A crosslinking agent that is an ungelled reaction product of (a) an aminoplast resin and (b) a compound having active hydrogen groups reactive with the aminoplast resin such that the crosslinking agent is essentially free of functional groups reactive with an aminoplast resin and has a glass transition temperature of at least 10.degree. C. is disclosed. Compound (b) is, more specifically, a monofunctional sulfonamide having only one active hydrogen. Methods for preparing crosslinking agents are also disclosed. Further provided is a curable powder coating composition including a polymer having a glass transition temperature of at least 30.degree. C. containing reactive functional groups and the present crosslinking agent; a multilayer composite coating compositions and substrates coated therewith are also disclosed. Methods for modifying aminoplasts are also disclosed.