About CAI

CAI is an international membership organization dedicated to building better communities.

With over 47,000 members, CAI has 64 chapters worldwide, including Canada, the Middle East, and South Africa, and relationships with housing leaders in a number of other countries, including Australia and the United Kingdom. CAI provides information, education and resources to the homeowner volunteers who govern communities and the professionals who support them. CAI members include association board members and other homeowner leaders, community managers, association management firms, and other professionals who provide products and services to community associations. 

CAI serves community associations and homeowners by:

  • Advancing excellence through seminars, workshops, conferences, and education programs, most of which lead to professional designations for community managers and other industry professionals.

  • Publishing the largest collection of resources available on community association management and governance, including website content, books, guides, Common Ground magazine, and specialized newsletters.

  • Advocating on behalf of common interest communities and industry professionals before legislatures, regulatory bodies, and the courts.

  • Conducting research and serving as an international clearinghouse for information, innovations, and best practices in community association development, governance, and management.

We believe homeowners associations and condominium associations should strive to exceed the expectations of their residents.

We work toward this goal by identifying and meeting the evolving needs of the professionals and volunteers who serve associations, by being a trusted forum for the collaborative exchange of knowledge and information, and by helping our members learn, achieve, and excel. Our mission is to inspire professionalism, effective leadership, and responsible citizenship — ideals reflected in associations that are preferred places to call home.

Vision

To be the global leader advancing excellence in community association living. 

Mission

Community Associations Institute advances community association governance, management, and quality of life by inspiring professionalism, effective leadership, and responsible citizenship.

For more information, call (888) 224-4321 (M-F, 9–6:00 ET).

CAI Leadership

CAI is governed by a Board of Trustees and three councils that represent the unique roles that govern and support community associations: homeowner leaders, community managers, and business partners.

View 2024 CAI Leadership

Our History

CAI was founded in 1973 and has grown into the international center for community association information, best practices, education, and advocacy.

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Policies & Statements

Careers at CAI

Apply now to open positions at CAI. 

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Discover CAI Member Resources

  • About Community Associations

    More than 75 million Americans reside in homeowners associations, condominium communities, cooperatives, and other planned communities. All of these communities share a few essential goals: preserving the nature and character of the community; providing services and amenities to residents; protecting property values; and meeting the established expectations of owners.

    CAI's First-Time Homebuyers Guide to HOAs provides details on how communities work to achieve these goals and become preferred places to call home.

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  • How Community Associations Are Organized, Governed, and Managed

    CAI's Community Association Living guide provides anyone who lives, works, or participates in a homeowners association, condominium, or housing cooperative with a clear understanding about the business of associations. 

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  • Professionalism and Community Managers

    Community association managers are the professional backbone of the communities they serve, providing expertise that is crucial to the successful operation of homeowners associations, condominiums, cooperatives and other planned communities. Many of the most successful managers elevate their expertise and careers by taking advantage of CAI’s education and designations programs.

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  • Community Association Business Partners

    In addition to managers, many community associations contract with business partners who become indespensible resources. From attorneys and insurance providers to reserve specialists, landscapers, and more, business partners work to make community operations and governance easier for board members.  
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