Diverse Suppliers Definitions and Contacts

Cargill recognizes certifications from the National Minority Supplier Development Council (NMSDC), the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC), and/or WEConnect International.  For federal government procurement opportunities, Cargill recognizes certifications from the Small Business Administration (SBA).

Definitions for diverse suppliers

Minority-owned business

The Cargill Supplier Diversity Initiative is open to Minority-owned businesses that are certified by the National Minority Supplier Development Council (NMSDC).

To learn more about certification through NMSDC, contact:

National Minority Supplier Development Council
1040 Avenue of the Americas, 2nd Floor
New York, New York 10018

(212) 944-2430
www.nmsdc.org  

Certification I

As defined by the NMSDC, a minority-owned business (MBE) 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 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.

For purposes of NMSDC's program, a minority group member is an individual who is a U.S. citizen with at least 1/4 or 25 percent minimum (documentation to support claim of 25 percent required from applicant) of the following:

• Asian-Indian: A U.S. citizen whose origins are from India, Pakistan and Bangladesh.
• Asian-Pacific: A U.S. citizen whose origins are from Japan, China, Indonesia, Malaysia, Taiwan, Korea, Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, the Philippines, Thailand, Samoa, Guam, the U.S. Trust Territories of the Pacific or the Northern Marianas.
• Black: A U.S. citizen having origins in any of the Black racial groups of Africa.
• Hispanic: A U.S. citizen of true-born Hispanic heritage, from any of the Spanish-speaking areas of the following regions: Mexico, Central America, South America and the Caribbean Basin only.  Brazilians shall be listed under Hispanic designation for review and certification purposes.
• Native American: A person who is an American Indian, Eskimo, Aleut or Native Hawaiian, and regarded as such by the community of which the person claims to be a part. Native Americans must be documented members of a North American tribe, band or otherwise organized group of native people who are indigenous to the continental United States and proof can be provided through a Native American Blood Degree Certificate (i.e., tribal registry letter, tribal roll register number).

Certification II

As defined by the NMSDC a minority business may be certified as a minority "controlled" enterprise if the minority owners own at least 30 percent of the economic equity of the firm.  This occurs when non-minority institutional investors contribute a majority of the firm’s risk capital (equity).  Under this special circumstance, a business may be certified as a minority "controlled" firm if the following criteria are met:

A.     Minority management/owners control the day-to-day operations of the firm.

B.     Minority management/owners retain a majority (no less than 51 percent) of the firm’s “voting equity”.

C.     Minority owner/s operationally control the board of directors (i.e., must appoint a majority of the board of directors).

Women-owned business

The Cargill Supplier Diversity Program is open to Women-owned businesses that are Certified by the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC)

To learn more about certification through WBENC, contact:

Women's Business Enterprise National Council
1120 Connecticut Avenue NW, Suite 950
Washington, DC 20036

(202) 872-5515
www.wbenc.org

As defined by WBENC a Women's Business Enterprise (WBE) is an independent business concern that is at least 51 percent owned and controlled by one or more women who are U.S. citizens or Legal Resident Aliens; whose business formation and principal place of business are in the US or its territories; and whose management and daily operation is controlled by one or more of the women owners.

To learn more about certification through WEConnect International contact: 

WEConnect International 
1100 H Street, NW, Suite 1100,
Washington, DC 20005 

(202) 810-6000
https://weconnectinternational.org/en/ 

The four criteria considered for WBE certification by WEConnect International are ownership, management, control, and independence. Businesses that meet the criteria are determined to be at least 51% owned, as well as managed and controlled, by one or more women. The WEConnect International Seal of Certification Process is open to businesses in 46 countries. 

Definitions for U.S. federal governmental diverse suppliers

The Cargill Supplier Diversity Program is open to Small Business Enterprises associated with Federal Government Contracts.

U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), an independent federal government agency, helps Americans start, build and grow businesses. The SBA provides programs, services and certifications that support the development of small business concerns (www.sba.gov ).

To learn more about qualification and certification through SBA, contact:

United States Small Business Administration
409 Third Street SW
Washington, DC 20416

1-800-U-ASK-SBA
www.sba.gov

SBA definitions and certifications

Small Business Concern (SBC)/Small Business Enterprise (SBE): Independently owned and operated small business as defined by SBA criteria (www.sba.gov) & (www.sam.gov).

Small Disadvantaged Business (SDB): A small business concern that is at least 51 percent owned by one or more individuals who are both socially and economically disadvantaged. This can include a publicly-owned business that has at least 51 percent of its stock unconditionally owned by one or more socially and economically disadvantaged individuals and whose management and daily business is controlled by one or more such individuals (www.sba.gov).

Women-Owned Small Business (WOSB): Small business with at least 51 percent ownership, control and management by one or more women who are U.S. citizens or resident aliens (www.sba.gov) & (www.sam.gov).

HUBZone Small Business Concern (HUBZone): Small business based on the geographical area where the business is located and where 35% of the employees reside. The company must be small, located in a HUBZone (Historically Underutilized Business Zone), owned and controlled by one or more U.S. citizens, and at least 35% of its employees reside in a HUBZone (www.sba.gov/hubzone)

Veteran-Owned Small Business (VOSB): Small business with at least 51 percent ownership, control and management by one or more honorably discharged veterans (www.vetbiz.va.gov).
Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB) Small business with at least 51 percent ownership, control and management by one or more honorably discharged disabled veterans (www.vetbiz.va.gov) & (www.usbln.org).

Disability-Owned Businesses (DOBE): independently owned and operated business at least 51% owned, managed and controlled by one or more individuals who have a disability-a physical and/or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities. (www.disabilityin.org)

Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender businesses enterprises (LGBTBEs): independently owned and operated business, majority at least 51% owned, managed and controlled by an LGBT person or persons who are either U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents. (www.nglcc.org)