Frequently Asked Questions About the Foundation for Community Association Research

Foundation General FAQs

  • The Foundation for Community Association Research is an independent, nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization established in 1975. It advances knowledge and innovation in the community association housing model through research, data analysis, and practical resources for board members, managers, and residents.

    The Foundation delivers authoritative insights on community association trends, issues, and operations, with a mission to foster successful, sustainable communities.
     

  • The Foundation provides data, analysis, and best practices that help stakeholders make informed decisions, strengthen governance, and enhance community operations.
     

  • Visit foundation.caionline.org to explore reports, data dashboards, surveys, and publications.
     

Foundation Donation and Sponsorships FAQs

  • Donate online at foundation.caionline.org/donate or explore sponsorship opportunities for research reports and events.

  • The Foundation is supported through tax-deductible donations, corporate sponsorships, and fundraising initiatives. CAI members have the option to contribute to the Foundation when renewing their annual CAI membership dues, making it easy to support the Foundation’s mission alongside their professional membership. Additional gifts can be made at any time through the Foundation’s website or by sponsoring specific research projects, surveys, or scholarship programs. To make a donation or learn more about sponsorship opportunities, visit foundation.caionline.org/donate

  • Yes. Contributions are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law.

  • Yes. The Foundation offers a full suite of sponsorship opportunities. More information is available at https://foundation.caionline.org/donate/sponsorships/

  • The Legacy Circle is the Foundation’s premier philanthropic giving program, created to ensure the Foundation can continue producing research-based information and resources for community association homeowners, board members, managers, developers, and industry professionals. Legacy Circle members are industry leaders—founders, business owners, and visionaries—who want to give back and help sustain the future of the community association industry. It’s also an ideal opportunity for those transitioning from business ownership or celebrating career milestones to make a lasting impact. Membership levels range from $10,000 to $100,000, with flexible multi-year giving options and a range of recognition benefits. To learn more or discuss the program, contact Jake Gold, CAE, Executive Director, at [email protected] or visit https://foundation.caionline.org/donate/legacy-circle/

Foundation Research and Publications FAQs

  • Key Foundation publications and research products include the Community Association Fact Book, Benchmarking Surveys, Breaking Point: Examining Aging Infrastructure, Best Practices Reports, Snap Surveys, and Catalyst, the Foundation’s quarterly newsletter.

  • The Best Practices Reports are one of the Foundation’s signature publication series. Each report highlights proven strategies, case studies, and expert guidance on topics essential to effective community association governance and management—such as maintenance, reserve funding, financial operations, ethics, energy efficiency, strategic planning, and community harmony. Developed with input from industry professionals and subject matter experts, these reports provide practical tools and real-world examples to help community association leaders and managers strengthen their operations and improve resident satisfaction. All Best Practices Reports are available as free digital downloads from the Foundation’s website at foundation.caionline.org/best-practices. Printed copies can also be purchased through the CAI Bookstore at www.caionline.org/bookstore for those who prefer a hard copy edition.

  • The Community Association Fact Book is the Foundation’s flagship publication—the most comprehensive source of national and state-level data on community associations in the United States. Published annually, the Fact Book provides detailed statistics on the number of associations, housing units, and residents, along with information on association types, governance, housing trends, and state-level comparisons. It also includes downloadable interactive dashboards that allow users to explore data visually across years and states. The Fact Book is widely used by community managers, board members, researchers, policymakers, and journalists to understand the size, growth, and impact of the community association housing model. All editions of the Community Association Fact Book are available online at https://foundation.caionline.org/publications/factbook/

  • Data sources include proprietary Foundation surveys, CAI member data, U.S. Census Bureau datasets, IPUMS USA, Zillow, and other verified housing data providers.

  • Yes, summary data and dashboards are available publicly on the foundation website at https://foundation.caionline.org
     

Foundation Surveys and Benchmarking FAQs

  • The Foundation conducts annual and periodic surveys, including the Community Manager Compensation & Salary Survey, Management Company Benchmarking, Large-Scale Community Benchmarking, Homeowner Satisfaction Survey, and topical Snap Surveys

  • CAI members and industry professionals, including managers, management companies, and board members.

