Dear AAUW Member Leaders, 

As we enter this season of gratitude and giving, I want to extend my heartfelt thanks for all that you do to advance AAUW’s mission in your communities. Your leadership, creativity, and persistence, especially at this busy time of year, are what keeps our work moving forward. 

In this issue of Membership Matters, we’ve gathered resources to support your efforts in these final months of 2025 and as we look ahead to 2026. These range from tools to strengthen your fundraising to updates that can help you process, engage, and sustain your members. I hope you find ideas and information here that bolster your branch’s impact and remind you how much you and your work are valued. 

With appreciation, 

Katrina Sun Breese

Senior Director of Institutional Advancement 
AAUW National

Year-End Giving Tips for Branch Leaders   

As you plan year-end giving, here are the quickest ways to submit branch contributions accurately and on time: 

1. Fastest Option: Express Payment Link 
   Email [email protected] with the gift amount, branch name, and fund. We’ll send a secure link so you can pay online using your branch’s preferred method.
2. Sending Checks
   Use AAUW’s updated Contribution Report Form to ensure gifts are recorded, credited to the right fund, and properly receipted. The form and instructions are available on AAUW’s website.   
3. Member Gifts
   Branches can submit donations for individual members in Community Hub via the Renewals and Donations function (Greatest Needs Fund 9110 only).
4. Public Policy Reminder
   AAUW will honor gifts to the older Public Policy fund this year, but we urge branches to direct new gifts to the Public Policy Fund (#4514), which powers AAUW’s advocacy and Action Network efforts. 

Thank you for your stewardship and for advancing AAUW’s mission through your year-end giving. 

ACTION REQUIRED on Bylaws

The AAUW Bylaws contain the rules and regulations enacted by AAUW to provide a framework for its operation and management. ACTION REQUIRED: States and branches are required to change and submit their revised bylaws to AAUW National by June 30, 2026 to reflect changes approved by the AAUW membership in 2023.  Please review our updated bylaws toolkit and submit revised bylaws to [email protected]. Direct any questions to [email protected] or [email protected].

New Webinars Now Available in AAUW’s Webinar Library 

If you’re looking for fresh ideas and inspiration for your branch, be sure to explore the latest recordings now available on AAUW’s Webinar page.  

• Working in Coalition: Building Power through Partnerships 
  Strong alliances make lasting impact. In this session, AAUW members from across the country share how they build power with trusted partners and how your branch can do the same. You’ll hear real examples and walk away with concrete first steps to strengthen your advocacy through coalition work. 
• Branches in Action: A Century of Advocacy, Fundraising & Impact  
  This webinar traces the history of AAUW branches, how they began, how they’ve shaped AAUW over time, and how they continue to fuel our accomplishments through advocacy, fundraising, and a shared commitment to equity for women and girls in higher education. 

February 1 Count Preparation

Check your branch member roster and verify your member count in preparation for the official February 1 count —which includes memberships processed through January 31. Click here for video instructions on how to prepare your roster.  Expired members will automatically drop from your rosters during November.  Reports will be available by mid-March.  Once received, report any discrepancies to [email protected]. 

Degree Equivalency Policy

In May 2025, the AAUW National Board of Directors approved a formal policy for Degree Equivalency for prospective members. The policy can be found on page 4 of the May 14, 2025, Board of Directors Minutes found here.

Right Sizing Toolkit

Many affiliates have not changed structures to meet changing affiliate and community needs or member capacity. The Branch Right Sizing toolkit will guide you through evaluating your leadership needs, AAUW branch board requirements and meeting frequency.

AAUW Launches New Program: Level Up: Salary Negotiation Program

AAUW is proud to announce the launch of Level Up: Salary Negotiation Program, an equity-centered initiative empowering women to achieve fair compensation and career advancement. Running from October 2025 through June 2026, the nine-month program will engage a cohort of 20 early- to mid-career women through AAUW’s Work Smart salary negotiation training, Money Smart financial literacy training, other career development trainings, personalized coaching, and peer networking. Supported by a grant from The Coca-Cola Foundation, the program underscores AAUW’s commitment to advancing gender and racial pay equity through measurable, community-driven impact. 

