What is association management?

Association management is a distinct field of management because of the unique environment of associations. Associations are unique in that the 'owners' are dues-paying members. Members also govern their association through an elected board or other governing body, along with association committees, commissions, task forces, councils and other units.

Organization

Typically, the board selects, retains, and evaluates a chief executive officer or an executive director who is responsible for the day-to-day management of the association and paid staff.

Duties

Managers within the association environment are responsible for many of the same tasks that are found in other organizational contexts. These include:

  • Financial Management
  • Human Resource Management
  • Information Technologies Management
  • Meeting Management
  • Project Management

Distinctions

Other aspects of management are unique for association managers. These include: membership recruitment and retention; tax-exempt accounting and financial management; development of non-dues revenue and fundraising. Association managers must also be familiar with laws and regulations that pertain only to associations. To attain the knowledge needed to effectively operate in association management, its practitioners may choose to pursue the Certified Association Executive designation.

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1. What is an assessment?
2. Are 'dues' different than 'assessments?'
3. What is a homeowners association (HOA)?
4. What is a community association?
5. What is a neighborhood association?
6. What is the difference between a homeowners association and a neighborhood association?
7. What is association management?
8. What is an association management company and what do they do?
9. Does my community have an association management company, and if so, how do I contact them?
10. What is a 'managing agent'?
11. What is a 'proxy'?
12. What is a 'quorom'?
13. What is a 'recuse'?
14. What is a board of directors?
15. How do I contact my board of directors?
16. What is Community Associations Institute?
17. Is the Community Associations Institute a national organization, or are they local to my area?
18. What are CC&Rs?
19. What are 'bylaws'?
20. What are governing documents?
21. What is a lien?
22. What is the 'declaration'?
23. What is an estoppel letter?
24. What is an 'easement'?
25. What is a 'notice of noncompliance'?
26. What is a 'common area'?
27. What are ordinances?