Council for Supplier Diversity

What Council for Supplier Diversity does

The Council for Supplier Diversity is a nonprofit organization founded in 1999 and headquartered at 10679 Westview Parkway, San Diego, California. It operates a two-sided ecosystem that connects diverse business enterprises (DBEs) - including minority-, women-, and service-disabled veteran-owned firms - with corporate buyers seeking to fulfill supplier diversity objectives. Its go-to-market is demand-driven: corporate members articulate sourcing needs first, and the Council then identifies, recruits, and pre-vets qualified diverse suppliers against those specific requirements, rather than broadcasting unsolicited supplier lists. Named corporate members include COX Communications, Sony Electronics, U.S. Bank, SoCal Gas, and BPI Plumbing, with board representation from enterprise players across telecommunications, electronics, financial services, utilities, and plumbing.

Revenue is generated primarily through tiered corporate membership fees ranging from $3,000 (Standard Support) to $50,000+ (Premier Support), supplemented by the Corporate Vendor Portal Update Service ($30 per portal, 10-site minimum), supplier certification assistance, and sponsorship underwriting for the High Performance Supplier Series. The Council also operates a physical Diverse Business Development Center that provides office suites, conference facilities, and training rooms (capacity ranging from 6 to 100 people), which functions as both operational infrastructure and a distribution channel for Category Sourcing Exchanges and member events. Programmatic offerings include the High Performance Supplier Series co-developed with the University of San Diego School of Business, a 12-18 month Accelerator Partnership Program, Financial Support Services through four lending partners (Union Bank, Civic Community Partners, Mission Driven Finance, Genesis Funding), ADP-backed payroll and HR solutions, and the Young Entrepreneur Academy serving transition-aged youth. The organization runs on a small staff of approximately 8 people and has not disclosed external funding, M&A activity, or geographic expansion beyond the San Diego region.

Name

Council for Supplier Diversity

Legal name

Council for Supplier Diversity

Website

https://councilforsupplierdiversity.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1999

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Nonprofit founded in 1999 that connects diverse business enterprises (minority, women, and service-disabled veteran-owned) with corporate buyers in the San Diego region through demand-driven sourcing, certification assistance, executive training, and financial support services.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Supplier Diversity Services

akta.pro primary industry

Fair Trade & Ethical Supply Chains (Certification, Traceability, Producer Support) (BPAGALAL)

akta.pro secondary industry

Supply Chain, Logistics & Procurement Certifications (EDAAANAK)

Keywords

• Supplier diversity services
• Diverse supplier development
• Corporate membership programs
• Small business certification
• Supplier sourcing services

Headquarters

HQ city

San Diego

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Corporate Membership Fees: Annual membership fees at multiple tiers: Standard Support ($3,000 for small non-profits/agencies), Premium Support ($5,000), Star Support ($15,000), Champion Support ($25,000), and Premier Support ($50,000+). Each tier provides increasing levels of supplier sourcing opportunities and recognition benefits.
2. Corporate Vendor Portal Update Service: Service that allows registered suppliers to register and update their information across multiple corporate vendor portals. Cost is $30 per vendor portal with a minimum of 10 sites. Includes initial registration and two updates per year for subsequent subscription years.
3. Supplier Certification Assistance: Personalized guidance and assistance with diverse business enterprise certifications, including preparation and submittal services. Pricing details available by calling the Council.
4. High Performance Supplier Series Sponsorship: The tuition for the five-day workshop series ($3,500 value) is covered by corporate member sponsorship and scholarship support, making it free for qualifying participants.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Council for Supplier Diversity operates a nonprofit supplier diversity program that connects qualified minority, women, service-disabled veteran, and other diverse business enterprises (DBEs) with corporate members seeking diverse suppliers. It sells corporate memberships, provides supplier registration, certification assistance, sourcing services, supplier development programs, financial support services, and office/conference facilities, using a demand-driven approach that matches specific corporate needs with pre-vetted diverse suppliers.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Corporate Membership Program Annual corporate membership with five tiers (Standard $3,000, Premium $5,000, Star $15,000, Champion $25,000, Premier $50,000+) that gives enterprises access to supplier sourcing, category sourcing exchanges, program recognition, and reporting benefits in support of their supplier diversity initiatives.
• Corporate Vendor Portal Update Service Subscription service at $30 per vendor portal (minimum 10 sites) that allows registered diverse suppliers to populate their information to multiple corporate vendor portals through a single registration, including initial registration and two updates per year for subsequent subscription years.
• Supplier Certification Assistance Personalized guidance and assistance for diverse business enterprises pursuing DBE certifications, including preparation and submittal services. Pricing is provided on request.
• High Performance Supplier Series Executive five-workshop program developed with the University of San Diego School of Business for diverse business leaders, covering organizational strategy, marketing, cost management, negotiation, financial management, and people management; tuition is covered by corporate member sponsorship and scholarships for qualifying participants.
• Young Entrepreneur Academy Program designed to teach young people from underserved communities how to start their own businesses through training, real-world experience, and mentorship, including participants from the Juvenile Diversion Initiative.
• Category Sourcing Exchanges Focused meetings at the Council's San Diego training facility where specific product/service category buyers from corporate members engage with pre-qualified diverse suppliers through presentations and individual meetings.
• Financial Support Services Free service for registered diverse suppliers that connects them with partner lenders (Union Bank, Civic Community Partners, Mission Driven Finance, Genesis Funding) for business credit solutions and non-traditional lending, addressing capital access challenges.
• Conference and Meeting Room Services Rental of professional meeting and training space at the Council's Diverse Business Development Center, including Board Room (10 people), Small Conference Room (6), OneSource Room (100), SDG&E Training Room (20), and TIG Meeting Room (16), available to DBEs and corporate members.

