Nomination Criteria

The annual Barton A. Cummings Gold Medal award is the American Advertising Federation’s highest volunteer service award. It was established by the AAF board of directors in 1994 to recognize exceptional individuals for their volunteer service through work with AAF at the Local, District and National levels. The award is not to be confused with the annual Hall of Fame award.

Qualified nominees for the AAF Barton A. Cummings Gold Medal may come from any one of three AAF member classifications: advertising industry professionals, media companies, and/or advertising educators. They must have contributed significantly as an AAF volunteer at the National level for at least five consecutive years, during their Local and District volunteer work or before or after that work. Significant contributions at the National level may include such areas as board service, Hall of Achievement, the American Advertising Awards, a committee on diversity or multicultural efforts, etc.

The potential recipient must have demonstrated at the Local and District levels:

  • Understanding and volunteer support for their Local club, District and Region, as well as an understanding of AAF’s National structures, e.g. the Council of Governors.
  • Noteworthy leadership and worthy contributions in one or more AAF activities, including but not limited to advertising education; diversity, equity and inclusion; government relations and/or other volunteer work that supports the advancement of advertising and the AAF brand, “the unifying voice of advertising.”

While the candidate need not have completed his or her primary career, the breadth of contributions should include a long-term commitment to AAF volunteer service and achievement. The candidate may be living or deceased.

First time nominees not awarded  AAF’s Barton A. Cummings Gold medal in a particular year may be carried over to the second year and updated by the nominator if desired.

In subsequent years (at least three), if a twice nominated individual, overlooked two years in a row, has clearly met Local, District, Regional and National criteria, that individual may be re-nominated for a third time only.


Required Information & Documentation

Nominations may be made by any AAF member, including advertisers, advertising agencies, and media companies.

Nomination submissions must include the following:

  • How the nominee meets all of the above nomination criteria, including Local, District, Regional, Council of Governors and National structures
  • Years of AAF volunteer service
  • All AAF Local, District, Regional and National offices held, including dates
  • Other recognition or awards for volunteer contributions to advertising
  • 150 word or less summary of nominee’s business career
  • A photograph of the nominee [high-resolution (4" x 6", 300 dpi) JPG or TIFF]
  • Recommendation letters

Nominations should be typed, double-spaced and three pages or less.

Only one nomination for each candidate is allowed. Any letters of support or endorsement may be included as additional pages. Please submit all nomination materials as one combined PDF file.

Celebration of our 2026 honoree will be held during ADMERICA 2026 in Austin, Texas.

If you have any questions about the nomination process, please contact Dawn Reeves at [email protected].


Nomination Deadline is March 18, 2026

Nominate