The American Express Foundation in this snapshot demonstrates a strategic, programmatic commitment to leadership development by making a single, large grant to Common Purpose Charitable Trust. This indicates the foundation is willing to fund capacity- and leadership-building initiatives that likely have cross-sector or workforce implications rather than many small community grants. The award aligns with corporate philanthropy that invests in developing leaders who can drive civic, business, and social impact.
American Express Foundation’s recent grantmaking is anchored by a six-month leadership pipeline delivered through Common Purpose Charitable Trust. In 2024, the foundation made two large awards to that grantee, including $2,090,000 and $1,130,360, both tied to developing leaders. That pattern points to a funder that invests in people and institutions that can strengthen civic, nonprofit, and cross-sector capacity rather than dispersing support broadly across many unrelated causes. The foundation also uses grantmaking to back equal futures, climate work, and community support. Recent awards include multiple seven-figure or high-six-figure grants to organizations such as International Rescue Committee Inc, Ocean Conservancy Inc, and United Negro College Fund Inc. Smaller but still substantial grants appear for financial confidence, disaster response, and community service center support. Across the recent list, the foundation shows a consistent preference for organizations with national or international reach and for programs that build skills, resilience, or public-facing services. The structure of the portfolio suggests a corporate foundation that combines programmatic philanthropy with employee-linked giving, while keeping a strong emphasis on capacity building and leadership development.
Leadership development is the clearest theme in the recent grants. American Express Foundation gave $2,090,000 and $1,130,360 to Common Purpose Charitable Trust for developing leaders, reinforcing a long-form investment in nonprofit leadership rather than short-term project work. A second area is equal futures and empowerment. The foundation awarded $1,000,000 to International Rescue Committee Inc for backing equal futures, and gave $665,000 to United Negro College Fund Inc for the same theme in 2024. In earlier giving, it also supported United States Fund for UNICEF and Hispanic Federation Inc under that same category. The foundation also funds climate-related work and community infrastructure. Ocean Conservancy Inc received $905,000 in 2023 and $845,000 in 2024 for backing low carbon, while Save the Children Federation Inc received $750,000 for support of community service centers. These grants show activity across both issue advocacy and direct service support.
$23.2M
$48.9M
$1.4M
$23.5M
Most grants fall between $50 and $320, with a median of $110.
25th Percentile
$50
Median
$110
75th Percentile
$320
About 20% of grants go to recipients in AZ.
Top 6 recipient countries by grant volume for American Express Foundation.
| Rank | Country | Grants | Total | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | United StatesDomestic | 20,104 | $60.8M | 99.9% |
| 2 | United Kingdom |
Sign up for a free Kindora account to access AI-generated insights into this funder's giving patterns, decision-makers, and fit signals.
Get Started FreeFree Kindora accounts unlock side-by-side comparisons with foundations that share this funder's focus areas and giving profile.
Get Started FreeSign up free to see how well your nonprofit fits this funder, get an AI-generated pitch, and unlock similar foundations.
Concentrated and strategic: a single large grant rather than many small awards, suggesting targeted support for a priority program or partner organization rather than broad, distributed giving.
Notable grantees: Common Purpose Charitable Trust
Typical grant size is small, with a p25 of $50, a median of $110, and a p75 of $320, even though the recent grant list also includes a small set of much larger strategic awards. The foundation’s recent giving includes repeat awards to several grantees across 2023 and 2024, including Common Purpose Charitable Trust, International Rescue Committee Inc, Ocean Conservancy Inc, United Negro College Fund Inc, United States Fund for UNICEF, Hispanic Federation Inc, American National Red Cross, and Valley of the Sun United Way. It is a Regular Funder and also funds individuals through its corporate and programmatic giving structure. Unsolicited applications are accepted for the American Express Leadership Academy program, while the corporate grantmaking and employee matching programs do not accept unsolicited requests.
Grant activity is national, with 99.9% of grants going to U.S. recipients and a smaller number to the UK, Canada, Hong Kong, Asia, and Senegal. Illinois is the top state by grant count, while New York receives 20% of grants. Named recipient locations in the recent list include Chicago, New York, Washington, DC, Phoenix, Fort Lauderdale, Fairfield, Los Angeles, and Boston. The list also reaches London through Common Purpose Charitable Trust, showing that the foundation’s support is not limited to U.S. organizations.
