Introduction

As a leading organization in the field of family and consumer sciences, the American Association of Family & Consumer Sciences (AAFCS) recognized the need to increase the understanding and appreciation of the field among media, legislators, and the general public. In the fall of 2010, AAFCS invited Alliance for Family & Consumer Sciences organizations to be a part of the Family & Consumer Sciences Branding Initiative, where they would develop messages to clearly communicate the value of the family and consumer sciences field, as well as an icon that would convey the essence of the field. The following 11 organizations signed on and made family and consumer sciences history!

In 2018, the family and consumer sciences brand was expanded to include the related titles of human ecology, human sciences, health and human sciences, and home economics (outside of the U.S.). You will see the icon for each title below the family and consumer sciences icon.

Associations

FCS-Related Youth Organization

Family, Career, and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA)

Government

USDA, National Institute of Food and Agriculture, Family and Consumer Sciences

Using the Brand

AAFCS Members, Affiliates, and Units

AAFCS members, affiliates, and units are vital to helping raise awareness for family and consumer sciences. The first step towards implementing the Family & Consumer Sciences brand for these individuals and groups is to read the AAFCS/Family & Consumer Sciences Co-Branding Toolkit. This toolkit provides information about the development of the brand, key messages, icon, and brand story.

The Family & Consumer Sciences icon and tagline, “Creating Healthy and Sustainable Families,” are overseen by AAFCS. AAFCS members, affiliates, and units who would like to promote the field can use the Family & Consumer Sciences icon and tagline without permission in the following circumstances without being required to seek permission separately:

Email signature
Social media page or website
Screen saver
Personal, AAFCS affiliate-related, and AAFCS unit-related printed materials, such as stationery, brochures, handouts, banner stands, etc. (not for sale)

The Graphic Standards Manual provides guidelines on how to properly display the icon. When using the icon for the purposes stated above, please be sure the logo is not distorted in any way and used on a white background.

Items for Download

To request other versions of the icon or high-resolution icons for print, please email twiese@aafcs.org.

FCS-Branded Merchandise

As the overseer of the Family & Consumer Sciences icon and tagline, AAFCS has a number of official products for sale at the store. If you would like to sell these products at your affiliate meeting, order giveaway items to use at an affiliate meeting, or make product suggestions, please email twiese@aafcs.org.

If your affiliate or unit has a special product for a targeted audience or purpose that you would like to sell, please download and complete the Permission Form. If approved, your affiliate will remit an initial nonprofit fee of $100 to AAFCS, and then pay a 6% royalty fee to AAFCS on gross sales totaling $5,000 or more (review sales; send 6% royalty at end of each calendar year, if applicable).

Nonmembers

If you are not a member of AAFCS, you will only need to request permission to use the Family & Consumer Sciences brand and icon if your organization, business, or education institution or agency did not request permission for you. Please review the list of organizations, businesses, and educational institutions and agencies who have received permission on behalf of their affiliates, units, and school districts before requesting permission. If you are not affiliated with any of these groups, please complete the Permission Form or ask your organization, business, or education institution or agency to complete it.

Other Organizations, Businesses, and Education Institutions and Agencies

In order to broaden the reach of the Family & Consumer Sciences brand, organizations, businesses, and education institutions and agencies who support the family and consumer sciences field can request permission to use the Family & Consumer Sciences brand and icons.

If your organization has units, affiliates, or school districts, you will only need to apply for permission one time (not for each unit, affiliate, or school district).

If approved, you will receive a Family & Consumer Sciences Branding Toolkit that can be customized for your organization, business, or education institution or agency, Graphic Standards Manual, and requested versions of the Family & Consumer Sciences icon.

As the overseer of the Family & Consumer Sciences icon and tagline, AAFCS has a number of official products for sale here. However, you may purchase these products at a discounted price from AAFCS for resale. If you would like to sell Family & Consumer Sciences products at an event, order giveaway items to use at an event, or make product suggestions, please email twiese@aafcs.org.

If your organization, business, institution, or agency has a special product for a targeted audience or purpose that you would like to sell, please mark that on your Permission Form. If approved, you will remit an initial fee of $100 (nonprofit) or $250 (corporate) to AAFCS, and then pay a 6% royalty fee to AAFCS on gross sales totaling $5,000 or more (review sales; send 6% royalty at end of each calendar year, if applicable).

Download the permission request form

Family & Consumer Sciences Brand