users, as many people searching for housing assistance do so on their phones. Conversion Tracking & Forms – Implement simple, easy-to-complete forms and track key actions like sign-ups, downloads, or appointment bookings to measure success and improve engagement.

Background:
A newly established housing nonprofit, Affordable Housing Now (AHN), has recently been approved for the Google Ad Grants program. Their mission is to connect low-income families with affordable housing resources, first-time homebuyer assistance, and rental aid programs.

While they have a general idea of the keywords their audience might search for (e.g., “first-time homebuyer grants,” “affordable housing assistance,” and “rental assistance programs”), they are unsure about the best bidding strategy. They are considering Smart Bidding options, including Conversion Maximization and Target CPA, but they lack historical data to guide these decisions.

Now, they must determine how to approach bidding effectively while ensuring they maximize the $10,000 monthly ad spend provided by Google Ad Grants.

Key questions for the case

1. How do we balance our initial keyword selection between broad reach and high-intent searches to ensure we attract the right audience from the start?

2. At what point should we transition from manual bidding to Smart Bidding strategies like Conversion Maximization or Target CPA, and what data should we collect before making the switch?

3. What specific steps can we take to continuously optimize our campaigns, ensuring that we fully utilize the $10,000 monthly Google Ad Grant without wasted spend?

What did AHN decide to do?

After analyzing their campaign performance and discussing potential solutions, Affordable Housing Now (AHN) developed a strategic approach to optimize their Google Ad Grants campaign and ensure their “Make Your Home Energy Efficient” initiative effectively reached the right audience.

1️⃣ Transitioned from Manual Bidding to Smart Bidding – AHN started with manual bidding to establish a performance baseline and gradually transitioned to Smart Bidding strategies. They implemented Enhanced CPC first, then moved to Conversion Maximization and Target CPA for campaigns with sufficient data.

2️⃣ Refined Keyword Strategy – To improve ad performance, AHN expanded their long-tail keywords to focus on high-intent search terms like “energy efficiency grants for homeowners in [city]” rather than broad terms. They also added negative keywords to exclude irrelevant or low-converting searches.

3️⃣ Optimized Location Targeting – To ensure their ads were only reaching their target service areas, AHN refined their geotargeting settings to focus on specific counties and cities. They also changed advanced location options to exclude users searching for, but not physically in, their targeted locations.

4️⃣ Improved Ad Copy and Landing Page Experience – AHN updated their ad headlines and descriptions to include clear eligibility criteria, ensuring only qualified users clicked their ads. They also optimized their landing pages with stronger CTAs and better mobile usability, leading to higher conversion rates.

5️⃣ Ongoing Performance Tracking and Adjustments – AHN committed to weekly performance reviews using Google Ads reports and Google Analytics to track trends, identify inefficiencies, and fine-tune their bidding and targeting strategy.

By implementing these changes, AHN maximized their Google Ad Grant budget, reduced wasted spend, and increased the number of qualified applicants for their energy efficiency program.

Background:

A housing nonprofit The Better Housing Coalition (BHC) based in Broward County, Florida, has been actively running Google Ad Grants to promote its “Make Your Home Energy Efficient” campaign. The campaign aims to help homeowners within Broward County access grants or assistance programs to improve their home’s energy efficiency.

Since launching the campaign, their intake form submissions have increased significantly. However, a major issue has emerged:

Management wants to ensure that only Broward County residents see the ads, reducing wasted ad spend.

However, a number of applicants are coming from outside of Broward County, including some from other states.

This has strained internal resources because staff must spend time filtering out ineligible applicants.

Key questions for the case

1. How can we adjust our Google Ads settings to ensure only Broward County residents see our ads, while preventing clicks and form submissions from people outside our service area?

2. What keywords or targeting adjustments can we implement to reinforce that our program is only available to Broward County residents?

3. How can we refine our ad copy and landing page messaging to clearly communicate eligibility requirements and reduce out-of-area applicants?

What did BHC decide to do?

After reviewing their campaign data and discussing solutions, The Better Housing Coalition (BHC) decided to take a multi-step approach to ensure that their “Make Your Home Energy Efficient” campaign effectively reaches only Broward County residents.

1️⃣ Refined Geotargeting in Google Ads – BHC updated their location settings to only target Broward County and exclude all other areas, ensuring ads were shown only to people physically within their service area. They also changed the advanced location settings to target people in or regularly in Broward County, rather than those merely searching for it.