The clearest pattern is leadership development. Common Purpose Charitable Trust received two large 2024 grants of $2,090,000 and $1,130,360 for developing leaders, and the foundation’s broader program descriptions also emphasize nonprofit leadership development and capacity building.
Yes. Several organizations appear in multiple years, including Common Purpose Charitable Trust, International Rescue Committee Inc, Ocean Conservancy Inc, United Negro College Fund Inc, United States Fund for UNICEF, Hispanic Federation Inc, American National Red Cross, and Valley of the Sun United Way. That suggests repeat relationships rather than one-off awards only.
The grant-size distribution is highly skewed toward small awards: p25 is $50, median is $110, and p75 is $320. At the same time, the recent grant list includes much larger strategic grants, including seven-figure awards tied to leadership, equal futures, and other program areas.
Unsolicited applications are accepted for the American Express Leadership Academy program. The corporate grantmaking and employee matching programs are listed as not accepting unsolicited requests.
Illinois is the top state by grant count, while New York receives 20% of grants. The recipient country distribution is overwhelmingly U.S.-based, with only small numbers of grants going to the UK, Canada, Hong Kong, Asia, and Senegal.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
| 9 |
| $7.6M |
0.0% |
| 3 | Canada | 9 | $1.2M | 0.0% |
| 4 | Hong Kong | 3 | $140K | 0.0% |
| 5 | Australia | 2 | $75K | 0.0% |
| 6 | Singapore | 1 | $300K | 0.0% |
Recipient country reflects the grantee's headquarters per IRS 990-PF and Schedule F filings, not the program's implementation country.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| COMMON PURPOSE CHARITABLE TRUST | LONDON | $3,446,817 | 2025 | AMERICAN EXPRESS LEADERSHIP ACADEMIES |
| AMERICAN ONLINE GIVING FOUNDATION INC | NEWARK, DE | $1,925,000 | 2025 | 2024 AMEX GIVE2GETHER FLOAT FUNDING |
| AMERICAN ONLINE GIVING FOUNDATION INC | NEWARK, DE | $1,825,000 | 2025 | 2024 AMEX GIVE2GETHER FLOAT FUNDING |
| AMERICAN ONLINE GIVING FOUNDATION INC | NEWARK, DE | $1,450,000 | 2025 | 2024 AMEX GIVE2GETHER FLOAT FUNDING |
| INTERNATIONAL RESCUE COMMITTEE INC | NEW YORK, NY | $1,000,000 | 2025 | WORKFORCE INTEGRATION FOR NEWCOMERS (WIN) 2.0 |
| AMERICAN ONLINE GIVING FOUNDATION INC | NEWARK, DE | $800,000 | 2025 | 2024 AMEX GIVE2GETHER FLOAT FUNDING |
| OCEAN CONSERVANCY INC | WASHINGTON, DC | $785,000 | 2025 | TRASH FREE SEAS, RESILIENT COMMUNITIES |
| AMERICAN NATIONAL RED CROSS | WASHINGTON, DC | $750,000 | 2025 | DESIGNATED DISASTER RELIEF FUND |
| UNITED NEGRO COLLEGE FUND INC | WASHINGTON, DC | $665,000 | 2025 | AMERICAN EXPRESS BUILDING BETTER FUTURES PROGRAM |
| JA WORLDWIDE INC | BOSTON, MA | $597,425 | 2025 | SHAPING A RESILIENT AND CONFIDENT FINANCIAL FUTURE |
