Obama Foundation Releases Business Diversity Statement

June 28, 2019 at 10:00 AM CDT

The Obama Foundation is committed to maintaining an organizational environment in which diversity, equity, and inclusion are valued and respected in all aspects of our operations. We believe that diverse businesses and workforces across industries strengthen the work we do at the Foundation. And we want to make sure we are doing everything we can to support the work and services of diverse communities, especially those located on the South Side of Chicago near the future Obama Presidential Center.

In support of these commitments, we aim to ensure that our vendors and partners share our values and are willing to hold themselves to the same high standards. That is why, as a result of our work with the Obama Foundation Inclusion Council we have established our Business Diversity Statement, which will serve as a tool to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion with respect to the Foundation’s vendor base.

The goals of this statement are to:

  • Ensure non-discrimination in the awarding and administration of contracts and subcontracts;

  • Create a level playing field on which all businesses can compete fairly for contracts and subcontracts, with no barriers to diverse business owners; and

  • Contribute to the growth and development of diverse businesses.

Through this statement, the Foundation will encourage the vendors who support our operations to demonstrate their commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion in their own organizations as well. They will be encouraged to maintain written policies governing operational spending with diverse vendors in addition to policies governing recruitment and retention of diverse staff. The Foundation will also ask that, wherever possible, diverse staff be tapped to take the lead on any services being provided to the Foundation.

In keeping with our mission to inspire, empower, and connect people to change their world, we will encourage our vendors and partners to give back to the community, and to make specific, measurable commitments to positively impact Chicago’s underserved communities.

This is a floor, not a ceiling. As the Foundation continues to grow, our goal is to help create transparency around an issue too often guarded; and shine a light on what it takes to truly drive social impact at every step of our work.