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Diversity business classifications and certifications - United States

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Partners can self-attest and upload relevant social impact and diversity business classifications and certifications by selecting the appropriate checkboxes in their Company profile. You can select more than one applicable classification; providing this information is optional.

The information you provide might be shared with customers to support social value procurement and supplier diversity opportunities.

Diverse-owned business classifications

The following classifications are defined as a diverse-owned business in the United States:

  • Minority-Owned Business Enterprise (MBE): A minority-owned business (may be large or small) is defined as a business that is owned, managed, and controlled 51% or more by one or more persons who identify with one or more of the following ethnic/racial categories: African American or Black, Asian, Hispanic or Latino, Middle Eastern or North African, Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander, Native American or Alaska Native.
  • Women-Owned Business Enterprise (WBE): A woman-owned business (may be large or small) is defined as a business that is owned, managed, and controlled 51% or more by one or more women.
  • Veteran-Owned Business Enterprise (VBE): A veteran-owned business (may be large or small) is defined as a business that is owned, managed, and controlled 51% or more by one or more veterans.
  • Disability-Owned Business Enterprise (DOBE): A business that is at least 51% owned, managed, and controlled by one or more individuals with a disability.
  • Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer (LGBTQ)-Owned Business Enterprise: A LGBTQ-owned business is defined as a business that is at least 51% owned, operated, managed, and controlled by an LGBTQ person or persons.

Diverse-led business classifications

If your business does not meet the 51% diverse-owned business classifications because institutional investors own a majority of the company's equity, you can self-attest to your business being diverse-led if the majority of the company's board, appointers of the board, and management who control day-to-day operations meet diversity classifications.

Review further details on the diverse-led business requirement.

Third-party certifications

US businesses with relevant third-party certifications might also upload valid certification documentation directly in Company profile. This information will be vetted by Microsoft. Certifications that have expired or that are within three months of the expiration date won't be accepted.

Upload only relevant documentation from third-party certification organizations. Personal identification documents won't be accepted.

Diverse business certifications:

Social impact reporting and certifications:

Next steps

  • Visit your company profile in Partner Center to self-attest as a diverse-owned or diverse-led business and upload relevant certification.
  • Complete your business profile in Partner Center to enable customers to discover your business on AppSource with your self-attestation and/or certification.