(WASHINGTON, October 25, 2010) — The American Express
Foundation announced at the Independent Sector Annual Conference that it will
deepen its commitment and efforts to advance the next generation of nonprofit
and philanthropic leadership through a gift of $450,000 over the next three
years.
The gift will support Independent Sector’s
NGen: Moving Nonprofit Leaders from Next to Now programmatic efforts to help
expand the nonprofit talent pool by developing the leadership skills and
networks of nonprofit professionals under the age of 40.
“The
investment in the next generation of leaders is critical to ensuring the health
and vitality of our sector and its ability to help people across the
country and around the world,” said Diana Aviv, president and CEO of
Independent Sector. “This generous gift from The American Express Foundation
will support IS’s innovative programs and opportunities to ensure that emerging
leaders gain the skills, insights and experience they need to be outstanding
leaders.”
The announcement was made during the Independent Sector’s John. W Gardner Leadership Dinner, a premier event at the Annual Conference, “Forging a Stronger Future Together,” held in Atlanta, Georgia, on October 21. At the dinner IS also presented its inaugural American Express NGen Leadership Award to Darell Hammond, CEO and co-founder of KaBOOM!, a nonprofit that builds play spaces for children and communities across the country. The award recognizes nonprofit leaders under the age of 40 who have already had a transformative impact on society.
The American Express Foundation also supports the American Express NGen Fellows Program, a selective fellowship opportunity designed to honor 12 promising nonprofit leaders at Independent Sector member organizations.
“We are impressed by Independent Sector’s ability to connect with and support developing leaders, and we believe that this investment is one that will pay off tremendously through the continued fostering of a strong, committed pool of future leaders for nonprofit organizations,” said Timothy J. McClimon, president of the American Express Foundation.
Independent Sector’s NGen program serves talented and committed nonprofit professionals under the age of 40, including newly appointed executive directors and those who have recently transitioned from government or the private sector. The diversity of the NGen cohort enhances the value for program participants and enriches the experience of the entire conference. The NGen program contributes to the cultivation of new talent, empowers them to contribute to their organizations, and emphasizes the role of younger leaders in the development of the broader nonprofit community’s ability to improve lives.
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Independent Sector is a nonprofit, nonpartisan coalition of approximately 550 charities, foundations, and corporate giving programs, collectively representing tens of thousands of charitable groups in every state across the nation. Its mission is to advance the common good by leading, strengthening, and mobilizing the nonprofit and philanthropic community.
