Goldman Sachs is a $47 billion global investment bank and financial services firm with approximately 44,000 employees. Its offices are concentrated in New York, but the firm has major operations in Salt Lake City, Dallas, Chicago, London, and other global financial centers.
Goldman Sachs has formal supplier diversity programs and has made significant public commitments to diverse businesses. The firm is an NMSDC corporate member and WBENC corporate member, and it participates in NGLCC, Disability:IN, and veteran business programs. For diverse businesses in financial services support, technology, and professional services, Goldman Sachs is a meaningful target.
Goldman Sachs's supplier diversity program
Goldman Sachs's supplier diversity program operates through the firm's Procurement division. The program focuses on the firm's domestic spending across its U.S. office locations.
Goldman has been an NMSDC corporate member for many years and reports supplier diversity spend annually. The firm participates in matchmaking events at NMSDC and WBENC conferences and maintains relationships with the national organizations and regional affiliates.
In addition to its corporate procurement supplier diversity program, Goldman Sachs operates 10,000 Small Businesses, a philanthropic and business education program that has served more than 14,000 small businesses with free business education, networks, and access to capital. This is separate from supplier diversity procurement — it's a community investment program, not a vendor relationship — but it demonstrates the firm's broader commitment to diverse entrepreneurship.
Goldman has also committed to its One Million Black Women initiative, announced in 2021, a $10 billion investment commitment to address the economic disparities faced by Black women (Source: Goldman Sachs press release, March 2021). Some of this commitment flows through supplier diversity procurement.
Certifications accepted
Goldman Sachs recognizes:
MBE: NMSDC certification from a regional affiliate. As an NMSDC corporate member, this is the most actively tracked diversity certification.
WBE: WBENC certification.
LGBTBE: NGLCC certification. Goldman Sachs has been a consistent NGLCC supporter and tracks LGBTBE spend.
DOBE: Disability:IN certification.
SDVOSB/VOSB: Veteran-owned business certifications.
WOSB: SBA WOSB certification.
SDB / 8(a): SBA certification.
Goldman Sachs does not have federal subcontracting plan requirements the way defense contractors do. The supplier diversity commitments are voluntary corporate commitments, not federally mandated. That said, they are genuine, tracked, and reported publicly.
How to register
Goldman Sachs manages supplier registration through its procurement organization. The firm does not publicize a single open-access supplier registration portal in the same way that manufacturing or retail companies do.
The practical approach:
- Reach out to Goldman Sachs's supplier diversity team directly. Contact information is listed through NMSDC's corporate member directory or Goldman's corporate responsibility pages.
- Express interest in supplier registration and ask for the current onboarding process. The firm's procurement process evolves over time.
- Have your diversity certification documentation, company profile, and capability statement ready.
- Attend NMSDC Annual Conference or WBENC National Conference where Goldman Sachs participates in matchmaking sessions.
The financial services sector supplier diversity ecosystem tends to operate more through relationship and referral than through open portal registration. Being introduced through an NMSDC regional affiliate or a current Goldman supplier is often more effective than a cold inquiry.
Service categories
Goldman Sachs's procurement needs are almost entirely services-based. The firm does not manufacture products or run large physical operations. Its sourcing categories include:
Technology and IT: Software development, data engineering, cloud infrastructure, cybersecurity, and IT managed services. Technology is one of Goldman's largest spending categories.
Consulting and professional services: Management consulting, financial consulting, regulatory compliance, and advisory services.
Legal services: Outside legal counsel. Goldman Sachs is one of the largest users of outside law firms in the country. Diverse-owned law firms are specifically sought through the firm's supplier diversity program.
Marketing and communications: Advertising agencies, PR, events, and digital marketing services.
Facilities and real estate services: Facilities management, construction management, interior design, and building services at Goldman's major offices.
Staffing and talent: Contingent workforce and specialized staffing for technology and finance roles.
Finance and analytics: Specialized financial analysis, research, and data services.
Printing and creative: Document management, creative services, and branded materials.
Goldman Sachs spends heavily in technology and legal categories. Diverse-owned technology firms and law firms have been a specific focus. The firm has been an active participant in initiatives to increase diverse legal spend — a category that has historically been very concentrated in large traditional law firms.
Public commitments
Goldman Sachs discloses supplier diversity metrics in its ESG report (available at goldmansachs.com/our-commitments/sustainability). The company does not publish an annual diverse spend dollar total at the Billion Dollar Roundtable level, but does report on supplier diversity program progress.
The One Million Black Women $10 billion commitment (2021) is the largest specific public diverse business commitment the firm has made. That commitment spans lending, investment, and supplier diversity.
Realistic assessment
Goldman Sachs is a sophisticated buyer in a concentrated market. Financial services firms buy from other financial services firms, professional services firms, and technology companies — not from manufacturers or product vendors.
The buyer-seller dynamic is different here than in retail or manufacturing. Goldman operates on relationship, reputation, and past performance. Cold portal registration rarely leads anywhere. The path runs through NMSDC or NGLCC relationships, through referrals from current Goldman suppliers, or through targeted outreach at conferences where Goldman procurement teams are present.
New York City is the primary market. If your firm is not in New York or does not have a New York presence or focus, the opportunity set is smaller, though remote services have expanded.
For law firms, technology firms, consulting firms, and marketing agencies that are diverse-owned, Goldman Sachs is a legitimate target. It takes time and relationship investment, but the deal values are substantial.
Timeline: highly variable. Professional services firms with the right credentials and relationships can move in 6 to 12 months. Firms building relationships from scratch should plan 18 to 36 months.
Next steps
- Obtain NMSDC MBE, WBENC WBE, or NGLCC LGBTBE certification depending on your ownership profile.
- Attend NMSDC Annual Conference or WBENC National Conference. Goldman Sachs participates in matchmaking sessions at both events.
- Reach out to Goldman Sachs's supplier diversity team directly to inquire about current registration and onboarding processes.
- Build a targeted capability statement that addresses Goldman's specific service needs, not a generic overview.
- Identify current Goldman Sachs suppliers in your category through press releases, NMSDC, or industry events — relationships with current suppliers can provide referrals.
Goldman's commitments are real and the deal values are meaningful. Build the relationship systematically and come to every interaction prepared.
