Effective Date: January 1, 2026
The American Advertising and Marketing Association (“AAMA,” “we,” “us,” or “our”) respects the privacy of our members, visitors, event participants, customers, applicants, contributors, and other individuals who interact with the Association.
This Privacy Policy explains the types of information we may collect, how we use that information, when it may be shared, the choices available to you, and the steps you may take to make a privacy-related request.
This policy applies to information collected through the AAMA website, membership and registration forms, purchases, events, programs, communications, and other services operated by or on behalf of the American Advertising and Marketing Association.
Information We Collect
The information we collect depends on how you interact with AAMA.
Information You Provide to Us
We may collect information that you voluntarily provide when you:
- Apply for, purchase, or renew a membership
- Submit a Student, Professional, Academic, or Group Membership application
- Register for an event, program, webinar, or professional development opportunity
- Purchase products or services
- Submit a contact form or other inquiry
- Apply for an award, committee, volunteer opportunity, or other Association program
- Subscribe to newsletters, announcements, or other communications
- Participate in surveys, research, nominations, or feedback programs
- Submit information for publication, participation, or inclusion in an AAMA resource
- Otherwise communicate or interact with AAMA
Depending on the interaction, this information may include your name, email address, telephone number, mailing or billing address, organization, employer, job title, academic institution, graduation year, professional information, membership status, communication preferences, transaction information, and other information you choose to provide.
Group Membership applications may also include information concerning an organization’s participating members or designated contacts.
Payment Information
When you make a payment through the AAMA website, payment information may be collected and processed by our payment-processing providers, including Stripe.
AAMA generally does not receive or store your complete payment-card number. We may receive transaction-related information such as your name, billing information, transaction amount, payment status, payment method type, transaction identifier, and other information necessary to maintain records, provide services, issue refunds when applicable, and address payment-related questions.
Payment processors may collect and process information in accordance with their own privacy policies and legal obligations.
Information Collected Automatically
When you visit or use the AAMA website, certain information may be collected automatically by the website platform, analytics services, security systems, or other technologies used to operate the site.
This information may include:
- Internet Protocol address
- Browser type and version
- Device type
- Operating system
- Approximate geographic location
- Referring website or source
- Pages viewed
- Links clicked
- Date and time of visits
- Length and frequency of visits
- General website interaction and usage information
- Cookie and similar technology identifiers
- Information used to identify or prevent security threats, fraud, or abuse
We may use this information to understand how visitors use the website, improve site performance, maintain security, identify technical problems, and evaluate the usefulness of AAMA content, resources, and services.
Cookies and Similar Technologies
The AAMA website and third-party services used to operate it may use cookies, pixels, local storage, and similar technologies.
These technologies may be used to maintain website functionality, remember preferences, understand website traffic, measure engagement, improve performance, prevent fraud or abuse, and support other operational purposes.
Some cookies may be placed or controlled by third-party service providers. Where required by applicable law, visitors may be provided with options to accept, reject, limit, or otherwise manage certain categories of cookies or tracking technologies.
Your browser may also allow you to block or delete cookies. Disabling certain cookies may affect the operation or functionality of portions of the website.
How We Use Information
AAMA may use information we collect to:
- Establish, maintain, and administer memberships
- Verify membership eligibility
- Process membership applications and renewals
- Administer Group Memberships
- Process purchases, registrations, payments, returns, and refunds
- Operate events, programs, awards, educational opportunities, and professional development activities
- Respond to questions, inquiries, and support requests
- Send membership notices and administrative communications
- Provide newsletters, announcements, Association news, and other requested communications
- Maintain membership and organizational records
- Improve the AAMA website, Resource Library, programs, services, and member experience
- Analyze website usage and engagement
- Conduct surveys, research, and organizational planning
- Protect the security and integrity of our website, systems, members, and services
- Detect or prevent fraud, misuse, or unauthorized activity
- Enforce our policies, agreements, and terms
- Fulfill legal, regulatory, tax, accounting, or reporting requirements
- Establish, exercise, or defend legal rights
- Carry out other purposes disclosed when the information is collected
We may also use aggregated or de-identified information for research, reporting, statistical analysis, organizational planning, and other legitimate Association purposes when that information does not reasonably identify an individual.
Communications
If you become an AAMA member, register for an event, make a purchase, submit a form, or otherwise interact with the Association, we may send you communications necessary to administer that relationship. These may include membership notices, transaction confirmations, event information, service announcements, account-related communications, policy updates, and responses to your inquiries.
We may also send newsletters, industry information, announcements, educational materials, event promotions, or other communications where permitted by law.
You may unsubscribe from optional marketing or promotional email communications using the unsubscribe mechanism provided in those communications. Unsubscribing from promotional communications does not prevent AAMA from sending transactional, administrative, membership-related, or other communications necessary to provide a service you requested.
How We Share Information
AAMA may disclose personal information when reasonably necessary to operate the Association and provide its services.
