CONSIDER GIVING AS A GIFT THIS HOLIDAY SEASON WITH THE GIVINGEXPRESS® PROGRAM FROM AMERICAN EXPRESS
Cardmembers can give a simple, alternative gift by making a charitable donation in someone’s name and earn double Membership Rewards® points at the same time
NEW YORK, December 11, 2007 -- During this holiday season, many shoppers feel the time crunch to find a perfect gift. While some people want classic gifts like clothes, jewelry or electronics, other recipients will appreciate a new take on tradition -- the gift of "giving" itself. Through the GivingExpress program from American Express (americanexpress.com/give), American Express® Cardmembers have the opportunity to give a thoughtful, alternative gift – a charitable donation in someone's name, and they can earn double Membership Rewards® points at the same time.
The GivingExpress program from American Express connects Cardmembers to more than one million charitable organizations – large and small – and makes online giving easy and rewarding. Cardmembers can benefit from the quick and easy gift-giving option by making a donation in another person's name and then notifying the person via email of the contribution through the GivingExpress program website (or find their own unique way to present the gift).
"The GivingExpress program from American Express provides Cardmembers the opportunity to donate to their favorite charities and make giving a gift this holiday season," said Bradlee Benn, Vice President, Business Development, American Express Merchant Services. "Not only is the charitable gift thoughtful, unique and desired, it also allows enrolled Cardmembers to earn double Membership Rewards points during the holidays and streamline tax records."
In addition to making gift-giving thoughtful and simple, the GivingExpress program from American Express provides additional benefits to Cardmembers including:
- Streamlining Tax Records: The GivingExpress program from American Express provides immediate e-mail confirmations for each transaction and posts detailed records of all Cardmember donations on password-protected Giving History websites.
- Providing Points: Throughout the year, Cardmembers can earn one Membership Rewards point for each dollar they donate when they use an eligible Card that is enrolled in the Membership Rewards program. For a limited time during the holiday season, now through December 31, 2007, Cardmembers can double their points when making a donation through the GivingExpress program from American Express.
- Allowing Point Redemption: Cardmembers can leverage Membership Rewards points to make donations.
- Recurring Donations: Cardmembers can spread their donations over time through the "recurring donations" feature on the site for the GivingExpress program from American Express.
Giving online through the GivingExpress program from American Express also helps charities raise vital funds. Credit card contributions via the Internet can be a cost efficient way for nonprofits to receive donations. Credit card donations allow charities to receive funds faster, without having to spend time processing checks. Donating online also eliminates the need to have paid staff or volunteers accept donations by phone. Announced last month, the American Express Charitable Gift Survey found that only one in ten donors give online. Cardmembers' online contributions through the GivingExpress program from American Express can help to increase the number of online donors and therefore improve processing costs for nonprofits. To access the American Express Charitable Gift Survey, please go to http://www.americanexpress.com/corp/pc/2007/aecgs.asp.
About American Express
Merchant Services is the merchant network of American Express, which acquires and maintains relationships with millions of merchants around the globe, which welcome American Express-branded Cards. American Express Company is a leading global payments, network, travel and banking company founded in 1850.
