It is headquartered in Washington, D.C.[1][2] AAF has 15 district operations, each located in and representing a different region of the nation.

AAF operates programs and initiatives, including the Advertising Hall of Fame, formerly known as the ADDY Awards, [4] the National Student Advertising Competition, the Mosaic Center on Multiculturalism, and summer Ad Camps for high school students in Chicago and Washington, D.C.[5][6] They are one of the U.S. advertising industry's largest competitions and is unique in its three-tier structure.

Local ADDY Award winners are then eligible to advance to one of 15 regional AAF District competitions.

[citation needed] A Gold ADDY Award is recognition of the highest level of creative excellence in that tier of competition.

Entries that are also considered outstanding and worthy of recognition receive a Silver ADDY Award.