Educating and inspiring the next generation of marketing talent.
Founded in 1983, the ANA Educational Foundation (AEF) is the bridge that connects the advertising, marketing and academic communities. Together they educate and inspire the next generation of talent while advancing the understanding of marketing and advertising in society. In 2015, the AEF joined ANA as its educational foundation.
Partnership Programs
To help professors, practitioners, and students learn, collaborate, and innovate together, AEF brings professionals to classrooms as guest speakers, partners academics with agencies and marketing organizations, and honors inspiring marketing and advertising trailblazers, as well as outstanding students.
Academic Resources
Educational content is the cornerstone of AEF’s mission and is key to enriching the understanding of advertising and marketing in society, culture, and the economy. Its academic publications and projects include Advertising & Society Quarterly (ASQ), ADText, and Race & Ethnicity in Advertising — America in the 20th Century.
Building Talent
Brands are struggling to entice recent college graduates to seek careers in marketing and advertising, due partially to a lack of communication between marketers, professors, and students. AEF seeks to not only identify the causes of the talent problem but to offer proactive solutions.
Give the Gift of ANA University Membership Program
The ANA Educational Foundation’s Give the Gift of ANA University Membership program allows organizations to donate an ANA membership to a school of your choice enabling both professors and students to tap into the vast network of industry programs, speakers, and curricula that the ANA and the AEF offers.
As a member of the Give the Gift of ANA University Membership community, your company will have the opportunity to develop a mutually beneficial partnership with a college or university and engage directly with professors, speak on campus, interact with students, and become part of our exclusive ANA University Membership Committee and HBCU Campus Connect Community to network and learn from other donors and universities.
MADE Internship Program
Developed by AEF for the next generation of leaders, the MADE (Marketing and Advertising Education) summer internship program originated from findings uncovered in the study "Bridging the Talent Disconnect: Charting Pathways to Future Growth." That report revealed a serious need for a robust internship experience as a critical step to future entry-level employment in the advertising and marketing industry.
The goal of the MADE program is to channel the highest quality, most diverse talent into a best-in-class summer internship program that showcases the excitement, energy, and entrepreneurial spirit of what the marketing and advertising industry has to offer.
Honors Night
Through the annual Honors Night, AEF acknowledges its industry partners' contributions to education and the development of tomorrow's outstanding talent.
The Honors Night gala recognizes one outstanding organization from each of AEF's constituencies – marketers, agencies, and media – for its accomplishments in the industry and its support of the AEF mission. A Lifetime Achievement Award and Inspire Award are also presented to individuals for their exceptional contributions.
Proceeds help fulfill AEF's educational initiatives for professors and students, and contribute to building the next generation of talent.
Building a Case Study Library
Professors have long claimed that using marketing case studies is an effective way to engage students in all aspects of marketing and provides real-world experience that will help them as they enter the industry. With this in mind, the AEF is partnering with ANA's CMO Global Growth Council to build a library of relevant case studies. As research also shows that marketing is perceived as more qualitative than quantitative, every case study will include data sets (real or simulated) to maximize learning.
We are looking for committed industry partners to submit campaign information and assets so we can translate the work you've done into educational materials. Reach out to Marcia Soling at ms@aef.com if you'd like to participate.
