Chicagoland Apartment Association

What Chicagoland Apartment Association does

The Chicagoland Apartment Association (CAA) is a 501(c)-style nonprofit trade association founded in 2018 and headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, serving as the regional affiliate of the National Apartment Association (NAA) for the rental housing industry. Its membership spans 191+ multifamily management companies and owners, 261+ associate (supplier) members, and collectively represents more than 200,000 rental units across the Chicagoland metro — making it the dominant NAA-affiliated association in the market. The organization delivers three core value streams: (1) advocacy and policy representation at the city and state level, including the 2020 Chicago Housing Solidarity Pledge and ongoing anti-rent-control campaigns; (2) education and certification, delivering NAA-issued credentials (CAM, CAS, CALP, CAPS) plus a recurring calendar of events (CAMME Awards, NYKO, Golf Outing, TSEC, Trade Show); and (3) networking and member-to-member referrals through directories, Career Center matchmaking, and Move for Hunger CSR partnerships.

CAA's underlying technology platform is Novi AMS, an association management system that handles membership records, event registration, certifications, and the public-facing website at chicagolandapartmentassociation.com. The platform is configured around company-based membership (rather than individual members), with separate tracks for owner/operator members and associate/supplier members, and integrates with Zoom for webinar delivery and speednetworking.com for structured event networking. No proprietary AI, data product, or technology IP is built or licensed; the association operates as a content, certification, and convening layer rather than a software company.

The business model is membership-dues-driven, supplemented by event sponsorship, certification fees, and training program revenue. CAA sells tiered company memberships to multifamily owners and operators (the primary dues-paying cohort) and to associate supplier members (secondary cohort), with revenue scaling by member count, units represented, and event participation. The 2026 dues structure was held flat, signaling a stable, mature dues model rather than a price-driven growth phase. The revenue mix is not disclosed, but the model is structurally analogous to other regional NAA affiliates, with non-dues revenue (events, sponsorships, certifications) typically contributing 30-50% of total receipts.

Name

Chicagoland Apartment Association

Legal name

Chicagoland Apartment Association

Website

https://caapts.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2018

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Chicagoland Apartment Association is a 2018-founded nonprofit affiliate of the National Apartment Association serving Chicagoland multifamily owners, operators, and suppliers. It delivers advocacy, NAA certifications (CAM, CAS, CALP, CAPS), and networking through events, education, and the Novi AMS membership platform.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Chicago

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Technology or R&D, Others

Pricing tiers

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

CAA is a regional trade association that provides company-based membership services to the Chicagoland rental housing industry. Its core offerings include legislative and regulatory advocacy, professional education and certification programs (CAM, CAS), signature networking events (CAMME Awards, TSEC, NYKO, Golf Outing), industry research and benchmarking tools, and an online member directory connecting apartment owners, managers, developers, builders, and supplier partners across Illinois.

Product overview

The Chicagoland Apartment Association operates as a professional membership organization offering a comprehensive suite of services to the multifamily housing industry. The core offerings center on three pillars: advocacy (representing members on legislative and policy issues through CAAPAC and SHAPE Illinois), education (professional certification programs including CAM and CAS designations, plus webinars, roundtables, and Speedy Sessions), and networking (signature events including the CAMME Awards, Trade Show & Education Conference, NYKO, Golf Outing, and Business Exchange). Additional member resources include the Career Center job board, Member Directory, NAA Click & Lease document service, DEI programming, and Salary & Benefits Benchmarking tools. The association uses Novi AMS association management software to power its member portal, event registration, and online learning platform.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• CAMME Awards: Chicagoland Apartment Marketing and Management Excellence Awards - a signature event to recognize and celebrate excellence in the multifamily housing industry.

Products and services

• CAA Membership Company-based membership providing advocacy representation, education programs, networking events, member directory access, and supplier discounts for apartment owners, managers, builders, developers, and suppliers in the Chicagoland area.
• CAM (Certified Apartment Manager) Program Professional certification program providing comprehensive multifamily industry training covering industry essentials, marketing, financial management, property maintenance, legal issues, resident experience, and human resources.
• CAS (Certified Apartment Supplier) Program Professional certification for suppliers designed to enhance relationships with apartment owners and managers, covering industry overview, multifamily housing types, and product value demonstration.
• CAMME Awards Chicagoland Apartment Marketing and Management Excellence awards program recognizing excellence in the multifamily housing industry across multiple categories.
• Trade Show & Education Conference (TSEC) Annual signature trade show event connecting multifamily professionals with industry suppliers and providing education sessions.
• New Year Kick Off (NYKO) Annual networking mixer event featuring drinks, hors d'oeuvres, and industry connections for CAA members.
• Golf Outing Annual golf event at Cog Hill Golf & Country Club providing networking opportunities and sponsorship visibility.
• Business Exchange Speed networking program connecting suppliers with decision-makers from management companies through structured one-on-one meetings.
• Preview Forecast Breakfast Annual industry forecast event providing market trend analysis, city and suburban rental housing perspectives, and expert observations.
• CAAPAC (Political Action Committee) Political action committee supporting legislative advocacy efforts and political engagement for the apartment industry.
• NAA Click & Lease Standardized lease document system provided through NAA membership for consistent residential lease agreements.
• CAA Career Center Job board platform at jobs.caapts.org for apartment industry employment opportunities, resume uploads, and job alerts.

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights10 records

Regional players

• Apartment Association of New England: Regional NAA affiliate covering multiple New England states. Comparable membership-based trade association serving multifamily owners/managers with advocacy, education, and events analogous to CAA's offerings.
• Pacific Northwest Apartment Association: Multi-state NAA affiliate serving Washington and Oregon. Comparable regional trade association model focused on advocacy, education, and networking for multifamily operators in the Pacific Northwest.

Direct peers

• Apartment Association of Greater Dallas: Regional NAA affiliate serving the Dallas-area multifamily industry with advocacy, education, and networking. Directly comparable business model, membership structure, and product mix to CAA at a similar scale.
• Houston Apartment Association: Regional NAA affiliate serving the Houston multifamily market with advocacy, education, and member events. Closely comparable membership model, governance structure, and product portfolio to CAA.
• Atlanta Apartment Association: Regional NAA affiliate serving metro Atlanta apartment owners, managers, and suppliers. Closely comparable to CAA in scope, member composition, advocacy focus, and certification/event programming.
• Greater Phoenix Apartment Association: Regional NAA affiliate serving Phoenix-area apartment industry professionals. Directly comparable in scale, member composition, and the advocacy/education/networking trinity that defines CAA's model.
• Apartment and Office Building Association of Metropolitan Denver (AOBA): Regional real estate trade association serving Denver-area apartment and office building owners/managers. Comparable membership, advocacy, and education programming structure to CAA in a similar mid-major metro market.

Broad incumbents

• National Apartment Association (NAA): National umbrella trade association for the U.S. rental housing industry and CAA's parent affiliate. Directly comparable as a membership organization providing advocacy, education (CAM/CAS/CALP/CAPS), and shared services to multifamily operators.
• California Apartment Association: Large statewide NAA affiliate representing California's rental housing industry. Comparable business model and advocacy/education stack to CAA, with significantly larger scale and a more aggressive regulatory environment.
• Florida Apartment Association: Large statewide NAA affiliate serving Florida's multifamily industry. Comparable business model and advocacy/education focus to CAA, with materially larger membership scale and statewide reach.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/CAAPTS
• Facebookfacebook.com/ChicagolandApartmentAssociation
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/chicagolandapartmentassociation
• Instagraminstagram.com/CAAPTS

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Chicagoland Apartment Association