Program Approach

Supplier Diversity
Program Approach

Two executives shaking hands over a laptop

The Seattle University Supplier Diversification Program both directs investment to local diverse businesses and engages local BIPOC (Black, indigenous, and other people of color) communities and businesses.

The program also supports the uptake of local BIPOC-owned businesses among peer anchor institutions, using the university's academic resources and relationships to meet the needs on both sides, thus leveraging initial investments. Over time, the program plans to share its findings with peer universities and anchor institutions, creating a model that can be replicated broadly.

The plan is to:

Increase the resilience of the local business ecosystem by increasing university spending with local Black- and BIPOC-owned businesses;
Build the capacity of community businesses to engage large institutional procurement pipelines;
Support local business in building networks; and
Develop a model to facilitate sharing and growth of neighborhood-focused supplier diversity efforts among peer universities and anchor institutions.

This grant extends previous work of the Albers School of Business and Economics' Innovation & Entrepreneurship Center—also supported by the JP Morgan Chase Foundation—in the Resource Amplification & Management Program (RAMP-Up). The supplier diversification program builds on RAMP-Up's foundation to support potential institutional vendors in local neighborhoods and develop procurement-readiness among local businesses owned by BIPOC community members, prioritizing the Black-owned businesses in the community surrounding the Seattle University campus.

The program also expands on past initiatives organized by Seattle University, including those organized by the Sundborg Center for Community Engagement, the Office of Diversity and Inclusion, and SU's Procurement department.

Community-Based Approach

Pursue deep engagement with the BIPOC business community

Assess and adapt Seattle University's procurement system and processes

Learn and share best practice with other anchor institutions

Community Partners

Black Community Impact Alliance

The Black Community Impact Alliance (BCIA) is a group of cooperating organizations serving the Black community in Western Washington. BCIA makes sure that taxpayer-funded initiatives and organizations that receive government money to work in the Black community are actually doing work to better the lives of Black children and families, particularly those with low income and the working poor.

Black Dot

Black Dot is a culturally responsive community focused on connecting entrepreneurs, creatives, and technologists of African descent. It provides space, knowledge, and support to help launch and grow dreams into sustainable ventures.

Central Area Collaborative

The Central Area Collaborative invests knowledge, energy, and capital in small businesses to support a thriving neighborhood.

Crescent Collaborative

Crescent Collaborative brings together partners in housing, education, environment, health care, business, arts, government, and philanthropy to support equitable and sustainable community development in neighborhoods adjacent to downtown, including Capitol Hill, the Central Area, the Chinatown-International District, Yesler Terrace and First Hill. The organization fosters connections and expands resources to amplify and support the work taking place.