Media Partnership Program (MPP) History

In the late 1990s, AAF Tucson faced financial challenges common to many non-profit organizations. To address this, the club implemented a groundbreaking initiative: the Media Partnership Program (MPP).

Inspired by the success of a similar program in Salt Lake City, AAFT secured significant media donations from local television and radio stations, print and outdoor partners. These donations included advertising placement, which, when leveraged strategically, far exceeded their monetary value.

A key partnership with United Way provided substantial annual funding for over a decade. This funding enabled the Ad Club—now American Advertising Federation of Tucson, or AAFT —to hire a dedicated executive director, strengthen its financial position and establish the Tucson Advertising Federation Educational Foundation (TAFEF).

The MPP continues to be a vital component of AAFT’s success, empowering the organization to support education, industry advancement and community initiatives.

Key Benefits of the MPP

  • Significant cost savings: Nonprofits can leverage MPP Program media time to reach a wider audience at a greatly reduced cost.
  • Increased visibility: Valuable advertising placements can dramatically boost brand awareness and public engagement.
  • Enhanced community impact: By maximizing resources, nonprofits can deliver more effective programs and services.
  • Sustainability for the advertising industry: The MPP also elevates and maximizes the impact of the advertising community.

This innovative media partnership model offers a blueprint for nonprofit organizations seeking to maximize their impact. By leveraging the power of media, nonprofits can raise awareness, engage donors and secure vital funding to support their missions.  At the same time, Tucson realizes the economic impact of advertising’s strong influence on the market, which is recognized for having higher returns on investment vs. larger markets.

MPP Today

Today, AAF Tucson has four generous non-profit partners and over a dozen media partners who support this amazing program. We are extremely grateful to Arts Express,  Humane Society of Southern Arizona, Casa de los Niños, and Big Brothers, Big Sisters of Southern Arizona for their continued support.