The Seal of Distinction program honors association boards and managers who create and lead communities that are great places to own and live.

Community associations rely on volunteer elected leaders to responsibly govern. Often these Boards choose to partner with a management company.

When those leadership teams consistently recognize, fund and follow best practices, the result is most often a quietly well-governed and well-managed community. CAI-NC honors those community associations with the Seal of Distinction, recognizing them as a Community Association of Excellence.

The program launched in 2023, resulting in the recognition of 37 communities across the state. These associations demonstrated excellence across objective standards in the arenas of finance, insurance, reserves, governance, communications and enforcement of community policy.

The next cycle of applications for these three-year designations will open in early 2026, to include 2025 financial information. Community associations earning the 2026 Seal of Distinction will be announced and celebrated at the 2026 Annual Conference & Expo in August in Winston-Salem.