Building on the momentum of ASAE’s successful 2025 tax reform advocacy, the campaign seeks to sustain strong relationships with policymakers amid ongoing scrutiny of the tax-exempt sector and a broader climate of declining institutional trust. Through targeted messaging, storytelling, and media outreach, Trust Associations will highlight associations as trusted conveners, trusted standard setters, and trusted advocates who drive progress, innovation, and civic engagement.

“The Trust Associations campaign underscores what we know to be true: that associations are an essential and trusted force in our society,” said ASAE President and CEO Michelle Mason, FASAE, CAE. “At a time when trust in institutions is eroding, it’s more important than ever to remind policymakers and the public that associations unite people around shared purpose, elevate professional standards, and strengthen our democracy. This campaign is about reaffirming that trust — and amplifying the positive impact our community delivers every day.”

The campaign will roll out in two phases: an initial phase focused on organic community engagement, followed by a broader earned media and advertising effort to reach national audiences. ASAE invites participation from across the association community.

Next week, ASAE will release a Trust Associations Campaign Toolkit to make engagement simple and impactful. The toolkit will include campaign branding, social media post prompts, ready-to-use graphics, and a platform for submitting short videos that tell the association story.

For more information about getting involved, contact Kyle Hayes, Senior Director of Public Policy, at khayes@asaecenter.org.

 

MEDIA CONTACT: Chris Vest, CAE, 202-626-2798, cvest@asaecenter.org

About ASAE

ASAE is a membership organization of more than 50,000 association executives and industry partners. Since it was established 100 years ago, its members have and continue to lead, manage, and work in or partner with organizations in more than a dozen association management disciplines, from executive management to finance to technology. With the support of the ASAE Research Foundation, a separate nonprofit entity, ASAE is the premier source of learning, knowledge, and future-oriented research for the association and nonprofit profession and provides resources, education, ideas, and advocacy to enhance the power and performance of the association and nonprofit community. Visit ASAE at Welcome to ASAE — American Society of Association Executives (asaecenter.org)