Certification
Become LGBTE Certified
LGBTE certification opens doors to procurement networks, business development tools, and nationwide matchmaking events—all beginning with membership in your local LGBT Chamber.
Overview
What is the NGLCC SDI?
The NGLCC SDI offers certification to LGBTBEs, as well as a host of opportunities to enhance LGBT businesses’ visibility to corporations seeking to do business with LGBT suppliers. Corporations can search for certified LGBTBEs through our exclusive LGBT supplier database, as well as meet face-to-face with potential suppliers at NGLCC SDI matchmaking events, which are held across the country throughout the year. Certified LGBTBEs may also be eligible for scholarship programs, mentorship and leadership training, and other business development tools to help your business grow. This all starts with your membership with your local LGBT Chamber of Commerce.
Benefits
Why Get Certified as an LGBTBE®?
By becoming a Certified LGBTBE®, businesses are able to build relationships with America’s leading corporations, generate prospective business and clients, and collectively team with each other for contracting opportunities. As corporate America becomes more inclusive and further diversifies its supply chain, certification offers the opportunity for LGBT-owned businesses to differentiate themselves from their competitors.
How the Certification Is Structured
NGLCC’s LGBTBE certification is modeled on the standards developed by other national diverse certifying bodies, including the NMSDC (National Minority Supplier Diversity Council) and WBENC (Women’s Business Enterprise National Council).
Partner Commitment and Certification Oversight
NGLCC corporate partners have made a commitment to investing in LGBT-owned businesses, and the certification process ensures those resources are received by this community. The NGLCC and its governing bodies, including the Procurement & Corporate Advisory Councils (whose members are NGLCC corporate partners and LGBTBEs), determined several standards and procedures to create a transparent process that is authentic and as uniform as possible, in concert with the standard requirements across the supplier diversity industry.
application process
What’s Required to Become Certified?
Accordingly, several documents are required to verify two critical points:
- That each majority business owner is LGBT
- That said LGBT business owner(s) controls, manages, operates, and owns the company 51% or more.
These documents are reviewed by the National Certification Committee, which is comprised of LGBT entrepreneurs, corporate representatives, and allies. A certain quorum is mandated and the process can take up to 90 days to complete, in order to maintain integrity and thoroughness. Each document required demonstrates to the committee the various aspects related to verifying the above and essentially give a picture of the company, in order to prevent any ineligible business to obtain LGBTBE designation.
Your Privacy Matters
Note: the NGLCC understands the confidentiality of the information that is requested and has taken extensive security measures to protect all the data, which is never released to outside parties. All NGLCC representatives, including staff, site visitors, and National Certification Committee members have signed non-disclosure agreements and hold this information in the strictest confidence. Any individual with access to your information has pledged not to disclose or disseminate that information unless ordered by a court of competent jurisdiction or the government. NGLCC certification does not prove or guarantee the financial viability of any company; it only means that a company has gone through the independent process of verifying that it is LGBT-owned.
Application
Get Certified in Four Easy Steps
If at any time you need help during this process, please contact the NGLCC SDI Team at 202-234-9181 OR Detroit LGBT Chamber at 313-673-3001
Step 1: Start Your Application
Visit nglcc.org to complete the online application process. First, build your business profile; this is your chance to market your enterprise to other certified LGBTBEs and NGLCC’s 140 Corporate Partners. You will then be prompted to submit supporting documentation to verify your eligibility for certification*. Once a business profile is created, a member of our Supplier Diversity team will be in touch with you to connect you with your regional Manager, as well as outline the certification timeline.
Step 2: Submit Supporting Documents
Once you begin your business profile, an NGLCC team member will reach out to you through this step. Find the Supporting Documents Checklist here and the LGBTQ Status Qualifiers for Business Owners here.
Step 3: Site Visit
Complete a site visit with an NGLCC trained site visitor. The site visitor will corroborate the information in your application and learn more about your business in the process.
Step 4: Complete the National Certification Committee Review
Our National Certification Committee meets monthly and will review your application to certify your business as LGBTBE.
Sending Supporting Documentation
All applicants must submit the following into their my.nglcc.org application to be considered.
**PLEASE NOTE: If WBENC or USBLN certified, there is an expedited application process. Please contact the Supplier Diversity team for details.
For a downloadable checklist (in PDF): Supporting Documents Checklist
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