Quantifiable outcome

• HPS Program covers $3,500 value of training at no cost to qualifying participants through corporate sponsorship
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• University of San Diego School of BusinesscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to offer the High Performance Supplier Series workshops designed specifically for minority, women, service-disabled veteran, and other diverse-owned companies. The five-workshop curriculum addresses organizational effectiveness to increase supplier performance, covering topics including organizational strategy, marketing, cost management, negotiation, financial management, and people management. USD Professor Dave Pyke co-delivers the first workshop.
• Access Inc.minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration to offer training and internships in business development to 'opportunity youth' participating in youth empowerment programs.
• San Diego Youth ServicesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration to offer training and internships in business development to opportunity youth.
• National Conflict Resolution Center (NCRC)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration to offer training and internships in business development to opportunity youth.
• ADPcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to provide small business payroll, HR, and benefits solutions including HR screening, human resources consulting, employee training & development, payroll processing, workers compensation, compliance, and benefits administration. Registered diverse suppliers receive discounted rates on ADP services.
• SoCal GascoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCorporate partner in the Accelerator Partnership Program, hosting partnership meetings and presentations for diverse suppliers.
• Juvenile Diversion Initiative (JDI)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration allows eligible youth from the DA's office diversion program to attend the Young Entrepreneur Academy as part of their program designed to divert them from the court system.
• San Diego Leadership ForumminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerExecutive leaders from the San Diego Leadership Forum serve as coaches for the Council's consulting and coaching services workshops.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• TealBook: Supplier intelligence platform providing AI-driven supplier discovery, profile enrichment, and diversity data—repositions supplier diversity as a software workflow, competing with the Council's human-vetted approach.
• Supplier.io: Technology platform that helps corporations manage, measure, and grow their diverse supplier programs through data and analytics—a tech-enabled competitor to the Council's manual matchmaking and certification services.

Others

• U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA): Federal agency administering small business certification programs (8(a), WOSB, HUBZone) and contracting programs—provides the broader policy and certification infrastructure in which supplier diversity councils like the Council operate.
• California Small Business Development Centers (SBDC): Network of small business support centers providing free advisory services, training, and resources to small businesses—including diverse-owned enterprises—adjacent ecosystem partner in the small business/Diversity support space.

Direct peers

• Southern California Minority Supplier Development Council: Regional MSDC affiliate serving the greater Los Angeles area with MBE certification and corporate sourcing programs—directly comparable regional council in the same Southern California geography.
• Pacific Southwest Minority Supplier Development Council: Regional Minority Supplier Development Council affiliate serving Southern California, including the San Diego area, with the same DBE certification, corporate membership, and sourcing exchange model—directly comparable regional supplier diversity council.

Broad incumbents

• Women's Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC): National nonprofit certifying Women's Business Enterprises and facilitating corporate connections, operating a similar regional-affiliate-based model to certify and connect women-owned suppliers with corporate members.
• National Veteran Business Development Council (NVBDC): National nonprofit certifying service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses and connecting them to corporate and government supply chains—operates in the same DBE certification/corporate sourcing space as the Council.
• National Minority Supplier Development Council (NMSDC): The national umbrella organization for the Minority Supplier Development network, providing MBE certification standards, corporate membership programs, and national business机会 events—operates at a national scale with affiliate councils that are direct peers to the Council.
• Disability:IN: National nonprofit driving disability inclusion in business, including supplier diversity programs for disability-owned businesses—comparable DBE certification and corporate matching focus at a national scale.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/CouncilforSupplierDiversity
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/councilforsupplierdiversity
• Xx.com/councilforsd

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Council for Supplier Diversity