Ameriprise Financial Announces Grants to Nonprofits

Ameriprise Financial, Inc. (NYSE: AMP) recently completed the second of its three funding cycles for 2009, awarding approximately $750,000 to nonprofit organizations. Fifty-eight grants were made under the company’s three funding platforms: meeting basic needs, supporting community vitality and volunteer-driven causes.

“At this time of extraordinary need, we’re pleased to support organizations that are committed to providing basic necessities,” said Brian Pietsch, head of community relations at Ameriprise Financial. “We also recognize the growing demand for career assistance, so we have awarded grants to nonprofits that are helping people succeed in our changing economy.”

Highlights from the company’s recent funding cycle include:

• Supporting the Backpack Buddies program of the Boys & Girls Club of Central Iowa. The grant from Ameriprise Financial supports the club’s basic needs nutrition program, which expands the Backpack Buddies program into a full-fledged food and nutrition program to teach youth and their families about growing, purchasing and preparing nutritious food.
• Helping women in California learn valuable career skills. Women at Work is a career and job resource center serving women in the greater Los Angeles area. The organization helps women attain their full career and earning potential by providing job and career resources in a supportive environment.
• Providing important economic understanding to Latinas in Minnesota. The company’s grant to Comunidades Latinas Unidas En Servicio will support the organization’s economic empowerment services, which integrate employment, educational and financial programs to help Latino families overcome barriers to self-sufficiency and stability.

Ameriprise Financial also continues to be actively engaged in hunger relief efforts through its partnership with Feeding America. Earlier this year the company awarded a $500,000 grant to the organization to provide 3.5 million meals to those in need. In addition, the company’s employees are continuing their volunteer efforts to help eradicate hunger; recently a group of financial advisors contributed more than 440 hours to Washington-D.C.-based hunger relief organization. The company has committed to contribute 50,000 hours of volunteer time and provide seven million meals as it raises awareness of the domestic hunger crisis.

Ameriprise Financial is accepting grant applications for its first funding cycle of 2010. The deadline for receiving applications is February 1, 2010.

About Ameriprise Financial Community Relations

Ameriprise Financial is dedicated to using the firm’s resources, talents and volunteer time to improve the lives of individuals and build strong communities. Through grant-making, volunteerism and employee and advisor gift matching programs, the company supports a diverse group of more than 5,000 nonprofits across the country.

About Ameriprise Financial

Ameriprise Financial, Inc. is a diversified financial services company serving the comprehensive financial planning needs of the mass affluent and affluent. For more information, visit Ameriprise.com.

© 2009 Ameriprise Financial, Inc. All rights reserved.

Grants Awarded: Second Cycle 2009

Meeting Basic Needs – 30 Grants: Arc Greater Twin Cities, Bethel Recovery Center, Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Iowa, Boys & Girls Club of Rochester, Boys & Girls Clubs of the Twin Cities, Comunidades Latinas Unidas En Servicio, Educational Foundation of Lake County, Feed My Starving Children, First Nations Development Institute, Goodwill Easter Seals, Habitat for Humanity of Metro Denver, House of Charity, Junior Achievement of West Central Florida, Lifeworks Services Inc, Martha’s Place, Metropolitan Inter-Faith Association, Minnesota Home Ownership Center, Minnesota State Council on Economic Education, Our House of Portland, Person To Person Inc, Pikes Peak Habitat for Humanity, Preparatory Rehabilitation for Individual Development & Employment, Project for Pride In Living Inc, Promise House Inc, Sabathani Community Center, Inc, Specialized Alternatives for Families and Youth of Nevada, Tubman Family Alliance, Women at Work, YWCA of Minneapolis

Community Vitality – 13 Grants: Austin Music Program, BalletMet Columbus, Cleveland Choral Arts Association, Complexions-A, Concept In Dance, Green Bay Symphony Orchestra Inc, HUC-Skirball Cultural Center, Hunterdon Art Museum, Inside Out Community Arts, Latino Economic Development Center, Local Initiatives Support Corporation, Tesa Youth Service Inc, The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey, Twin Cities Public Television Inc

Volunteer Driven Causes – 10 Grants: Books for Africa, Center for Victims of Torture, Indiana Canine Assistant Network, Management Assistance Program for Nonprofits, Metropolitan Family Service, National Multiple Sclerosis Society, Sexual Assault Spouse Resource Center, SIFMA Foundation for Investment Education, TeamMates Mentoring Program, YMCA of Greater Indianapolis, Jordan Branch

Ameriprise Bank Funded Grants– 5 Grants: CAMBA, Inc., Children’s Home Society & Family Services, Corporation for Supportive Housing, Local Initiatives Support Corporation, Urban Homesteading Assistance Board