The AAF's local Ad Clubs, Ad 2 Clubs, and College Chapters are comprised of anywhere between 30 to 3,000 members and represent all aspects and disciplines of the advertising industry.They are categorized by geographic location and membership size. These categories help to ensure that all local members are well-represented by delegates to the AAF's national board of directors. AAF local associations are categorized by size as follows:
Each division is represented by a delegate to the AAF national board of directors. Through these delegates, local ad clubs have a voice in national policy and decisions.
The AAF map is then further broken down into 15 multi-state districts. Each district elects a district governor to serve on the AAF's Council of Governors. Members of the Council also serve on the AAF board of directors, representing the interests and concerns of local ad club members. AAF districts serve another vital role: They set the framework for well-known industry programs like the American Advertising Awards and the National Student Advertising Competition (NSAC). In each program, district-wide competitions yield top contenders, who then advance on to a national round.