  • Yes. All responses are aggregated and no individual or company is identified.

  • Conducted every other year, the Homeowner Satisfaction Survey measures the perceptions, attitudes, and experiences of Americans living in community associations. The survey explores how residents feel about their boards, community rules, assessments, and the overall value of living in a managed community. This nationally representative study provides valuable insights into public sentiment and satisfaction within community associations and is widely cited by the media, policymakers, and researchers. The most recent survey results and historical comparisons are available at https://foundation.caionline.org/research/survey_homeowner/

  • The Foundation conducts Snap Surveys to gather quick, timely insights on emerging issues and trends affecting community associations. These short, focused surveys allow the Foundation to capture the perspectives of community managers, board members, business partners, and other stakeholders in real time. Each Snap Survey explores a single topic—such as aging infrastructure, reserve funding, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, or public benefit—and provides data-driven analysis to help industry professionals understand how associations are responding to new challenges and opportunities. Results from all completed Snap Surveys are available as free downloadable reports on the Foundation’s website at https://foundation.caionline.org/research/snap-surveys/

  • This survey provides the most comprehensive and current data on compensation for community association management professionals in the United States. It includes detailed information on annual wages, bonuses, benefits, and employment trends for portfolio managers, on-site managers, executives, and large-scale managers. The survey helps management company executives and association boards evaluate salary structures, track hiring trends, and stay competitive in the marketplace. Participants receive complimentary access to results when they complete the survey. The report is available for purchase as a digital publication from CAI Press, and participation details are available at https://foundation.caionline.org/research/salary_survey/

  • The Large-Scale Community Association Staffing, Compensation & Operational Benchmarking Survey focuses on communities with 1,000 or more units, extensive amenities, and on-site professional management. It captures data on staffing levels, salaries, budgeting practices, and operational benchmarks, helping large-scale communities measure performance and plan for the future. Results from this study offer insights into how large-scale communities manage infrastructure, capital projects, and resident services. More information is available at https://foundation.caionline.org/research/large-scale-survey/

  • The Community Association Management Company Benchmarking Survey collects detailed data from management firms of all sizes to identify industry trends in staffing, compensation, client retention, and company operations. This study provides valuable benchmarks for management company owners and executives to compare their operations with national standards and identify growth opportunities. Learn more or participate at https://foundation.caionline.org/research/mcbenchmarking/
     

Foundation Scholarships and Awards FAQs

  • The Roy Hailey Memorial Scholarship provides financial assistance to community association managers pursuing professional education through CAI’s Professional Management Development Program (PMDP). The scholarship honors Roy Hailey’s legacy of professionalism and commitment to education in the community association industry. Scholarship recipients receive funding to help offset the cost of completing PMDP courses, which lead to industry-recognized credentials such as the CMCA®, AMS®, and PCAM® designations. Applications are submitted online and include a brief personal essay describing your goals in community association management. Learn more or apply at https://foundation.caionline.org/scholarships/roy-hailey-memorial-education-scholarship/

  • The Byron Hanke Fellowship supports graduate-level research on community associations, governance, and housing policy. Named after one of CAI’s founders, the fellowship encourages academic inquiry that advances understanding of the community association housing model and its role in shaping sustainable, well-governed communities. Fellowships typically range from $2,000 to $5,000, depending on the scope and quality of the proposed research. Awards are open to master’s, doctoral, and law students enrolled at accredited U.S. or Canadian universities. Applicants must submit a research proposal and writing sample. Selected fellows are expected to share their findings with the Foundation for possible publication or presentation at CAI events. More information and application details are available at https://foundation.caionline.org/scholarships/recent-fellowship-recipients/