Gutting the Department of Education Betrays Students’ Civil Rights 

The Trump administration has taken another major step toward dismantling the U.S. Department of Education. Following deep staff cuts, the Department’s November 18 announcement of six new “partnerships” shifts the day-to-day work of core K–12 and higher education programs to agencies focused on labor, health, public lands, and foreign policy. This undermines the Department’s ability to enforce civil rights laws and ensure equal educational opportunity. Read AAUW’s statement here.

Affiliate Dues and Donations to AAUW  

Branch Dues: AAUW branches should submit membership dues online through the Community Hub only. Branches unable to process dues online should contact [email protected] for help. Please do not mail checks for membership dues.   

Recruitment Discounts and Waivers - Coupon Codes
The Shape the Future Campaign discount of 50% off national dues for new members (those entirely new to AAUW or rejoining after two or more years) remains. Use coupon code STFFY26 at checkout through 3/31/2026.  Coupon codes for College/University member students are CUStudentFY26 Student Associates (undergrads); CUGradStudentFY26 for Grads. All coupon codes are valid through 3/31/2026. 

AAUW College/University Membership 

If you have a relationship with a C/U who is NOT on our member list, invite them to join us! C/U membership is $250, includes two free national memberships for named faculty/staff members (as representatives), and unlimited free student affiliation for undergrads/graduate students.  For more info or help? [email protected]  

AAUW’s Strategic Plan: Empowering Equity Through Education 

AAUW’s 2025 Strategic Plan is a blueprint reaffirming our commitment to advancing equity for women and girls through higher education and inclusive policy advocacy. It’s designed to help us align affiliate initiatives with national priorities. Download the one-pager and toolkit available on our 2025 AAUW Strategic Plan page. 

Community Hub Spotlight: Rejoining lapsed members  

When adding a lapsed member (someone rejoining after two or more years) back to your roster, first search for their existing account.  

If the correct account does not appear in the search results and you create a new account for them, this will generate a new “Join on” date. In this case, please email [email protected] with “Join on date” in the subject line and include the member’s name and new ID in your message so national can merge the duplicate accounts and update the “Join on” date. 

Branch-to-Branch Recruitment Idea(s) 

If you have recruitment ideas you’d like to share with other branch leaders, please send them to [email protected] with the subject Branch-to-Branch Recruitment.  Please provide contact information so branch leaders can reach out for additional information.   

AAUW State/Branch Affiliate Benefits at no cost! 

1. Federal Tax Filing of Form 990-N 
   All AAUW-affiliated entities must file an annual IRS return. If your gross receipts are $50K or less, AAUW can file the 990-N when your Finance officer submits the request form in the community hub between April 16 – October 15.  Watch: 990N Request Video.  Important Note: If you do not qualify to file the 990-N, explore other options at irs.gov.  
   
2. Speakers for AAUW Affiliate Events 
   Elevate your events with a guest speaker from AAUW National when you make your request using the Speaker Request Form!  Get an AAUW expert, staff, or volunteer leader with content tailored to your audience.
3. Live Customer Support at Your Service
   Call 800.326.2289, 8:30-5:00 pm, ET, weekdays or join us for Office Hours on Tuesdays (3:00 pm ET) and/or Thursdays (3:30 pm ET) via Zoom with your inquiries and support needs. Reach us via email at [email protected]! Do not email [email protected] or [email protected]; they are unmonitored.    

Manage Your Contact Information and Email Preferences with AAUW  

Access your AAUW personal snapshot and update your contact info and preferences.  Frequent users, click LOG IN as usual. Non-frequent users, click LOG IN, then below the blue log in button, click FORGOT PASSWORD. Enter your email address and click RESET YOUR PASSWORD to receive and confirm a new password to access your Personal Snapshot. Need help? Email [email protected] and enter LOG IN HELP in the subject.  

Check Donations | Payable to AAUW Inc. | P.O. Box 98045, Washington DC 20090-8045 | EIN 52-6037388