American Advertising Federation Inc
Public records raise at least one point you should look into before giving.
What it says it does
AMERICAN ADVERTISING FEDERATION, INC. WAS ESTABLISHED TO PROVIDE LEADERSHIP AND CULTIVATE, PROMOTE, AND DISSEMINATE KNOWLEDGE AND INFORMATION ON ISSUES INVOLVING AND AFFECTING ADVERTISING.
- Income
- $8.8 million
- Spending
- $8.4 million
- Employees
- 20
- Volunteers
- 1,000
- Highest pay
- $622,848, president & ceo
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. How we rate
Financial health
We do not score finances when yearly spending is very small or the return has too little detail. The ratios stop meaning much at that size.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. How we rate
Governance
This return does not answer enough of the governance questions to score.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. 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)
- $3.3 million spent. THE ADVERTISING HALL OF FAME CELEBRATES INDUSTRY LEGENDS, WHO, THROUGHOUT THEIR TRAILBLAZING CAREERS, HAVE DISTINGUISHED THEMSELVES WITH OUTSTANDING, NATIONALLY AND GLOBALLY RECOGNIZED PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENTS; REMARKABLE INNOVATIONS THAT HAVE CHANGED OUR INDUSTRY AND OUR CULTURE; AND EXCEPTIONAL PHILANTHROPIC WORK BOTH WITHIN THE ADVERTISING INDUSTRY AND IN THEIR COMMUNITIES. SINCE ITS INCEPTION IN 1949, NEARLY 300 ADVERTISING LEGENDS AND TEN ICONIC GLOBAL COMPANIES HAVE BEEN ELECTED TO THE HALL. THE EVENT IS AMONG THE ADVERTISING INDUSTRY'S BIGGEST AND MOST PRESTIGIOUS OF THE YEAR, ATTENDED BY NEARLY 1,000 C-SUITE AND SENIOR LEVEL EXECUTIVES FROM THE WORLD'S LARGEST BRANDS, ADVERTISING AGENCIES, MEDIA AND TECH COMPANIES AND IS THE LARGEST FUNDRAISER FOR THE FEDERATION PROVIDING A VITAL SOURCE OF FUNDING NECESSARY TO CONTINUE THE WIDE RANGE OF EDUCATIONAL, DIVERSITY, AND ADVOCACY INITIATIVES THAT ARE CRITICAL TO OUR INDUSTRY.
- $847,949 spent. THE AMERICAN ADVERTISING AWARDS IS THE ADVERTISING INDUSTRY'S LARGEST AND MOST REPRESENTATIVE COMPETITION, ATTRACTING MORE THAN 25,000 ENTRIES EVERY YEAR IN LOCAL AAF AD CLUB COMPETITIONS. THE MISSION OF THE AMERICAN ADVERTISING AWARDS IS TO RECOGNIZE AND REWARD THE CREATIVE SPIRIT OF EXCELLENCE IN THE ART OF ADVERTISING.CONDUCTED ANNUALLY BY THE AAF, THE LOCAL TIER OF THE AMERICAN ADVERTISING AWARDS IS THE FIRST OF A THREE-TIER, NATIONAL COMPETITION. CONCURRENTLY, ACROSS THE COUNTRY, LOCAL ENTRANTS VIE TO RECEIVE AN ADDY AWARD--RECOGNITION AS THE VERY BEST IN THEIR MARKETS. AT THE SECOND TIER, LOCAL ADDY WINNERS COMPETE AGAINST WINNERS FROM OTHER LOCAL CLUBS IN ONE OF 15 DISTRICT COMPETITIONS. DISTRICT ADDY WINNERS ARE THEN FORWARDED TO THE THIRD TIER, THE NATIONAL STAGE OF THE AMERICAN ADVERTISING AWARDS. ENTRY IN YOUR LOCAL COMPETITION IS THE FIRST STEP TOWARD WINNING A NATIONAL ADDY. ENTERING THE AMERICAN ADVERTISING AWARDS SUPPORTS THE ENTIRE ADVERTISING INDUSTRY, BECAUSE THE AAF AND ITS LOCAL AND DISTRICT AFFILIATES USE THE PROCEEDS TO ENHANCE ADVERTISING THROUGH PROGRAMS SUCH AS PUBLIC SERVICE, INTERNSHIPS, ADVOCACY GROUPS, ADVERTISING EDUCATION, AND CONSUMER AWARENESS. SELECTION OF THE MOST CREATIVE ENTRY IN EACH CATEGORY IS AFFECTED BY A SCORING PROCESS IN WHICH A PANEL OF JUDGES EVALUATES ALL CREATIVE DIMENSIONS OF EVERY ENTRY. A GOLD ADDY IS RECOGNITION OF THE HIGHEST LEVEL OF CREATIVE EXCELLENCE AND IS JUDGED TO BE SUPERIOR TO ALL OTHER ENTRIES IN THE CATEGORY. ENTRIES THAT ARE ALSO CONSIDERED OUTSTANDING AND WORTHY OF RECOGNITION RECEIVE A SILVER ADDY. THE NUMBER OF AWARDS GIVEN IN EACH CATEGORY IS DETERMINED BY THE JUDGES, BASED ON THE RELATIVE QUALITY OF WORK IN THAT CATEGORY.
- $1.6 million spent. THE ADVERTISING HALL OF ACHIEVEMENT IS THE PREMIER EVENT RECOGNIZING TOP YOUNG THOUGHT LEADERS MAKING A SIGNIFICANT IMPACT ON OUR INDUSTRY AND THEIR COMMUNITIES. THE IMPRESSIVE ALUMNI NETWORKEACH SELECTED BY PEERS IN THE ADVERTISING INDUSTRYINCLUDES NEARLY 200 MEMBERS WHO HAVE TRANSFORMED THE LANDSCAPE OF ADVERTISING, ENTERTAINMENT AND MEDIA.THE ADVERTISING HALL OF ACHIEVEMENT IS THE INDUSTRY'S PREMIER AWARD FOR OUTSTANDING ADVERTISING PROFESSIONALS AGE 40 AND UNDER. THE AAF ESTABLISHED THIS PROGRAM IN 1993 AS A WAY TO RECOGNIZE TALENTED INDIVIDUALS WHOSE LEADERSHIP, CAREER ACHIEVEMENT AND PERSONAL CHARACTERISTICS INSPIRE OTHERS TO EXCEL.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. How we rate
Legitimacy checks
Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.
Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(6) business league.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
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 October 13, 2026.
Are donations tax-deductible? Caution.
The IRS master file records contributions to this 501(c)(6) business league as not deductible.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
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 October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since November 1967.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
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 21, 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.