2️⃣ Enhanced Keyword Strategy – BHC adjusted their keyword list by adding geo-specific terms like “Broward County energy assistance” and “Broward home efficiency program.” They also implemented negative keywords to block searches related to other states and counties, preventing out-of-area clicks.

3️⃣ Clearer Ad Copy and Landing Page Messaging – To set proper expectations, BHC revised their ad headlines and descriptions to clearly state “For Broward County Residents Only.” They also added a bold eligibility disclaimer at the top of their intake form, ensuring applicants understood that assistance was limited to Broward County.

4️⃣ Ongoing Monitoring and Adjustments – BHC set up weekly reviews of their Google Ads location report to track where clicks and conversions were coming from. They committed to refining their approach as needed, including potentially narrowing targeting further by zip code if necessary.

By implementing these changes, BHC successfully reduced out-of-area applications, saved valuable staff time, and ensured that their resources were directed only toward eligible Broward County residents.

Background:

A housing nonprofit, Pathway to Homeownership (PTH), offers a free credit score management course to help low-credit individuals improve their financial standing and become eligible for homeownership.

To attract participants, PTH runs a Google Ad Grants campaign and tracks the following conversions:

1. Views of the course signup page
2. Calls to the office for more information
3. Completed signups for the credit course

After several weeks, PTH notices a key issue:

• Many users visit the signup page
• Several people call the office for information
• Few actually sign up for the course

Additionally, some of the people clicking on the ads have good credit scores and don’t need the course, leading to wasted ad spend.

Key questions for the case

1. How can we adjust our conversion tracking and bidding strategy to ensure that Google prioritizes users who are most likely to complete the credit course signup rather than just visiting the page or calling?

2. What audience targeting strategies can we use to specifically reach people with low credit scores who need this course, while filtering out users who don’t require credit improvement?

3. How can we refine our ad messaging and landing page content to better communicate that this course is designed for individuals struggling with low credit scores, increasing the likelihood of qualified signups?

What did PTH decide to do?

After reviewing their campaign data and discussing solutions, Pathway to Homeownership (PTH) developed a strategic approach to ensure their credit score management course was reaching the right audience—individuals with low credit who genuinely needed the program.

1️⃣ Refined Conversion Tracking and Bidding Strategy – PTH assigned higher conversion values to completed course signups ($100), ensuring Google prioritized these over lower-intent actions like page views ($5) and phone calls ($25). They also switched to Maximize Conversion Value bidding, allowing Google to focus ad spend on users more likely to enroll.

2️⃣ Implemented Audience Targeting to Reach Low-Credit Individuals – PTH leveraged Google’s Custom Audiences and In-Market targeting to focus on people searching for terms like “how to improve my credit score” and “bad credit home loans.” They also excluded high-income ZIP codes and other areas where fewer people likely needed credit assistance.

3️⃣ Refined Ad Messaging and Landing Page Content – PTH updated their ad copy to clearly state that the course was designed for people struggling with low credit (“Credit Below 600? Get Help to Become Home Loan Ready!”). They also added a quick self-assessment on the landing page (e.g., “Is your credit score below 640? This course is for you!”) and included testimonials from past participants to increase trust and encourage signups.

4️⃣ Ongoing Monitoring and Adjustments – PTH committed to weekly performance reviews of their Google Ads reports and conversion data to ensure their campaign was continuously improving, making further refinements as needed.

By implementing these changes, PTH significantly increased the number of qualified course enrollments, reduced wasted ad spend, and ensured their Google Ad Grant was being used effectively to support individuals working toward homeownership.

Our mission is to make sure people can find the housing resources they need at the moment they are searching for it. If your organization needs help setting up a Google Ad Grant account, there is no charge for that, we’ll help you for free with the basics. Beyond setup, we work with every nonprofit to offer affordable solutions that align with your funding sources.

Tell us what are the aspects of your program most closely tied to your funding sources and we make sure you hit those targets so any costs will be as a result of you hitting your targets. The best way to work up a proper quote is to schedule a call, tell us what programs you want to boost, and let us come up with a plan to meet your mission or funding goals.

Yes, Housing PR is a division of Housing Nonprofit Corporation, a 501(c)3 not for profit organization.

With our focus and experience working exclusively with housing nonprofits, there have been few objectives we have not been able to link directly with our advertising efforts.

Yes, we’ll create a workflow which can work directly with your existing CMS.

Schedule a time to talk so we can review your strategic goals and key metrics. Our services are customized to what you need to see happen.