America's advocate for responsible communities

Community Associations Institute (CAI) is a national organization dedicated to fostering vibrant, competent, harmonious community associations. For more than 30 years, CAI has been the leader in providing education and resources to the volunteer homeowners who govern community associations and the professionals who support them. Our members include community association volunteer leaders, professional managers, community management firms, and other professionals and companies that provide products and services to associations.

Working closely with more than 50 state, regional and local chapters nationwide, we bring together experts to provide the latest information on community association management and governance. We serve our members with books, seminars and workshops, research, continuing education and periodicals, including Common Ground magazine and specialized newsletters on community association management, governance, and law.

CAI also advocates for legislative and regulatory policies that support responsible governance and effective management. We represent the interests of our members before the U.S. Congress, federal agencies, and other policy-setting bodies on issues such as taxes, insurance, bankruptcy reform and fair housing. In addition, state Legislative Action Committees represent CAI members before state legislatures and agencies on issues such as assessment collection, foreclosure, and construction defects. Download a copy of CAI's public policy statements (PDF).

The CAI Promise

In CAI, you'll find a friendly and accessible forum to develop relationships, increase your knowledge, and help shape the future of the nation's communities. We offer a variety of resources to help you:

• Protect your interests
  CAI advocates community association interests before legislatures, regulatory bodies, and the courts.
  
   
• Develop skills to govern or manage your association successfully
  CAI offers education courses nationally and locally in a variety of formats for board members, homeowners, managers, and other professionals.
  
   
• Build relationships that can help you succeed
  CAI's chapters, national conferences and education courses provide opportunities to develop relationships that can help you succeed.
  
   
• Discover resources that can give you the answers you need
  CAI's publishing division, Community Associations Press, publishes the largest collection of books and guides on community association governance and management available anywhere. Our online members only section provides a number of specialized resources exclusively to members.
  
   
• Find qualified professionals
  CAI's Directory of Credentialed Professionals can help you locate credentialed managers, reserve specialists, attorneys, and insurance and risk management specialists. You can also find business partners—product and service providers—who specialize in community association services in our National Service Directory.
  
   
• Move your career onto the fast track
  CAI's designations programs and Professional Management Development Program offer recognition of your achievements and continuing education opportunities that can help you get ahead.
  
   
• Deepen your knowledge
  CAI's award-winning magazine, Common Ground, and several specialized newsletters provide in-depth analyses of legislative trends and practical articles about community association finance, law, and management.
  
   
• Expand your thinking
  CAI conducts research and acts as a clearinghouse for information on innovations and best practices in community association governance and management.

New specialized member groups for homeowners and professional managers

CAI recently launched two specialized member groups to help us better serve our members and increase the value of membership. The Center for Community Associations Volunteers (CCAV) is committed to providing the information and support needed by community association volunteer leaders. Its aim is to assist homeowners in becoming more effective, efficient, and respected leaders.

The Association of Professional Community Managers (APCM) is dedicated to giving managers added advantages on the job and in their careers—a professional society focused on the professional growth of onsite, portfolio, and large-scale managers.

Find out more about CCAV and APCM.

The driving force for common interest community research, development and scholarship

CAI's 501(c)3 foundation is the only organization both recording the history of, and identifying trends in, residential community association living. The Foundation for Community Association Research serves as the catalyst for positive change in the community association industry by supporting and conducting research and making that information available to those involved in association governance.

The Foundation is committed to providing quality research and publications for promoting academic interest in community associations. Find out more about the Foundation.

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