AIA TRUST AND THE AIA

To familiarize AIA members and components with the many AIA Trust practice benefits and resources available to them, the AIA Trust works in partnership with the AIA, sponsoring many programs and events.  The 2019 collaboration included:

• The 20^th year for the AIA Trust-Victor and CNA Component Grants program, awarding another $15,000 directly to AIA Components and bringing the total to $315,000 in total grant awards! The 2019 program grant winners were AIA Florida, AIA New York, AIA Ohio, AIA Ventura County, and AIA Washington, DC.
•  The 2019 Grassroots awards luncheon in Washington, DC, sponsored in conjunction with Victor & CNA.
• The 2019 AIA Strategic Council luncheon, sponsored in conjunction with Victor and CNA.
• The CACE Annual Meeting in Columbus, sponsored in conjunction with Victor and CNA the closing banquet for all attendees at Juniper, briefing attendees on the ever-expanding library of free risk management resources and benefit programs available to their members and their components.
• Small Firm Exchange Scan newsletter contributions highlighting cyber-risk resources and new AIA Trust resources for small firms
• Knowledge Leadership Assembly (KLA) Conference participation to discuss attendee recommendations for AIA Trust practice resources and programs.
• Center for Practice (CFP) participation in the advisory group, sharing relevant contents of the AIA Trust library of practice resources.
• Practice Management Knowledge Community (PMKC) Digest contributions of articles and information about a variety of risk management topics such as leadership succession, proposal preparation, and designing for sustainability.
• The AIA Trust provides timely insights on evolving risks and practice tips to AIA members running firms through its quarterly electronic newsletter, Managing Your Risks. This year’s issues included articles about controlling delays, negligence, blockchain, starting a successful practice, technology’s affect on the built environment, retirement planning, and more. Articles are available on the website for future reference and may be reprinted for AIA component publications with a link to the AIA Trust.
• The Trustees continue to collaborate with members of the AIA Risk Management Committee to coordinate resources development, updating the AIA.org page of resources for members. The two groups will meet together early in 2020 to continue coordinating activities to maximize risk management assistance to AIA members.
• The AIA Trust offer Learning Unit credits (LUs) through its live and posted webinars offered annually and through the Self-Assessment Tests (SATs) on its website that may be completed in conjunction with the many AIA Trust practice resources offered.
• The A’19 AIA Trust conference exhibit showcased the wide variety of risk management resources available free on the AIA Trust website, offering seated massage and free gifts along with benefit program information for members. In addition, the AIA Trust sponsored three seminars that attracted hundreds of attendees.

ABOUT THE AIA TRUST

While the AIA Trust began as an insurance provider for AIA members, today it focuses on creating member value by offering practice-related resources as well as benefit programs, available 24/7 in its growing online library.

As the premier risk management resource for AIA members, the AIA Trust is one of the largest enterprises allied with The American Institute of Architects and currently maintains approximately 10,000 policies and plans––many serving additional members within firms and member families, with a dollar volume of more than $100 million managed by AIA Trust providers. In addition, the AIA Trust resources are accessed tens of thousands of times annually to assist members in their practices. The AIA Trust operates on a break-even basis, using no AIA dues dollars and reimbursing the AIA for all overhead costs. The net of operating expenses is frequently invested in AIA Member and Component activities and benefits, including the development of practice resources. For a complete listing of all AIA Trust practice resources, click here.

The AIA Trust was established 67 years ago to provide quality benefits to AIA Members.  It was formed as a separate entity from the AIA due to IRS regulations governing ERISA trusts. The Trustees, who are AIA members and one component executive, along with the Executive Director, work with independent consultants to evaluate new and ongoing programs to ensure the best available plans are offered to members and components. The AIA Trust negotiates and monitors these agreements and serves as a member advocate. For a complete listing of all AIA Trust programs, click here.

Stephan Castellanos, FAIA, Chair

Thomas Bradley Benjamin, AIA, Chair-elect

Anne Marie Decker, FAIA, Secretary-Treasurer

Terrence O’Neal, FAIA, Trustee

Amy Slattery, AIA, Trustee

Sara Kay, Hon AIA, Trustee

Glenn Birx, FAIA, Trustee

Ann Casso, Hon AIA, Executive Director

STATEMENT OF PURPOSE

It shall be the purpose and the policy of The AIA Trust to develop and make available at the greatest possible value, insurance and benefit programs for members and components of the American Institute of Architects; and to serve as a risk management resource for the practice of architecture in cooperation with the Institute.

GOALS OF THE AIA TRUST

1. Identify & address current and future AIA member and component needs for benefit programs.
2. Offer risk management tools to enhance members’ architecture practices.
3. Be recognized as a valuable risk management resource and benefits provider within the Institute.
4. Remain financially stable.

AIA TRUST 2020 PLANS

1. Continue to add value to AIA Membership through the expansion of its online library of risk management resources for members.

Working with member knowledge communities, the AIA Risk Management Committee, the Center for Practice, and other member groups, the AIA Trust continues to identify ways to strategically meet members’ risk management needs, developing and offering webinars, guides, articles, and other resources about emerging risks to better understand and manage them.

2. Emphasize member value.

Working with outside expert-consultants, the AIA Trust evaluates marketplace opportunities and current program offerings to ensure the highest level of quality and responsiveness to members.

3. Emphasize member service.

Working with its program providers, the AIA Trust identifies program enhancements to assist members in their practices by addressing member needs promptly and accurately.