| HISPANIC FEDERATION INC | NEW YORK, NY | $500,000 | 2025 | NONPROFIT INCUBATOR & COVID VACCINATION INITIATIVE |
| COVENANT HOUSE | NEW YORK, NY | $500,000 | 2025 | CAREER PATHS FOR YOUTH OVERCOMING HOMELESSNESS |
| GENERATION - YOU EMPLOYED INC | WASHINGTON, DC | $450,000 | 2025 | SUPPORTING TECH PROGRAMS IN APPALACHIA AND THE UK |
| UNITED STATES FUND FOR UNICEF | NEW YORK, NY | $450,000 | 2025 | LEARNING PASSPORT AND MEXICO 21ST CENTURY SKILLS |
| VALLEY OF THE SUN UNITED WAY | PHOENIX, AZ | $400,000 | 2025 | AMEX COLLEAGUE ENGAGEMENT IN GREATER PHOENIX |
| MYRIAD USA INC | NEW YORK, NY | $395,000 | 2025 | AUSTRALIA BEF: ABCN, TWO GOOD |
| BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS OF AMERICA | TAMPA, FL | $390,000 | 2025 | CAREER READINESS & WORKPLACE MENTORING |
| AMERICAN ONLINE GIVING FOUNDATION INC | NEWARK, DE | $325,000 | 2025 | INCREMENTAL DECEMBER 2024 FUNDING |
| MYRIAD USA INC | NEW YORK, NY | $305,000 | 2025 | SINGLE PARENT EMPOWERMENT & CAREER SUPPORT |
| MYRIAD USA INC | NEW YORK, NY | $285,250 | 2025 | RAINWATER HARVESTING IN MEXICO CITY COMMUNITIES |
| JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT USA | COLORADO SPRINGS, CO | $276,000 | 2025 | BUILDING FINANCIAL CONFIDENCE IN UNDERSERVED YOUTH |
| AMERICAN NATIONAL RED CROSS | WASHINGTON, DC | $268,000 | 2025 | DESIGNATED DISASTER RELIEF FUND |
| SAVE THE CHILDREN FEDERATION INC | FAIRFIELD, CT | $265,000 | 2025 | BUILDING RESILIENT FUTURES IN THE PHILIPPINES |
| NATIONAL ARBOR DAY FOUNDATION | LINCOLN, NE | $250,000 | 2025 | 2025 EMPLOYEE ENGAGEMENT GLOBAL TREE PLANTING |
| DISABILITY IN | ALEXANDRIA, VA | $250,000 | 2025 | EARLY CAREER TALENT ACCELERATOR |
| FIRST NATIONS DEVELOPMENT INSTITUTE | LONGMONT, CO | $250,000 | 2025 | STRENGTHENING NATIVE PROGRAMS & FEEDING FAMILIES |
| RESOURCE FOUNDATION INC | NEW YORK, NY | $240,000 | 2025 | ARGENTINA FUNDES ACCELERATE YOUR FUTURE |
| UNITED WAY OF BROWARD COUNTY | FT LAUDERDALE, FL | $230,000 | 2025 | AMEX VOLUNTEER AND SUPPORT UNITED WAY BROWARD 2024 |
| AMERICAN ONLINE GIVING FOUNDATION INC | NEWARK, DE | $225,000 | 2025 | INCREMENTAL 2024 GIVE2GETHER FUNDING |
| SCHOLARSHIP AMERICA INC | ST PETER, MN | $219,875 | 2025 | 2024 SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM PAYMENT |
| VITAL VOICES GLOBAL PARTNERSHIP INC | WASHINGTON, DC | $200,000 | 2025 | 2030 IMPACT FUND |
| RESOURCE FOUNDATION INC | NEW YORK, NY | $200,000 | 2025 | MEXICO FUNDES ACAPULCO ECONOMIC RECOVERY |
| AMERICAN NATIONAL RED CROSS | WASHINGTON, DC | $184,824 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| UNITED STATES FUND FOR UNICEF | NEW YORK, NY | $150,000 | 2025 | LEARNING PASSPORT AND MEXICO 21ST CENTURY SKILLS |
| MYRIAD USA INC | NEW YORK, NY | $130,000 | 2025 | NATURE RESTORATION AND YOUTH ENGAGEMENT IN THE UK |
| UNITED WAY WORLDWIDE | ALEXANDRIA, VA | $127,327 | 2025 | 2023/2024 MATCH FOR 2022 GIVE2GETHER CAMPAIGN |
