American Express: Community Impact Fund
Open or will open again
Adult Education/Learning
Communities
Community and neighbourhood development
Education and learning
environment
Gender equality and sexual orientation
Housing and homelessness
Human rights and equality
Information Technology
Miscellaneous
organisational development
Overseas aid and development
People with disabilities
Racial equality
School, College and University
social enterprise
Sustainable energy
Un/Employed
Victims and survivors
World issues
Africa
Antrim & Newtownabbey
Ards & North Down
Armagh City, Banbridge & Craigavon
Asia and Middle East
Australia
Belfast City
Causeway Coast and Glens
Derry City and Strabane
England
Europe and Russia
Fermanagh and Omagh
Great Britain
International
Lisburn and Castlereagh
Mid and East Antrim
Mid Ulster
Newry, Mourne and Down
North America
Northern Ireland
Republic of Ireland
Scotland
South and Central America
Wales
Small (up to £10,000)
Overview
The Foundation provides support to not-for-profit organisations whose work aligns with its priorities. Grants are available for projects in the following areas:
- Backing equal futures: programmes helping empower more diverse, equitable and inclusive workforces and communities.
- Backing small: programmes building inclusive economic growth and empowerment through financial literacy, mentoring and training for diverse small business owners and individuals.
- Backing low-carbon communities: programmes advancing climate innovation and action to address climate challenges and promote resilient communities globally.
Grants are made to organisations that are able to provide documentary evidence of not-for-profit status.
Eligible Costs
The funding is for projects that address the following priorities:
Backing equal futures:
- Programmes that provide skills and pathways to prepare youth (ages 13-30) for long-term success and the future of work. (Including the green economy, STEAM and digital futures.) This may include school-based, college, trade school, public service or workforce-related training or mentoring to support skill-building, education, the transition to meaningful employment and self-sufficiency for under-represented populations.
- Advocacy to support education and workforce development in under-represented communities. Eligible organisations for under-represented communities include those supporting racial, ethnic and Indigenous minorities, women, refugees, incarcerated or formerly incarcerated, unhoused and formerly unhoused people, veterans or families of veterans, disadvantaged or people with disabilities, and members of the LGBTQ+ community.
Backing small:
- Support for diverse small business owners and entrepreneurs, including grants, mentoring support and technical assistance issued through established community partnerships.
- Financial literacy education, training and mentoring for under-represented individuals and families to build financial awareness, fiscal acumen and success (including at school age, during higher education or when individuals are entering/re-entering the workforce).
Backing low-carbon communities:
- Programmes, partnerships and action focused on energy transition, emissions reduction and efficiency.
- Community-led climate projects focused on nature-based or clean energy initiatives, including those led by diverse or under-represented groups.
- Disaster relief and resilience building programmes and initiatives in extreme weather prone areas and other locations where American Express colleagues and customers live and work, to provide both immediate and/or long-term relief and community preparedness to natural and man-made disasters and help create climate-resilient communities.