CAI is a national, nonprofit 501(c)6 association created in 1973 to educate and provide resources to America’s community association industry. Its members include: volunteer leaders of condominium and homeowner associations, cooperatives, and planned communities of all sizes; community managers and management firms; builders and developers; and attorneys, accountants, lenders, reserve specialists, insurance providers, and other providers of professional services and products for community associations. CAI has more than 50 chapters throughout the United States.
CAI developed the Model Code of Ethics for Community Association Board Members to encourage the thoughtful consideration of ethical standards for community leaders. The model code is not meant to address every potential ethical dilemma but is offered as a basic framework that can be modeled and adopted by any common-interest community.
Board members should:
Strive at all times to serve the best interests of the association as a whole regardless of their personal interests.
Use sound judgment to make the best possible business decisions for the association, taking into consideration all available information, circumstances and resources.
Act within the boundaries of their authority as de ned by law and the governing documents of the association.
Provide opportunities for residents to comment on decisions facing the association.
Perform their duties without bias for or against any individual or group of owners or non-owner residents.
Disclose personal or professional relationships with any company or individual who has or is seeking to have a business rela- tionship with the association.
Conduct open, fair and well-publicized elections.
Always speak with one voice, supporting all duly adopted board decisions—even if the board member was in the minority regarding actions that may not have obtained unanimous consent.
Board members should not:
Reveal confidential information provided by contractors or share information with those bidding for association contracts unless speci cally authorized by the board.
Make unauthorized promises to a contractor or bidder.
Advocate or support any action or activity that violates a law or regulatory requirement.
Use their positions or decision-making authority for personal gain or to seek advantage over another owner or non-owner resident.
Spend unauthorized association funds for their own personal use or benefit.
Accept any gifts—directly or indirectly—from owners, residents, contractors or suppliers.
Misrepresent known facts in any issue involving association business.
Divulge personal information about any association owner, resident or employee that was obtained in the performance of board duties.
Make personal attacks on colleagues, staff or residents.
Harass, threaten or attempt through any means to control or instill fear in any board member, owner, resident, employee or contractor.
Reveal to any owner, resident or other third party the discussions, decisions and comments made at any meeting of the board properly closed or held in executive session.
CAI provides learning opportunities for community managers, homeowner volunteer leaders, association residents and service providers. Visit www.caionline.org/education to learn more.
CAI public educational documents are downloadable below. These are well-written and worth the read.