Applications are now open for the prestigious American Express Leadership Academy, one of the world’s leading executive leadership development programmes designed specifically for senior leaders in the non-profit sector.
Delivered by Common Purpose in partnership with American Express, the Academy has spent more than a decade investing in leaders who are driving social impact across communities worldwide. The programme equips experienced non-profit executives with practical leadership skills, innovative thinking, cross-sector collaboration, and lifelong professional networks needed to navigate today’s increasingly complex challenges.
Participation is completely free, with all programme places fully funded.
For leaders seeking to strengthen their leadership capacity while connecting with influential changemakers from around the world, the American Express Leadership Academy offers an exceptional opportunity to accelerate personal growth and organizational impact.
About the American Express Leadership Academy
The American Express Leadership Academy is a transformative leadership programme that brings together senior non-profit professionals from diverse sectors, countries, and backgrounds.
Rather than relying solely on classroom instruction, the Academy focuses on experiential learning, practical leadership challenges, peer collaboration, and exposure to leaders from the social, public, and private sectors.
Participants learn how to lead effectively through uncertainty while strengthening trust, collaboration, innovation, and human-centered leadership.
The programme recognizes that today’s leaders must navigate:
- Rapid technological change
- Evolving funding environments
- Increasing community needs
- Organizational transformation
- Cross-sector collaboration
- Complex global challenges
Instead of simply responding to change, participants learn how to lead confidently through it.
Why This Leadership Programme Matters
Non-profit organizations across the world are facing unprecedented challenges.
Leaders must simultaneously:
- Manage organizational growth
- Respond to changing donor expectations
- Embrace digital transformation
- Build resilient teams
- Strengthen stakeholder trust
- Address increasing societal needs
The American Express Leadership Academy was redesigned to prepare leaders for this evolving environment by developing connected changemakers capable of creating sustainable social impact.
Programme Structure
The Academy combines in-person learning with online development activities over approximately six months.
Programme Duration
Participants will complete:
- Four-day intensive in-person leadership experience
- Five online workshops
- Learning journey spanning approximately six months
Programme Format
The programme is delivered through:
- In-person leadership sessions
- Interactive online workshops
- Peer learning
- Experiential leadership activities
- Cross-sector collaboration
- Practical leadership exercises
What Participants Can Expect
Participants will experience a highly interactive learning environment designed around real leadership situations.
The programme includes:
1. Learn by Doing
Rather than traditional lectures, participants actively practice leadership through:
- Interactive exercises
- Group challenges
- Leadership simulations
- Collaborative activities
2. Real-World Leadership Challenges
Learning is based on practical situations faced by non-profit executives, enabling participants to immediately apply new knowledge within their organizations.
3. Diverse Global Cohort
Participants learn alongside senior leaders from different:
- Organizations
- Sectors
- Countries
- Professional backgrounds
- Leadership experiences
This diversity creates valuable opportunities for collaboration and long-term networking.
4. Practical Leadership Tools
Participants gain access to:
- Leadership frameworks
- Strategic thinking approaches
- Decision-making tools
- Innovation techniques
- The COMPASS leadership approach
- Practical methods that can be implemented immediately in their organizations.
Learning Journey
The Academy follows a structured leadership development pathway that includes:
- Pre-Academy preparation
- 360-degree leadership evaluation
- Four-day immersive Academy experience
- Continued online learning
- Post-Academy leadership development
This comprehensive journey ensures that leadership development extends well beyond the in-person event.
Leadership Outcomes
By the end of the programme, participants strengthen several critical leadership capabilities, including:
Purpose
Participants improve:
- Self-awareness
- Leadership confidence
- Personal understanding
- Clarity of leadership purpose
Innovation
Participants develop stronger innovation skills that enable them to lead organizational transformation and adapt to emerging challenges.
Connection
The Academy helps leaders build meaningful relationships across sectors while strengthening collaboration and influence.
Action
Participants leave with practical leadership approaches that can be implemented immediately to create measurable organizational impact.
Programme Impact
The American Express Leadership Academy has already created a significant global impact.
Its achievements include:
- More than 160,000 alumni worldwide
- 98% of participants would recommend the programme to colleagues or friends
- 92% report greater confidence in their leadership roles
- 95% experience improved self-awareness
These results demonstrate the programme’s effectiveness in developing capable, resilient, and impactful non-profit leaders.
Who Should Apply
The programme is designed for senior non-profit leaders who are:
- Responsible for leading organizations or major teams
- Working in complex and rapidly changing environments
- Managing competing priorities
- Looking to strengthen leadership beyond their own organizations
- Open to learning through challenge and practical experience
- Interested in collaborating across sectors and cultures
Applicants should also:
- Work for a registered non-profit organization
- Currently serve in executive leadership roles or be identified for future executive positions
- Have responsibilities requiring influence both inside and outside their organizations
- Demonstrate innovation and a willingness to embrace change
Programme Locations and Schedule
Asia-Pacific 2026
- Programme Dates: 10–13 November 2026
- Application Deadline: 19 July 2026
The Americas 2027
- Programme dates: To be confirmed
- Applications are currently open.
Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) and the United Kingdom 2027
- Programme dates: To be confirmed
- Applications are currently open.
Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) and the United Kingdom 2026
Applications for the 2026 cohort have already closed.
Accessibility and Participant Support
Common Purpose is committed to ensuring an inclusive learning environment.
Applicants requiring adjustments because of:
- Disability
- Neurodiversity
- Caring responsibilities
- Other accessibility needs
can request appropriate support during the application process or after acceptance into the programme.
Why Join the American Express Leadership Academy?
Participants benefit from:
- Fully funded participation
- World-class executive leadership development
- International networking opportunities
- Cross-sector learning experiences
- Practical leadership frameworks
- Increased confidence as organizational leaders
- Enhanced innovation capabilities
- Improved self-awareness
- Long-term professional relationships
- Access to a global alumni network
Important Deadline
Asia-Pacific 2026 Application Deadline: 19 July 2026
Applications for The Americas 2027 and EMEA & UK 2027 are currently open.
For more information about this opportunity, visit here.
Discover more Global Training Opportunities on OFY here.