Information may be shared with service providers that assist us with functions such as:
- Website hosting and management
- Form processing
- Payment processing
- Email delivery
- Membership administration
- Event management
- Analytics
- Information technology
- Security and fraud prevention
- Professional, accounting, or legal services
- Order fulfillment and shipping
- Other services necessary to operate AAMA programs and activities
These providers may receive information only as appropriate for the services they perform and may be subject to contractual, legal, or other obligations concerning their handling of personal information.
We may also disclose information when reasonably necessary to comply with applicable law, respond to lawful government or legal requests, protect the rights or safety of AAMA or others, investigate suspected fraud or misuse, enforce our agreements or policies, or establish, exercise, or defend legal claims.
If AAMA undergoes a merger, restructuring, reorganization, transfer of operations, or similar organizational change, information may be transferred as part of that process subject to applicable law.
Membership Information and Directories
Certain AAMA programs, events, committees, chapters, professional directories, or networking opportunities may involve sharing limited information among participants or members.
When information is intended for publication, inclusion in a directory, participant list, professional profile, award announcement, committee listing, or similar public or member-facing purpose, AAMA may provide notice or obtain information specifically for that purpose where appropriate.
AAMA does not sell or rent its membership lists to third parties for their independent marketing purposes.
Third-Party Websites and Services
The AAMA website may contain links to websites, resources, social networks, payment services, publications, or other services operated by third parties.
AAMA does not control the privacy practices of third-party websites or services. Information you provide directly to a third party is governed by that third party’s privacy practices and policies.
The presence of a link on the AAMA website does not mean that AAMA controls or assumes responsibility for the privacy or data-security practices of the linked service.
Data Retention
AAMA retains personal information for as long as reasonably necessary for the purposes for which it was collected and for legitimate Association, administrative, legal, accounting, tax, security, and recordkeeping purposes.
Retention periods may vary depending on the type of information and the nature of your relationship with AAMA. For example, certain membership, transaction, event, financial, or organizational records may need to be retained after an active relationship has ended.
When personal information is no longer reasonably necessary, AAMA may delete, anonymize, aggregate, or otherwise dispose of it in accordance with applicable requirements and our operational practices.
Data Security
AAMA uses reasonable administrative, technical, and organizational measures designed to protect personal information against unauthorized access, loss, misuse, alteration, or disclosure.
We also rely on established third-party providers for portions of our website, payment processing, hosting, communications, and other technical infrastructure.
No website, computer system, electronic transmission, or method of storage can be guaranteed to be completely secure. Accordingly, while we take reasonable measures to protect information, we cannot guarantee absolute security.
Your Privacy Rights and Choices
Depending on where you reside and the laws that apply to AAMA’s processing of your information, you may have certain privacy rights.
These may include the right to:
- Request information about personal information AAMA maintains about you
- Request access to certain personal information
- Request correction of inaccurate personal information
- Request deletion of certain personal information
- Request information about how certain personal information has been used or disclosed
- Withdraw consent where processing is based on consent and withdrawal is permitted
- Opt out of certain marketing communications
- Object to or restrict certain processing where applicable
- Opt out of certain sales, sharing, targeted advertising, or similar uses where applicable
- Receive certain information in a portable format where required
- Exercise applicable privacy rights without unlawful discrimination
These rights are not absolute and may be subject to legal exceptions. For example, AAMA may need to retain information to complete transactions, administer memberships, maintain financial or organizational records, comply with legal obligations, detect fraud, resolve disputes, or protect legal rights.
Privacy Requests
To make a privacy-related request, use the AAMA Contact Page.
Please provide enough information for AAMA to understand your request and reasonably identify the information involved. We may request additional information when necessary to verify your identity or authority to make a request and to protect personal information from unauthorized disclosure or deletion.
AAMA will respond to valid privacy requests in accordance with applicable law.
Children’s Privacy
The AAMA website and its general services are not directed toward children under 13 years of age. We do not knowingly seek to collect personal information from children under 13 through the general operation of the website.
If we learn that personal information has been collected from a child in a manner inconsistent with applicable law, we will take appropriate steps to address the information.
International Visitors
AAMA serves a professional community that may include members and visitors throughout the Americas and elsewhere.
If you access the AAMA website or provide information from outside the United States, your information may be transferred to, processed, or stored in the United States or other jurisdictions where AAMA or its service providers operate.
Privacy and data-protection laws may differ between jurisdictions. Where applicable law provides specific rights or protections, AAMA will address those obligations as required.
Changes to This Privacy Policy
AAMA may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our services, technology, operations, legal requirements, or privacy practices.
When this policy is revised, the Effective Date at the top of the page will be updated. Material changes may also be communicated through the website or other appropriate means when required.
We encourage visitors and members to review this policy periodically to remain informed about AAMA’s privacy practices.
Contact AAMA
For privacy questions, requests, or concerns, please use the AAMA Contact Page.