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Community Association Institute Research Foundation

EIN 23-7438451 · Falls Church, VA

Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE FOUNDATION'S MISSION IS TO RESEARCH AND ANALYZE THE OPERATION OF COMMON INTEREST COMMUNITIES AND TO STUDY EMERGING ISSUES AND TRENDS IN THIS FIELD. TO ACHIEVE THIS MISSION, THE ORGANIZATION CONDUCTS AND COMMISSIONS RESEARCH, COLLECTS DATA, ISSUES SURVEYS, HOLDS FOCUS GROUPS, ISSUES PUBLICATIONS AND AWARDS SCHOLARSHIPS. INCORPORATED AS AN EXEMPT, NONPROFIT ENTITY IN 1975, THE FOUNDATION IS THE ONLY ORGANIZATION IN THE UNITED STATES THAT CONDUCTS INDUSTRY RESEARCH AND MAKES INFORMATION AVAILABLE TO PEOPLE INVOLVED IN COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT.

Income
$519,724
Spending
$388,776
Spent on programs
72%
Reserves
19.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 91%
Employees
0
Volunteers
25

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Strong: 100 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 19.1 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 25% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 15% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    72% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 10 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    14 of 14 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    7 of 7

    Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Impact evidence

Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.

Programs described in its return (3)
  1. $231,845 spent. RESEARCH PROJECTS: THE FOUNDATION PRODUCES A VARIETY OF ACCURATE, INSIGHTFUL, AND TIMELY INFORMATION, INCLUDING: -NEEDS-BASED RESEARCH TO HELP COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION STAKEHOLDERS ADDRESS SPECIFIC CHALLENGES AND PREPARE FOR EMERGING ISSUES; -PUBLISH BEST PRACTICES REPORTS ON CRITICAL TOPICS LIKE ENERGY EFFICIENCY, GOVERNANCE, FINANCIAL OPERATIONS, AND STRATEGIC PLANNING; -PROVIDE RESEARCH SCHOLARSHIPS FOR GRADUATE STUDENTS; -COLLECT HISTORICAL DATA ON THE DEVELOPMENT, OPERATION, AND MANAGEMENT OF COMMON-INTEREST COMMUNITIES, INCLUDING SURVEYS ANALYZING HOMEOWNER SATISFACTION AND COMMUNITY MANAGER COMPENSATION.
  2. $46,904 spent. MEETINGS & CONFERENCE: AS PART OF ITS MISSION, THE FOUNDATION PROVIDES AUTHORITATIVE RESEARCH AND ANALYSIS ON COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION TRENDS, ISSUES, AND OPERATIONS. FOUNDATION STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS PRESENT THIS INFORMATION AT CAI AND INDUSTRY EVENTS, SUCH AS THE CAI ANNUAL CONFERENCE, COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION LAW SEMINAR, AND CEO-MC RETREAT, BY OFFERING EDUCATION SESSIONS AND SPEAKING WITH CONFERENCE ATTENDEES. PROGRAM TOPICS INCLUDE CUTTING-EDGE FOUNDATION RESEARCH ON TECHNOLOGY AND CYBER SECURITY, AGING INFRASTRUCTURE, NON-POTABLE WATER, NATURAL DISASTERS, ETHICS, AND MANY OTHER IMPORTANT ITEMS IN THE COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION INDUSTRY.
  3. $2,646 spent. MARKETING: THE FOUNDATION EMPLOYS A VARIETY OF METHODS TO SHARE INFORMATION ON COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION TRENDS, ISSUES, AND OPERATIONS. CURRENT PROGRAMS AND INITIATIVES ARE HIGHLIGHTED ON THE FOUNDATION WEBSITE, SHARED IN THE CATALYST EMAIL DISTRIBUTION LIST, AND PROMOTED ON THE FOUNDATION YOUTUBE CHANNEL AND THROUGH ADVERTISEMENTS IN INDUSTRY PUBLICATIONS. IN ADDITION, FOUNDATION RESEARCH IS DISTRIBUTED THROUGH CAI'S NUMEROUS COMMUNICATION CHANNELS, INCLUDING EMAIL MARKETING, MAGAZINE AND NEWSLETTER ARTICLES, AND VARIOUS SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS INCLUDING FACEBOOK, TWITTER, AND YOUTUBE.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Legitimacy checks

  1. Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.

    Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  2. Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.

    Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.

    Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 30, 2026.

  3. Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.

    On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.

    Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 10, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending June 2025.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since March 1975.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  6. Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.

    Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.

    Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated October 7, 2026.

  7. Could it be confused with another charity? Worth knowing.

    A much larger organization has a similar name: Community Research Foundation Inc (San Diego, CA), EIN 95-3248148. If that is the one you meant, check the EIN before giving.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.