| MYRIAD USA INC | NEW YORK, NY | $126,939 | 2025 | SPAIN BEF: PRODIS |
| PATHWAYS TO EDUCATION | TORONTO | $125,000 | 2025 | FOUNDATIONS FOR SUCCESS |
| TEAM RUBICON | LOS ANGELES, CA | $125,000 | 2025 | SUPPORTING VETERANS AND TEAM RUBICONS MISSION |
| ASIAN AMERICAN FOUNDATION | WASHINGTON, DC | $125,000 | 2025 | BACKING EQUAL FUTURES: TAAF |
| NATIONAL URBAN LEAGUE INC | NEW YORK, NY | $125,000 | 2025 | CAPACITY BUILDING AND CURRICULUM DIGITIZATION |
| HEAD STRONG PROJECT INC | FLUSHING, NY | $125,000 | 2025 | SUPPORTING VETERANS AND MENTAL HEALTH |
| PINBALL CLEMONS FOUNDATION | TORONTO | $125,000 | 2025 | MARGINS TO MAINSTREAM BURSARY PROGRAM |
| MYRIAD USA INC | NEW YORK, NY | $112,529 | 2025 | GERMANY BEF: NETZWERK CHANCEN |
| MYRIAD USA INC | NEW YORK, NY | $105,000 | 2025 | AUSTRALIA BEF: OFA, ALNF, REDFERN |
| COUNCIL FOR ECONOMIC EDUCATION | NEW YORK, NY | $100,000 | 2025 | INVEST IN GIRLS IN NEW YORK, ARIZONA AND FLORIDA |
| GENERATION - YOU EMPLOYED INC | WASHINGTON, DC | $100,000 | 2025 | SUPPORTING TECH PROGRAMS IN APPALACHIA AND THE UK |
| FRIENDS OF KINGS COLLEGE LONDON ASSOCIATION INC | NEW YORK, NY | $100,000 | 2025 | GIWL FOUNDING CIRCLE |
| MYRIAD USA INC | NEW YORK, NY | $85,038 | 2025 | EMPLOYMENT & FINANCIAL LITERACY TRAINING |
| MONEY ADVICE TRUST | LONDON | $58,000 | 2025 | NATL. & BUSINESS DEBTLINE FINANCIAL EDU. - SEE EXPENDITURE RESPONSIBILITY STMT |
COMMON PURPOSE CHARITABLE TRUST
$3,446,817AMERICAN EXPRESS LEADERSHIP ACADEMIES
AMERICAN ONLINE GIVING FOUNDATION INC
$1,925,0002024 AMEX GIVE2GETHER FLOAT FUNDING
AMERICAN ONLINE GIVING FOUNDATION INC
$1,825,0002024 AMEX GIVE2GETHER FLOAT FUNDING
AMERICAN ONLINE GIVING FOUNDATION INC
$1,450,0002024 AMEX GIVE2GETHER FLOAT FUNDING
INTERNATIONAL RESCUE COMMITTEE INC
$1,000,000WORKFORCE INTEGRATION FOR NEWCOMERS (WIN) 2.0
AMERICAN ONLINE GIVING FOUNDATION INC
$800,0002024 AMEX GIVE2GETHER FLOAT FUNDING
OCEAN CONSERVANCY INC
$785,000TRASH FREE SEAS, RESILIENT COMMUNITIES
AMERICAN NATIONAL RED CROSS
$750,000DESIGNATED DISASTER RELIEF FUND
UNITED NEGRO COLLEGE FUND INC
$665,000AMERICAN EXPRESS BUILDING BETTER FUTURES PROGRAM
JA WORLDWIDE INC
$597,425SHAPING A RESILIENT AND CONFIDENT FINANCIAL FUTURE
HISPANIC FEDERATION INC
$500,000NONPROFIT INCUBATOR & COVID VACCINATION INITIATIVE
COVENANT HOUSE
$500,000CAREER PATHS FOR YOUTH OVERCOMING HOMELESSNESS
GENERATION - YOU EMPLOYED INC
$450,000SUPPORTING TECH PROGRAMS IN APPALACHIA AND THE UK
UNITED STATES FUND FOR UNICEF
$450,000LEARNING PASSPORT AND MEXICO 21ST CENTURY SKILLS
VALLEY OF THE SUN UNITED WAY
$400,000AMEX COLLEAGUE ENGAGEMENT IN GREATER PHOENIX
MYRIAD USA INC
$395,000AUSTRALIA BEF: ABCN, TWO GOOD
BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS OF AMERICA
$390,000CAREER READINESS & WORKPLACE MENTORING
AMERICAN ONLINE GIVING FOUNDATION INC
$325,000INCREMENTAL DECEMBER 2024 FUNDING
MYRIAD USA INC
$305,000SINGLE PARENT EMPOWERMENT & CAREER SUPPORT
MYRIAD USA INC
