The American Express Building Leadership Award was established in 1999 to recognize outstanding organizations for their leadership in investing in the people of the charitable community, through an emphasis on the development of internal staff, board, and volunteer leadership. Independent Sector presents the award at the Annual Conference. The deadline for nominations for the 2009 American Express Building Leadership Award will be announced later this year. More About the Award Award Criteria Recipients of the Award The American Express Foundation is the generous sponsor of the American Express Building Leadership Award. CCC Receives 2008 American Express Building Leadership Award CCC Executive Director Deepak Bhargava (at microphone) during an interfaith prayer service at the U.S. Capitol speaking against measures that criminalize clergy and social service providers who provide aid to undocumented immigrants. Independent Sector honors the Center for Community Change with the 2008 American Express Building Leadership Award for strengthening, connecting, and mobilizing grassroots organizations that help low-income people improve their communities. The Center also develops the next generation of grassroots nonprofit leaders. The award will be presented at this year's IS Annual Conference. Founded in 1968 with one of the first grants from the Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Fund, the Center builds leadership by providing grassroots organizations with the tools and expertise they need to improve lives in low-income communities and communities of color and to take action on issues such as housing, education, and health care. The organization empowers nonprofits nationwide to take the lead in projecting social justice values into the public debate, and also increases the leadership skills of its staff.