  • The Homeowner Leader of the Year Award recognizes an exceptional volunteer leader who demonstrates outstanding commitment, leadership, and service within their community association. The award honors individuals who exemplify the best of community association governance—strengthening their neighborhoods, fostering collaboration, and promoting a sense of community. Each year, the Foundation presents this national award to celebrate the positive impact of volunteer leadership in community associations across the country. Nominees must be homeowner volunteer leaders actively serving on a community association board or committee. Nominations may be submitted by community managers, business partners, or fellow board members. Recipients are selected based on their leadership, innovation, and contribution to the well-being and success of their community. Learn more about the award, view past recipients, and submit a nomination at https://foundation.caionline.org/scholarships/homeowner-leader-of-the-year-award/
     

  • The Foundation’s Nico March Hero of Community Management Award is a global recognition program that honors exceptional community management professionals who demonstrate leadership, integrity, and a measurable positive impact in the communities they serve.

    Established through a multi-year philanthropic commitment from Nico March, the award celebrates individuals who go above and beyond their roles—advancing the profession, supporting residents, and strengthening community association operations. The recipient receives a $2,000 stipend and complimentary registration to a CAI national event. Learn more about the award and submit a nomination at https://foundation.caionline.org/scholarships/hero-award/
     

Foundation Leadership FAQs

  • Donate online at foundation.caionline.org/donate or explore sponsorship opportunities for research reports and events.

  • The Foundation is supported through tax-deductible donations, corporate sponsorships, and fundraising initiatives. CAI members have the option to contribute to the Foundation when renewing their annual CAI membership dues, making it easy to support the Foundation’s mission alongside their professional membership. Additional gifts can be made at any time through the Foundation’s website or by sponsoring specific research projects, surveys, or scholarship programs. To make a donation or learn more about sponsorship opportunities, visit foundation.caionline.org/donate

  • Yes. Contributions are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law.

  • Yes. The Foundation offers a full suite of sponsorship opportunities. More information is available at https://foundation.caionline.org/donate/sponsorships/

  • The Legacy Circle is the Foundation’s premier philanthropic giving program, created to ensure the Foundation can continue producing research-based information and resources for community association homeowners, board members, managers, developers, and industry professionals. Legacy Circle members are industry leaders—founders, business owners, and visionaries—who want to give back and help sustain the future of the community association industry. It’s also an ideal opportunity for those transitioning from business ownership or celebrating career milestones to make a lasting impact. Membership levels range from $10,000 to $100,000, with flexible multi-year giving options and a range of recognition benefits. To learn more or discuss the program, contact Jake Gold, CAE, Executive Director, at [email protected] or visit https://foundation.caionline.org/donate/legacy-circle/

Foundation Contact Information FAQs

  • Donate online at foundation.caionline.org/donate or explore sponsorship opportunities for research reports and events.

  • The Foundation is supported through tax-deductible donations, corporate sponsorships, and fundraising initiatives. CAI members have the option to contribute to the Foundation when renewing their annual CAI membership dues, making it easy to support the Foundation’s mission alongside their professional membership. Additional gifts can be made at any time through the Foundation’s website or by sponsoring specific research projects, surveys, or scholarship programs. To make a donation or learn more about sponsorship opportunities, visit foundation.caionline.org/donate

  • Yes. Contributions are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law.

  • Yes. The Foundation offers a full suite of sponsorship opportunities. More information is available at https://foundation.caionline.org/donate/sponsorships/

  • The Legacy Circle is the Foundation’s premier philanthropic giving program, created to ensure the Foundation can continue producing research-based information and resources for community association homeowners, board members, managers, developers, and industry professionals. Legacy Circle members are industry leaders—founders, business owners, and visionaries—who want to give back and help sustain the future of the community association industry. It’s also an ideal opportunity for those transitioning from business ownership or celebrating career milestones to make a lasting impact. Membership levels range from $10,000 to $100,000, with flexible multi-year giving options and a range of recognition benefits. To learn more or discuss the program, contact Jake Gold, CAE, Executive Director, at [email protected] or visit https://foundation.caionline.org/donate/legacy-circle/