$285,250RAINWATER HARVESTING IN MEXICO CITY COMMUNITIES
JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT USA
$276,000BUILDING FINANCIAL CONFIDENCE IN UNDERSERVED YOUTH
AMERICAN NATIONAL RED CROSS
$268,000DESIGNATED DISASTER RELIEF FUND
SAVE THE CHILDREN FEDERATION INC
$265,000BUILDING RESILIENT FUTURES IN THE PHILIPPINES
NATIONAL ARBOR DAY FOUNDATION
$250,0002025 EMPLOYEE ENGAGEMENT GLOBAL TREE PLANTING
DISABILITY IN
$250,000EARLY CAREER TALENT ACCELERATOR
FIRST NATIONS DEVELOPMENT INSTITUTE
$250,000STRENGTHENING NATIVE PROGRAMS & FEEDING FAMILIES
RESOURCE FOUNDATION INC
$240,000ARGENTINA FUNDES ACCELERATE YOUR FUTURE
UNITED WAY OF BROWARD COUNTY
$230,000AMEX VOLUNTEER AND SUPPORT UNITED WAY BROWARD 2024
AMERICAN ONLINE GIVING FOUNDATION INC
$225,000INCREMENTAL 2024 GIVE2GETHER FUNDING
SCHOLARSHIP AMERICA INC
$219,8752024 SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM PAYMENT
VITAL VOICES GLOBAL PARTNERSHIP INC
$200,0002030 IMPACT FUND
RESOURCE FOUNDATION INC
$200,000MEXICO FUNDES ACAPULCO ECONOMIC RECOVERY
AMERICAN NATIONAL RED CROSS
$184,824GENERAL SUPPORT
UNITED STATES FUND FOR UNICEF
$150,000LEARNING PASSPORT AND MEXICO 21ST CENTURY SKILLS
MYRIAD USA INC
$130,000NATURE RESTORATION AND YOUTH ENGAGEMENT IN THE UK
UNITED WAY WORLDWIDE
$127,3272023/2024 MATCH FOR 2022 GIVE2GETHER CAMPAIGN
MYRIAD USA INC
$126,939SPAIN BEF: PRODIS
PATHWAYS TO EDUCATION
$125,000FOUNDATIONS FOR SUCCESS
TEAM RUBICON
$125,000SUPPORTING VETERANS AND TEAM RUBICONS MISSION
ASIAN AMERICAN FOUNDATION
$125,000BACKING EQUAL FUTURES: TAAF
NATIONAL URBAN LEAGUE INC
$125,000CAPACITY BUILDING AND CURRICULUM DIGITIZATION
HEAD STRONG PROJECT INC
$125,000SUPPORTING VETERANS AND MENTAL HEALTH
PINBALL CLEMONS FOUNDATION
$125,000MARGINS TO MAINSTREAM BURSARY PROGRAM
MYRIAD USA INC
$112,529GERMANY BEF: NETZWERK CHANCEN
MYRIAD USA INC
$105,000AUSTRALIA BEF: OFA, ALNF, REDFERN
COUNCIL FOR ECONOMIC EDUCATION
$100,000INVEST IN GIRLS IN NEW YORK, ARIZONA AND FLORIDA
GENERATION - YOU EMPLOYED INC
$100,000SUPPORTING TECH PROGRAMS IN APPALACHIA AND THE UK
FRIENDS OF KINGS COLLEGE LONDON ASSOCIATION INC
$100,000GIWL FOUNDING CIRCLE
MYRIAD USA INC
$85,038EMPLOYMENT & FINANCIAL LITERACY TRAINING
MONEY ADVICE TRUST
$58,000NATL. & BUSINESS DEBTLINE FINANCIAL EDU. - SEE EXPENDITURE RESPONSIBILITY STMT
Current and upcoming funding from American Express Foundation that your nonprofit may be able to apply for.
Who can apply: Targets leaders of nonprofit organizations. Specific participant eligibility, selection criteria, and any program fees or scholarships are provided by the program operator (Common Purpose).
Track these deadlines, get reminders, and see how well your nonprofit fits — free with a Kindora account.
Create a free accountDeadlines and eligibility are summarized from public sources and may change — always confirm the details on the funder's official application page before applying.