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Inclusive Buying Program

At Microsoft that means fostering greater levels of diversity in our supplier base to reflect the diversity of our customers.

Our actions and supporting inclusive economic opportunity

Our commitment to helping people realize their potential extends from our products to our procurement practices to you, the supplier. The Microsoft mission encompasses all people and every area of our enterprise. We embrace a core set of values, and we look for suppliers who share those values and can help us to fulfill our mission.

Inside Microsoft Beyond Microsoft FAQs and glossary

Inside Microsoft: Connecting suppliers to opportunity

We strive to create an inclusive supplier ecosystem that brings the power of diversity to our stakeholders. That’s why we focus on three core areas to drive equitable impact.

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Influencing the supply chain

We’re influencing Diversity Equity & Inclusion in the supply chain by partnering across the enterprise to invest in an inclusive supplier ecosystem.
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Business Intelligence

Microsoft leverages the power of data to track our progress and identify gaps, opportunities and trends.
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Mentorship and development

Diverse suppliers onboarded into our supplier ecosystem are eligible to participate in our supplier diversity program. 

United States program overview and requirements

Microsoft requires businesses categorized as diverse to be 3rd-party certified. In the US, a diverse business is 51% or more owned, operated, and managed by a US citizen or US permanent residence meeting the following diversity classifications.

Review FAQs and glossary
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International requirements

To align our mission with global diversity and inclusion, we prioritize countries with established diversity programs and a focus on societal impact enterprises.

Supported Employment Program

Enabling employment diversity and inclusion, the Microsoft Global Workplace Services (GWS) partners with vendors and employment agencies, creating job opportunities for people with intellectual/developmental disabilities (I/DD) at Microsoft facilities across the globe.

Learn more about Supported Employment
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Diverse supplier interest form

Are you a diverse-owned company interested in doing business with Microsoft? Please complete the form below. Information provided will be used to create a business profile. NOTE: Submission of the application does not guarantee Microsoft supplier status. Your company will be contacted directly by our sourcing team if there are opportunities that align with your company’s capabilities.

Start now

Beyond Microsoft: Together we can achieve more

We have an opportunity and obligation to foster collective movement towards supplier diversity and inclusion through our external partnerships. We leverage our partnerships with various institutions and organizations to drive awareness of programming and resources available to help the advancement of diverse owned businesses.

Our partner list

Resources to explore

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Supplier Corporate Social Responsibility commitments

We believe that companies that can do more, should. Explore Procurement’s approach with our suppliers to build a more equitable and sustainable future.
Access our latest impact reports
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Racial Equity Initiative (REI)

In June 2020, Microsoft made a five-year commitment to address racial injustice and inequity. Our three focus areas include strengthening our communities, increasing representation and strengthening inclusion and engaging our ecosystems.
Learn more about our commitments
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Environmental sustainability

Here is a series of capacity-building resources to help companies around the world start their sustainability journeys.
Sustainability resources
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Accessibility at Microsoft

There are no limits to what people can achieve when technology reflects the diversity of everyone.
Learn about accessibility

Frequently asked questions

  • The Microsoft Supplier Diversity program is primarily focused on businesses that are headquartered in the United States. However, similar programs are being developed in other countries with specific country laws and regulations governing supplier diversity.

  • While certification is not required to do business with Microsoft, a third-party certification is required to be designated as a diverse supplier in the Microsoft procurement system.

  • Microsoft accepts third-party diversity certifications from the following organizations:

    The National LGBT Chamber of Commerce
    National Minority Supplier Development Council
    National Veteran Business Development Council
    Women’s Business Enterprise National Council
    Disability-owned Business Enterprises
    Federal HubZone and 8(a) certifications
    Enhanced Digital Certification by SupplierGateway
    Byblack Certification by US Black of Chamber of Commerce

     

    And state and local government certifications (typically for MBE and WBE).

     

  • No. There is no cost for registering with Microsoft as a diverse supplier. However, typically, there are costs related to becoming certified. For additional information on becoming certified, please contact one of our preferred certifying agencies.

  • No. Completing a supplier diversity profile is not a guarantee of business nor does it identify companies as a preferred/approved supplier. The Supplier Diversity Program serves as a bridge between diverse suppliers and Microsoft Procurement. After a company completes their diversity profile, procurement can review the supplier’s information and determine if there is a potential match for appropriate opportunities.

  • Yes. Microsoft Procurement encourages buyers to consider using diverse suppliers whenever possible and tracks diverse spend as one of the company’s top metrics.

  • No. For all sourcing opportunities, Microsoft awards business to the best supplier based on cost, quality, value, and risk.

Glossary

  • A business concern not less than 51 percent of which is owned by one or more disabled individuals or, in the case of any publicly owned business, not less than 51 percent of the stock of which is owned by one or more disabled individuals who are either a US citizen or lawful permanent resident.

  • A small business located in distressed areas, designated as an Historically Underutilized Business Zone (HUBZone), which appears on the list of Qualified HUBZone Small Business Concerns maintained by the Small Business Administration. A small business must meet all of the following criteria to qualify for the HUBZone Program:

    • It must be located in a historically underutilized business zone (HUBZone).
    • It must be owned and controlled by one or more US citizens.
    • At least 35 percent of its employees must reside in a HUBZone.

  • The criteria used by the National LGBT Chamber of Commerce (NGLCC) are:

    • Majority (at least 51 percent) owned, operated, managed, and controlled by an LGBT person or persons who are either US citizens or lawful permanent residents
    • Exercises independence from any non-LGBT business enterprise
    • Has its principal place of business (headquarters) in the United States
    • Has been formed as a legal entity in the United States

  • A minority-owned business is a for-profit enterprise, regardless of size, physically located in the United States or its trust territories, which is owned, operated, and controlled by minority group members. "Minority group members" are United States citizens who are Asian, Black, Hispanic, and Native American. Ownership by minority individuals means that the business is at least 51 percent owned by such individuals or, in the case of a publicly-owned business, at least 51 percent of the stock is owned by one or more such individuals. Further, the management and daily operations are controlled by those minority group members.

  • Each of these is a certified type of business enterprise that can be employed to meet diversity requirements. "Veteran" refers to both veteran-owned and service-disabled veteran-owned businesses. For more information, see the definitions of each type in this glossary.

  • The management and daily business operations of which are controlled by one or more service-disabled veterans or—in the case of a service-disabled veteran with permanent and severe disability—the spouse or permanent caregiver of such veteran. Service-disabled veteran means a veteran, as defined in Article 101(2) of Title 38, United States Code, with a disability that is service connected, as defined in Article 101(16) of Title 38, United States Code.

  • A business that is at least 51 percent unconditionally owned by one or more veterans (as defined in 38 United States Code 101(2)), or in the case of any publicly owned business, at least 51 percent of the stock is unconditionally owned by one or more veterans; and whose management and daily business operations are controlled by one or more veterans.

  • The criteria used by the Women's Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC) are:

    • 51 percent ownership by a woman or women
    • Proof of effective management of the business (operating position, by-laws, hire-fire, and other decision-making roles)
    • Control of the business as evidenced by signature role on loans, leases, and contracts

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