Recruiting Board Members in Community Associations

Recruiting qualified and engaged board members is one of the biggest challenges for condominium, homeowner (HOA), and townhome community associations. Even in well-run communities, owners may hesitate to volunteer because they are unsure of the board’s responsibilities, the time commitment, or what the role actually entails.

However, strong volunteer leadership is essential to the association’s financial health, daily operations, and long-term stability. When community associations take a thoughtful and proactive approach to recruiting, they can build an informed and collaborative board.

Below is an overview of board roles, responsibilities, and practical strategies to help communities identify and recruit new board members.

Understanding Board Member Roles and Responsibilities

Board members are both owners and volunteers, charged with fulfilling their fiduciary duty to the association. This includes:

• Managing and maintaining common property
• Enforcing the association’s rules and regulations
• Overseeing maintenance, repairs, and replacements
• Approving budgets, assessments, and long-term financial planning
• Working with vendors and contractors
• Partnering with the association’s professional team (management, legal counsel, insurance, accounting, etc.)

When potential candidates do not fully understand these responsibilities, they are less likely to run for open positions. Educating owners early and consistently is a key step in recruiting future board members.

Filling Open Board Positions

A successful recruitment process not only fills seats, but it also helps new board members feel prepared and supported. Associations can improve engagement by:

• Developing an Overview of Board Positions: Explain the general role of the board and the specific duties associated with the open position/s (ex. treasurer, secretary).
• Setting Expectations: Clarify time commitments, meeting schedules, committee involvement, and overall workload.
• Assigning Mentors: Pair new board members with experienced volunteers to create a support system, answer questions, and ease the learning curve.
• Preparing a Transition Program: Adopt a formal transition process for onboarding new members including a handoff of ongoing projects or outstanding issues along with access to association documents, accounts, and records.

Identifying Eligible and Engaged Board Candidates

Finding strong candidates often begins with recognizing engaged owners, including:

• Owners who frequently attend meetings
• Residents who raise questions, volunteer for tasks, or demonstrate community interest
• Individuals with valuable skills (ex. finance, project management, event planning)

Your governing documents will outline eligibility criteria (ex. ownership requirements, term limits, assessment status, owner-occupancy). Use these guidelines to ensure candidates qualify and understand election requirements before they run.

Promoting Open Board Positions

Healthy communities rely on a pipeline of engaged volunteers. Consistent communication helps residents understand that their participation directly impacts the community’s success. Advertise open positions through association newsletters, emails, flyers, website announcements, or meeting reminders.

Also consider hosting volunteer events. Community clean-ups, block parties, garage sales, and other association social gatherings can reveal residents who demonstrate leadership and passion.

Accurate ownership records are equally important. Outdated email addresses or mailing lists can prevent owners from receiving notices or election materials leading to reduced engagement.

Legal Resource

Strong volunteer leadership is critical for the long-term success of any community association. By clarifying board responsibilities, proactively identifying candidates, and establishing structured recruitment practices, associations can ensure they have a knowledgeable, committed, and effective board.

If your association has questions about elections, board transitions, governance, or other legal concerns, do not hesitate to contact our law firm.

Please call 855-537-0500 or visit www.ksnlaw.com.

Since 1983, KSN has been a legal resource for condominium, homeowner, and townhome associations. Additionally, we represent clients in real estate transactions, collections, landlord/tenant issues, and property tax appeals. We represent thousands of clients and community associations throughout the US with offices in several states including Florida, Illinois, Indiana, and Wisconsin.

Please note the material contained in this article is for educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. No attorney-client relationship is established by your review or receipt of the information contained in this article. You should not act on the information discussed in this article without first obtaining legal advice from an attorney duly licensed to practice law in your State. While KSN has made every effort to include up-to-date information in this article, the law can change quickly. Accordingly, please understand that information discussed in this article may not yet reflect the most recent legal developments. Material is not guaranteed to be correct, complete, or up to date. KSN reserves the right to revise or update the information and statements of law discussed in the article or law at any time, without notice, and disclaims any liability for your use of information or statements of law discussed in the article, or the accessibility of the article generally. This article may be considered advertising in some jurisdictions under applicable law/s and/or ethical rules/regulations. © 2026 Kovitz Shifrin Nesbit, A Professional Corporation.