Diversity Initiatives

The University of Pittsburgh is committed to fostering a diverse supplier base. The Supplier Diversity Program or Diverse Business Enterprise (DBE) Program, is designed to ensure that businesses of diverse backgrounds and ownership have the opportunity to become valued suppliers as a means of improving the general economic well-being of the community and functioning of our local and national economies.

The University’s Supplier Diversity Programs strive to increase the availability of meaningful business opportunities afforded to diverse suppliers by increasing the level of goods and services provided to the University by diverse business enterprises.

University Spending Goals

Spending with diverse suppliers is an institutional priority. The University has established the following goals, some as part of the Plan for Pitt, to support community and economic development by increasing spending with diverse businesses. The information and resources on this page are intended to assist departments with identifying suppliers and contributing to these goals:

	Construction	Non-Construction
Diverse Businesses¹	10%	15%
Black-Owned Businesses	8%	5.5%

¹Diverse businesses are those that are at least 51% owned by a member of the following groups: Black/African-American, Caucasian women, Hispanic American/Latinx, Asian Indian American, Asian Pacific American, and Native American (which includes Native American, and Aleut, Alaskan Native).

The University has also established similar goals to increase spending with local suppliers, Visit this page for information about buying local, including resources.

Helpful Definitions

Diversity Business Enterprise (DBE): A "Diversity Business Enterprise" is a business owned/operated by a minority that is at least fifty-one percent (51%) unconditionally owned by one or more minority individuals or women who are both socially and economically diverse, or a publicly owned business that has at least fifty-one percent (51%) of its stock unconditionally owned by one or more such individuals and that has its management and daily business controlled by one or more such individuals. Individuals who certify that they are a member of named groups, i.e. African Americans, Hispanic Americans, American Indians and Alaska Natives (Inuit and Aleuts) and Asian and Pacific Island Americans are to be considered socially and economically diverse.
Minority Business Enterprise (MBE): A "Minority Business Enterprise" is intended to mean a business concern owned by one or more minority individuals that is at least fifty-one percent (51%) unconditionally owned by one or more minority individuals, or a publicly owned business that has at least fifty-one percent (51%) of its stock unconditionally owned by one or more such individuals and that has its management and daily business controlled by one or more such individuals. Individuals who certify that they are a member of named groups, i.e. African Americans, Hispanic Americans, American Indians and Alaska Natives (Inuit and Aleuts) and Asian and Pacific Island Americans are to be considered socially and economically disadvantaged.
Women-Owned Business Enterprise (WBE): A "Women-Owned Business Enterprise" is intended to mean a business concern owned by one or more women that is at least fifty-one percent (51%) unconditionally owned by one or more women, or a publicly owned business that has at least fifty-one percent (51%) of its stock unconditionally owned by one or more such individuals and that has its management and daily business controlled by one or more such individuals.