CAI is committed to helping volunteers enrich their communities. With membership in CAI, you also get the benefits of the Center for Community Association Volunteers (CCAV). Through this specialized member group, you can learn about innovations in other communities, access time and money-saving tools and information and have a forum to share knowledge.

Join online or download an application (PDF).

Create a Culture of Knowledge

While joining CAI on your own is important, getting your entire board connected to CAI is the best way to ensure you are making informed decisions—and an excellent way to help your board members achieve the results, respect and recognition they deserve.

Your community will be better served if board members come to your deliberations with the same knowledge, information and perspective. CAI membership for each board member is the ideal way to provide support and resources to each dedicated volunteer, and build consensus on critical governance issues. And, it's now even more cost-effective than ever.

CAI will keep them informed of issues and trends that matter most. You will all get practical knowledge, expert perspective, best practices, research and tools that you can use everyday.

Here are the services you'll receive as a CAI member:

• Board Member Tool Kit—A "how-to" kit filled with tools, knowledge and information that help you do a better job and make it easy to serve in your role as a community association leader.
  
  
• Online tools and resources—available 24 hours a day—including:
  
  
  • Downloadable standardized templates, sample notices, letters and forms that can be adapted for use in virtually any community.
    
    
  • Governance questions and answers—Find out specific information related to governance issues (meetings, statutes, assessments and more) in your state.
    
    
  • An extensive Research Library containing thousands of articles for reference.
    
    
  • A Discussion Board where you can find out how your peers are dealing with similar issues.
    
    
  • Homeowner orientation information to help you better communicate roles and responsibilities with your residents and board members.
    
    
  • HOA member links—Visit the websites of other CAI member communities and get ideas on how to improve your own communications with residents.
    
    
• Finding the Right Professional—Whether you are looking for professional community managers, legal advice, a reserve study, technology, bank loans, an audit, or insurance coverage, CAI is your portal to the professionals who serve community associations.
  
  
  • Credentialed Professionals Directory—CAI's professional designations help ensure that managers and other professionals serving associations have the knowledge, experience and integrity to provide the best possible service to you. Find a credentialed professional in your area by searching our online directory.
    
    
  • National Service Directory—A searchable database of CAI business partners. Find local attorneys, accountants, reserve providers, insurance providers, landscapers, website providers, roofers, and more in one convenient location.
    
    
• Common Ground—An award-winning, bimonthly magazine offering information on topical issues affecting you and your association.
  
  
• Publications—Receive substantial discounts on more than 100 titles on a variety of topics, such as drafting and obtaining compliance with reasonable rules, evaluating reserves, hiring the right professionals and more in our Bookstore.
  
  
• Minutes—A CCAV Governance Newsletter—delivered bimonthly to your in-box with strategies, trends, and news on how to run better board meetings, tips on dealing with antagonists at meetings, dealing with renegade board members and so much more.
  
  
• Fast Tracks—A CAI member newsletter delivered monthly to your in-box with industry and CAI news that will keep you up to date on the latest resources to help you better run your community.
  
  
• Local education courses—Chapters offer regular education programs geared toward community leaders.
  
  
• Through its Community Volunteer Leadership Development Program, the Center for Community Association Volunteers (CCAV) offers volunteer leader members discounts on four levels of homeowner education programs.
  
  
  • Level one is available as a free download.
    
    
  • Level two is available as a new online homeowner education course—Gain tips and advice you need to run your association at home at your convenience. Volunteer leader members can take this course at no cost.
    
    
  • Levels three and four are available through your local chapter.
    
    
• Advocacy Center—An online resource where you can find your representatives, take part in calls to action that will help protect your interests, and read about the latest bills before Congress.
  
  
  • CAI represents the interests of our members before the US Congress, federal agencies and a multitude of other policy-setting bodies on such issues as telecommunications, taxes, fair housing, insurance and bankruptcy reform. CAI and our Legislative Action Committees also represent our members before state legislatures and agencies on a multitude of issues including assessment collection, foreclosure and construction defects. Read more about CAI Government and Public Affairs.
    
    
• Rights and Responsibilities for Better Communities—CAI offers you the opportunity to adopt a practical series of practices and principles that will help you improve communication, build consensus and engender greater community involvement.

  Once adopted, Rights and Responsibilities will serve as an important guidepost for board and committee members, managers, homeowners and non-owner residents. The document also serves as an excellent tool to educate new residents about their own rights and responsibilities.

• Member Discount Programs—Take advantage of our CAI Member Discount Programs. CAI members receive exclusive discounted rates on a wide array of products and services from participating companies including Dell, DHL, Hertz, and more.
  
  
• —Use our toll-free number (888-224-4321) to get quick and free assistance from our exceptional customer care specialists who can point you toward the right resources for your particular interests.
  
  
• Communities under Developer Control—Read about membership opportunities available to you through your builder/developer with CAI's Builders Alliance.
  
  

Membership Dues

Board membership
Enjoy CAI's group discount program when joining as a group.

Every dollar of the mandatory $15 Advocacy Support Fee goes directly to states with Legislative Action Committees and supports the efforts of CAI to represent and protect our members on state legislative and regulatory issues. The Foundation for Community Association Research operates on behalf of the industry and conducts surveys and research, provides national programming, and produces a variety of publications including the series of Best Practice reports. Donations to the Foundation are tax deductible. Membership dues are non-refundable.

There's never been a better time to sign up each member of your board. As volunteers, they deserve the help and support CAI offers. Membership will help you—and them—govern your community effectively and efficiently. Don't reinvent the wheel when CAI can give you the time- and money-saving resources you need to make your community the best it can be. Join Now!