Community
Impact
It is our mission to support our customers, colleagues and communities by helping them achieve their aspirations and helping their communities thrive. This shapes our work as a responsible corporate citizen. We deliver high-impact funding and initiatives that support people, businesses and non-profit partners so that together, we can make a meaningful difference in the world.
American Express acknowledges Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the Traditional Custodians of the land on which we work and meet each day, throughout Australia. We acknowledge Gadigal of the Eora Nation, whose ancestral lands and waters are where the American Express Australia headquarters now stand. American Express recognises Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples’ continuing connection to land, waters and culture. We pay our respect to the past, present and future Elders and to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
Community Impact Priorities
Backing Equal Futures
Helping to advance economic and educational opportunities for coming generations, to ensure their long-term success and ability to thrive.
Backing Small
Helping to support small business owners in building their economic vitality and foster a thriving community through grants, mentoring support, and technical assistance.
Backing Low-Carbon Communities
Helping to promote sustainability, climate-resilience, equity, and recovery in cities and disaster-prone areas.
Our vision for reconciliation
Backing communities entails certain responsibilities to – and an acknowledgement of – place. In Australia, our offices are located on Country traditionally owned by First Nations peoples. Our business has an important role to play in supporting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities and voices, which is central to our vision for reconciliation.
Created in consultation with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, our Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) outlines how American Express will learn from First Nations communities, create culturally-safe working environments, and explore mutually-beneficial projects and opportunities. The RAP is championed by senior leaders and representatives across American Express, including colleagues from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.
Artist Credit: Growing and Soaring Together By Kristie Peters, 2021. The artwork symbolises American Express’ ongoing and deepening commitment to Reconciliation. It is a soulful expression of our values that celebrates a diverse community, colleagues, and customers joining in harmony on a journey of Reconciliation while paying respect to history both past and present.
Helping small business thrive
Small businesses are essential to a thriving high street, a successful tourism industry, a fair and resilient society and much more. Small businesses are crucial to the economies of both Australia and New Zealand – they employ huge portions of the workforce, support local organisation and often give young people their first jobs.
We’re proud to lead initiatives that help these businesses reach their potential and navigate challenging moments. One of those is our annual Shop Small campaign, a movement bringing together the business community, governments and consumers to support small businesses. It sees us partner with many of our merchants to promote their products and services, and connect businesses with platforms, marketing and support they might not be able to access otherwise. We also invest in initiatives and offers that encourage our Card Members to spend in small businesses.
