Who are Diverse Business Enterprises (DBE’s)?

Our supplier diversity process provides Diverse Business Enterprises (DBE’s-minority-, woman-, veteran-, person with a disability- or small disadvantaged- business enterprise owners) with an opportunity to compete and participate in fulfilling the operational requirements of the Red Cross while developing and promoting mutually beneficial relationships through proactive outreach resulting in the best quality, value and timely purchase of contracts that demonstrate fiscal stewardship and generate goodwill.

The following definitions outline the different types of certified DBE suppliers the American Red Cross is interested in as potential partners. If you have any further questions, please contact us.

The following definitions outline the different types of certified DBE suppliers the American Red Cross is interested in as potential partners. If you have any further questions, please contact us.

Minority-owned Business Enterprise (MBE)

To qualify as an MBE, the firm must be 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. Ownership by minority individuals means the business is at least 51% owned by such individuals or, in the case of a publicly-owned business, at least 51% of the stock is owned by one or more such individuals. Further, those minority group members control the management and daily operations.
Minority group members are defined as:

1. Asian-Indian - A U.S. citizen whose origins are from India, Pakistan and Bangladesh.
2. Asian-Pacific - A U.S. citizen whose origins are from Japan, China, Taiwan, Korea, Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, the Philippines, Samoa, Guam, the U.S. Trust Territories of the Pacific or the Northern Marianas.
3. African-American - A U.S. citizen having origins in any of the Black racial groups of Africa.
4. Hispanic/Latino - A U.S. citizen of true-born Hispanic heritage, from any of the Spanish-speaking areas of Latin America or the following regions: Mexico, Central America, South America and the Caribbean Basin only.
5. 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).

To certify your business as an MBE, contact your local SBA office to register as a "Small Disadvantaged Business" or 8(a) corporation on SBA Pro-Net or visit the National Minority Supplier Development Council home page.

Woman-Owned Business Enterprise (WBE)

To qualify as an WBE, the firm must be a for-profit enterprise, regardless of size, physically located in the United States or its trust territories, which is owned, operated and controlled by a woman or women members. Ownership by female individuals means the business is at least 51% owned by such individuals or, in the case of a publicly-owned business, at least 51% of the stock is owned by one or more such individuals. Further, the management and daily operations are controlled by the woman or women members.
Woman-owned businesses can be certified in any of three ways:

1. Register with the Women's Business Enterprise National Council
2. Register with the National Women Business Owners Corporation
3. Current state or municipal certifications clearly stating woman-owned status (subject to review) Veteran-Owned Business (VOB)

Business must meet the requirements as a Small Business. It must be at least 51% owned and controlled by a U.S. Veteran or Veterans possessing a discharge other than dishonorable. Veteran-owned business can be certified two ways:

1. Register with SBA Veterans' Program
2. Register with SBA Pro-net

PERSON WITH A DISABILITY-OWNED BUSINESS ENTERPRISE:

The term "person with a disability" refers to a business that is at least 51 percent owned by an individual or individuals with a disability, i.e. "a physical or mental impairment which substantially limits one or more major life activities" (as defined by the Americans With Disabilities Act of 1990, 42 U.S.C 12111 et seq., its interpretive regulations, 29 C.F.R. Part 1630, and case law) who also control(s) and operate(s) it. "Control" in this context means exercising the power to make policy decisions. "Operate" in this context means actively involved in the day-to-day management of the business.

SMALL DISADVANTAGED BUSINESS ENTERPRISE:

SBA Certified Small Business is at least 51% owned and operated by a socially and economically disadvantaged individual(s).