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 2008 American Express Building Leadership Award is February 18, 2008. Thank you for your interest in the American Express Building Leadership Award. More About the Award Award Criteria Nomination Form Recipients of the Award Learn more about WITNESS The American Express Foundation is the generous sponsor of the American Express Building Leadership Award. WITNESS Receives 2007 American Express Building Leadership Award WITNESS partner Burma Issues receives training on the use of a video camera. Independent Sector honors WITNESS, an international human rights organization, with the 2007 American Express Building Leadership Award for promoting leadership in other organizations and for building leaders from within. The award was presented at the Independent Sector Annual Conference in Los Angeles as part of the John W. Gardner Leadership Award Dinner. Founded in 1992 by musician and activist Peter Gabriel and the Reebok Human Rights Foundation, WITNESS trains organizations to use video and online technologies to increase awareness of human rights violations. In doing so, the organization empowers groups within the global human rights community to transform personal stories of abuse into powerful tools for justice and policy change. Through its Core Partners program, WITNESS provides hands-on video training for grassroots organizations in the United States and around the world that advocate for political, social, and economic rights to help them become more effective advocates for their respective causes.