Following the success of our inaugural Leadership Academy in 2008 AmericanExpress is pleased to provide this

"Following the success of our inaugural Leadership Academy in 2008, AmericanExpress is pleased to provide this important learning and development forum to anew group of dedicated, emerging leaders in the nonprofit sector," said TimothyJ McClimon, president, American Express Foundation. "We are deeply encouragedby our Leadership Academy alumni who continue to link their academy experienceto positive developments in key aspects of their jobs, and we look forward toinducting the new class." After a competitive application process, twenty-four emerging nonprofit leadersfrom across the country were selected for the 2009 Leadership Academy class.Each of the participants hold manager-level positions, is dedicated to a careerin the nonprofit sector and has built strong momentum in their respectivefields. To ensure the Nonprofit Leadership Academy has a lasting impact and tomeasure its effectiveness, participants will set goals and action plans duringthe training, and will have access to follow-up support from CCL in the form ofonline networking tools, coaching sessions, leadership goal checkpoints and aone-year review to complete their training. For 2009, the twenty four emerging leaders were selected from twelve nationaland local nonprofit partners.

The national nonprofits are:* The American Red Cross * Feeding America (formerly named America`s Second Harvest) * The National Trust for Historic Preservation * The Hispanic Scholarship Fund (HSF) * The National Academy Foundation (NAF) * The Partnership for After School Education (PASE)The local nonprofits based in American Express Service Center locations are:* Audubon Arizona, Phoenix * Broward Partnership for the Homeless, Fort Lauderdale * Catholic Community Services of Utah, Salt Lake City * Childsplay, Inc., Tempe * Family Central, Inc., Miami * The Music Academy of North Carolina, GreensboroSeveral Leadership Academy alumni from 2008 will be returning this year to meetand mentor current participants. Input gathered from past participants has beeninstrumental in the ongoing development of the program. As a result of theirparticipation in last year`s Leadership Academy, alumni attribute improvedcommunication with colleagues and managers, expanded leadership skills, andgreater self-awareness as a few of the ways their careers have been impactedfrom the experience. "The Academy program gave me a unique perspective in terms of working with alllevels of executives and boosted my confidence in my ability to work with avariety of people and personalities. The coaching aspect was also invaluable",said Ali Marano, Director of Strategic Partnerships at NPower, a nonprofitorganization that provides comprehensive technology assistance to othernonprofit groups nationally. The Leadership Academy is part of a broader commitment from American Express todevelop a cadre of world-class leaders committed to working in the nonprofitsector. As part of this commitment, the Company commissioned The BridgespanGroup to conduct a new survey to determine the nature and dimensions of theevolving nonprofit leadership deficit, the training and development needs withinthe sector, and to look at how managerial skills from the business sector canboost leadership capacity among nonprofits.

The survey, released just last week,confirmed a tremendous need for senior nonprofit leaders. In 2009, despite thedownturn in the economy, respondents indicated the sector would need at least24,000 new leaders. More results from this important research can be found onthe Bridgespan web site at http:// American ExpressAmerican Express Company () is a leading global paymentsand travel company founded in 1850. American Express: Developing New Leaders for TomorrowOne of American Express' three platforms for its philanthropy is Developing NewLeaders for Tomorrow.