General

Q: What is Members Project® '08?

A: Now in its second year, Members Project is an online program that enables passionate people to come together to dream up innovative ideas for projects that make a difference. Last year, the winning project received $2 million in funding from American Express. The project was to bring clean drinking water to millions of children across the developing world.

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Q: Has American Express ever done this before?

A: Last year, American Express launched the first ever Members Project. Cardmembers submitted thousands of amazing projects, voted for their favorite, and ultimately supported one Cardmember's project. The winning project, which received $2 million in funding, involves providing clean drinking water to children across the developing world. The funding has allowed UNICEF to provide clean drinking water in four African countries: Tanzania, Democratic Republic of Congo, Angola, and Guinea. Greg Allgood, a Cardmember from Cincinnati, Ohio, submitted the winning project.

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Q: How does Members Project work?

A: Cardmembers come together at membersproject.com to collaborate on and submit innovative projects that could make a difference in the world. Then Cardmembers can vote on which projects American Express should bring to life.

Even if you're not a Cardmember, you can join the discussion, campaign for your favorite projects, and spread the word to friends and family.

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Q: How much money is being awarded?

A: American Express is providing $2.5 million in funding to carry out the winning projects, based on the total votes they win in the final round of voting:

• $1,500,000 for the winning project
• $500,000 for the 2nd place project
• $300,000 for the 3rd place project
• $100,000 each for the two remaining finalist projects

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Q: What is the role of the Advisory Panel, and who is on the panel?

A: The Advisory Panel is a group of 12 extraordinary people who are recognized experts in the fields of Arts & Culture, Community Development, Education, Environment & Wildlife, Health, and Social Entrepreneurism. The panel will evaluate projects to determine which ones should progress to the Top 25 for voting. The panel will look for projects that are innovative, achievable, and impactful.

Click here to see our extraordinary Advisory Panel.

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Participation

Q: Who can participate in Members Project?

Any person with a valid e-mail address may join Members Project online community. To support a project or cast a vote after September 9th, you must be an American Express Cardmember in good standing. If you are not a Cardmember, you can still participate. Please see Terms and Conditions for details.

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Q: How can I participate in Members Project '08?

A: If you are a Cardmember, you can participate in Members Project in the following three ways:

• Create and submit a project or collaborate on an existing project from July 22 - August 19, 2008
• Show support for other projects by participating in online discussions and nominating the projects you would like to see included in the final voting rounds (i.e., in the Top 25 projects) from July 22 - September 1, 2008
• Vote for your favorite project from September 9 - October 13, 2008

Participation at any of these levels requires you to register at membersproject.com and be a Cardmember in good standing. You must have an American Express Card issued by American Express in the United States to participate as a Cardmember.

If you are not a Cardmember, you can still participate as a Guest Member. This allows you to participate in the following ways:

• Show support for projects by participating in online discussions and nominating projects you would like to include in the final voting rounds (i.e., in the Top 25 projects) from July 22 - September 1, 2008
• Reach out to friends and family who are Cardmembers and encourage them to submit and vote for projects.

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Q: What if I don't have an idea for a project? Can I still participate?

A: Even if you don't have an idea, you can support projects you like by choosing them as your favorite, making suggestions using the Discussion Board, and rallying your friends, family, and colleagues to support a project.

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Q: Can minors participate?

A: A person must be 13 years or older to participate. Please see Terms and Conditions

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Q: I am a Cardmember who is 15-17 years old. Can I submit a project?

A: Beginning July 22, 2008, you may submit a project. However, you should discuss this with your parent or legal guardian and have their consent before you submit. Your parent or legal guardian's e-mail address must be included on your project submission form. You must also have an eligible American Express Card and an Americanexpress.com online account to participate. If you do not have an online account, click here to set one up.

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Q: What does it mean to be a Cardmember in good standing?

A: A Card account is not in good standing if it is suspended or terminated for any reason.

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Q: When and how can I register for Members Project '08?

A: Register for Members Project at membersproject.com beginning on July 22, 2008. It's easy - just follow these simple steps:

• If you are an American Express Cardmember in good standing with an americanexpress.com online account, you can register at membersproject.com using that existing User ID and Password.
• If you are an American Express Cardmember in good standing without an americanexpress.com online account, you must create one before you can register at membersproject.com. If you want to create one now, go to americanexpress.com and click on "Register Here."
• If you are not a valid American Express Cardmember, provide your name and a valid e-mail address.

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Submitting a Project

Q: What kind of projects is American Express looking for?

Q: When and how do I submit a project?

Q: How many projects can I submit?

Q: What if I'm not an American Express® Cardmember? Can I submit a project?

Q: How long will it take to get a Card if I want to submit a project?

Q: I am an employee/director of a non-profit organization; may I submit a project on behalf of my organization?

Q: What do I need to submit with my project?

Q: How long does it take to post my project or content after I submit it?

Q: What are the project categories? Are they different from last year?

Q: What if my project does not fit into one of these categories?

Q: What if I have an organization in mind to carry out my project?

Q: What if I do not know of an organization that could carry out my project?

Q: What happens if my project has been not approved?

Q: Can I change or edit my project after I submit it? How many times?

Q: When is the last time I can make changes to my project?

Q: Can I withdraw my project?

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The Winning Project

Q: What does it take to become a winning project?

A: A winning project must first make it into the Top 25 and into the Top 5. Then, it must receive the most votes of all the projects.

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Q: How does a project get to the Top 25 and who makes the final determination?

A: The project should be innovative, achievable, and impactful. It should also have been nominated by others, discussed positively on the Discussion Board, and/or promoted to friends and family members using the communication tools on the site. The 12 member Advisory Panel will evaluate the projects in conjunction with American Express to determine which projects progress to the Top 25 voting round. Click here to see our extraordinary Advisory Panel.

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Additional Contact Information

Q: I have more questions about Members Project. Who should I contact?

E-mail your questions to Members Project Customer Service by clicking here. Or call 1-800-AXP-1234.

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