American Express has announced the 2008 Members Project, an online initiative that enables American Express card holders to vote on ideas for projects with the potential to change the world.

The 2007 Members Project drew eight thousand project submissions, from which a single winner, "Children's Safe Drinking Water," emerged after three rounds of voting by thousands of American Express card holders. The company awarded UNICEF $2 million to spearhead the project.

This year, American Express will award grants totaling $2.5 million to five projects in the categories of health, education, the environment and wildlife, arts and culture, and community development. The top project will receive $1.5 million, with $500,000 awarded to the second-place project, $300,000 for third, and $100,000 each to the remaining two.

American Express card holders and non-card holders may participate in the initial discussion and nominate their favorite projects through August 19, 2008. A twelve-member advisory panel will help select the top twenty-five submissions, to be announced on September 9. Starting September 30, card holders will narrow the candidates to the top five projects, which will be announced on October 14.

http://www.MembersProject.com/